A 3745 — Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for the treatment of stuttering.
Last action — REP/ACA REF AAP
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1Introduced
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2In Committee
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3Passed General Assembly
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4Passed Senate
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been introduced in the General Assembly. Introduced January 13, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
LowHow often bills like it became law.
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Introduced
Current position in the legislative process.
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21 sponsors
3 primary, 18 co-sponsors signed on.
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Bipartisan support
Sponsored across 2 parties (19 D · 2 R) — cross-party backing.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 1 recorded vote so far.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
In plain language
The bill mandates health insurance and Medicaid coverage for stuttering treatment.
This bill requires health insurance plans and Medicaid to cover the costs associated with treating stuttering. It aims to ensure that individuals who stutter have access to necessary healthcare services without financial barriers.
What this means for you
- Families: Families with members who stutter will have more options for affordable treatment through their insurance plans.
- Healthcare: Healthcare providers will be required to offer stuttering treatment as a covered service under insurance plans.
Summary
Treatment of stuttering-requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
130 added · 103 removedPlain-language change summary
The amendment replaces references to "habilitative speech therapy and rehabilitative speech therapy" with the broader category "speech-language pathologist" and removes specific mention of telemedicine or telehealth as a mode of service delivery. This change defines the role of speech-language pathologists according to a specific statute and retains the provision for services to be delivered in-person, ensuring medical necessity is determined by the subscriber’s medical doctor or licensed speech-language pathologist.
A3745 1R [First Reprint] ASSEMBLY, No.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT IntroducedAs Pendingreported Technicalby Reviewthe byAssembly LegislativeFinancial Counsel.Institutions and Insurance Committee on September 17, 2026, with amendments.
1.1. a. A hospital service corporation contract that provides hospital or medical expense benefits and is delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State, or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide benefits to any subscriber for medical expenses incurred in the treatment of stuttering, including habilitative speech therapy and rehabilitative speech therapy, as determined to be medically necessary or neurogenic or developmental by the subscriber’s medical doctor 1or licensed speech-language pathologist1. The benefits shall be provided whether the services are delivered in-person or through telemedicine or telehealth. b. The benefits shall be provided to the same extent as for any other service, drug, device, product, or procedure under the contract.
a. Ac. hospitalThe serviceprovisions corporation contract that provides hospital or medical expense benefits and is delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State, or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on or after the effective date of this act,section shall provideapply benefits to anyall subscriberhospital forservice medicalcorporation expensescontracts incurred in thewhich treatment of stuttering, including habilitative speech therapy and rehabilitative speech therapy, as determined to be medically necessary or neurogenic or developmental by the subscriber’shospital medicalservice doctor. corporation Thehas benefitsreserved shall be provided whether the servicesright are delivered in-person or through telemedicine or telehealth. b. The benefits shall be provided to thechange same extent as for any other service, drug, device, product, or procedure under the contract.premium.
c. The provisions of this section shall apply to all hospital service corporation contracts in which the hospital service corporation has reserved the right to change the premium.
1“Speech-language pathologist” shall have the same meaning as provided in section 2 of P.L.1983, c.420 (C.45:3B-2).1 2. a. a. A medical service corporation contract that provides hospital or medical expense benefits and is delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1940, c.74 (C.17:48A-1 et seq.), or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide benefits to any subscriber for medical expenses incurred in the treatment of stuttering, including habilitative speech therapy and rehabilitative speech therapy, as determined to be medically necessary or neurogenic or developmental by the subscriber’s medical doctor. doctor 1or licensed speech-language pathologist1. The benefits shall be provided whether the services are delivered in-person or through telemedicine or telehealth. b. The benefits shall be provided to the same extent as for any other service, drug, device, product, or procedure under the contract. c. c. The provisions of this section shall apply to all medical service corporation contracts in which the medical service corporation has reserved the right to change the premium.
1“Speech-language pathologist” shall have the same meaning as provided in section 2 of P.L.1983, c.420 (C.45:3B-2).1 3. a. a. A health service corporation contract that provides hospital or medical expense benefits and is delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1985, c.236 (C.17:48E-1 et al.), or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide benefits to any subscriber for medical expenses incurred in the treatment of stuttering, including habilitative speech therapy and rehabilitative speech therapy, as determined to be medically necessary or neurogenic or developmental by the subscriber’s medical doctor. doctor 1or licensed speech-language pathologist1. The benefits shall be provided whether the services are delivered in-person or through telemedicine or telehealth. b. The benefits shall be provided to the same extent as for any other service, drug, device, product, or procedure under the contract. c. c. The provisions of this section shall apply to all health service corporation contracts in which the health service corporation has reserved the right to change the premium.
1“Speech-language pathologist” shall have the same meaning as provided in section 2 of P.L.1983, c.420 (C.45:3B-2).1 4. a. a. An individual health insurance policy that provides hospital and medical expense benefits and is delivered, issued, executed, or renewed in this State pursuant to chapter 26 of Title 17B of the New Jersey Statutes, or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide benefits to any insured for medical expenses incurred in the treatment of stuttering, including habilitative speech therapy and rehabilitative speech therapy, as determined to be medically necessary or neurogenic or developmental by the insured’s medical doctor. doctor 1or licensed speech-language pathologist1. The benefits shall be provided whether the services are delivered in-person or through telemedicine or telehealth. b. b. The benefits shall be provided to the same extent as for any other service, drug, device, product, or procedure under the policy. c. c. This section shall apply to those policies in which the insurer has reserved the right to change the premium.
1“Speech-language pathologist” shall have the same meaning as provided in section 2 of P.L.1983, c.420 (C.45:3B-2).1 5. a. a. A group health insurance policy that provides hospital and medical expense benefits and is delivered, issued, executed, or renewed in this State pursuant to chapter 27 of Title 17B of the New Jersey Statutes, or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide benefits to any insured for medical expenses incurred in the treatment of stuttering, including habilitative speech therapy and rehabilitative speech therapy, as determined to be medically necessary or neurogenic or developmental by the insured’s medical doctor. doctor 1or licensed speech-language pathologist1. The benefits shall be provided whether the services are delivered in-person or through telemedicine or telehealth. b. The benefits shall be provided to the same extent as for any other service, drug, device, product, or procedure under the policy.
c. c. This section shall apply to those policies in which the insurer has reserved the right to change the premium.
1“Speech-language pathologist” shall have the same meaning as provided in section 2 of P.L.1983, c.420 (C.45:3B-2).1 6. a. a. An individual health benefits plan that provides hospital and medical expense benefits and is delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1992, c.161 (C.17B:27A-2 et seq.), or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide benefits to any covered person for medical expenses incurred in the treatment of stuttering, including habilitative speech therapy and rehabilitative speech therapy, as determined to be medically necessary or neurogenic or developmental by the covered person’s medical doctor. doctor 1or licensed speech-language pathologist1. The benefits shall be provided whether the services are delivered in-person or through telemedicine or telehealth. b. The benefits shall be provided to the same extent as for any other service, drug, device, product, or procedure under the health benefits plan.
c. c. This section shall apply to those health benefits plans in which the carrier has reserved the right to change the premium.
1“Speech-language pathologist” shall have the same meaning as provided in section 2 of P.L.1983, c.420 (C.45:3B-2).1 7. a. a. A small employer health benefits plan that provides hospital and medical expense benefits and is delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1992, c.162 (C.17B:27A-17 et seq.), or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide benefits to any covered person for medical expenses incurred in the treatment of stuttering, including habilitative speech therapy and rehabilitative speech therapy, as determined to be medically necessary or neurogenic or developmental by the covered person’s medical doctor. doctor 1or licensed speech-language pathologist1. The benefits shall be provided whether the services are delivered in-person or through telemedicine or telehealth. b. The benefits shall be provided to the same extent as for any other service, drug, device, product, or procedure under the health benefits plan. c. c. This section shall apply to those health benefits plans in which the carrier has reserved the right to change the premium.
1“Speech-language pathologist” shall have the same meaning as provided in section 2 of P.L.1983, c.420 (C.45:3B-2).1 8. a. a. A health maintenance organization contract for health care services that is delivered, issued, executed, or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1973, c.337 (C.26:2J-1 et seq.), or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide benefits to any enrollee for medical expenses incurred in the treatment of stuttering, including habilitative speech therapy and rehabilitative speech therapy, as determined to be medically necessary or neurogenic or developmental by the enrollee’s medical doctor. doctor 1or licensed speech-language pathologist1. The benefits shall be provided whether the services are delivered in-person or through telemedicine or telehealth. b. The benefits shall be provided to the same extent as for any other service, drug, device, product, or procedure under the contract. c. c. This section shall apply to those contracts for health care services under which the health maintenance organization has reserved the right to change the schedule of charges for enrollee coverage.
1“Speech-language pathologist” shall have the same meaning as provided in section 2 of P.L.1983, c.420 (C.45:3B-2).1 9. a. The State Health Benefits Commission shall ensure that every contract purchased by the commission on or after the effective date of this act that provides hospital and medical expense benefits shall provide benefits to any covered person for medical expenses incurred in the treatment of stuttering, including habilitative speech therapy and rehabilitative speech therapy, as determined to be medically necessary or neurogenic or developmental by the covered person’s medical doctor. doctor 1or licensed speech-language pathologist1. The benefits shall be provided whether the services are delivered in-person or through telemedicine or telehealth.
c. c. As used in this section:
1“Speech-language pathologist” shall have the same meaning as provided in section 2 of P.L.1983, c.420 (C.45:3B-2).1 10. a. The School Employees' Health Benefits Commission shall ensure that every contract purchased by the commission on or after the effective date of this act that provides hospital and medical expense benefits shall provide benefits to any covered person for medical expenses incurred in the treatment of stuttering, including habilitative speech therapy and rehabilitative speech therapy, as determined to be medically necessary or neurogenic or developmental by the covered person’s medical doctor. doctor 1or licensed speech-language pathologist1. The benefits shall be provided whether the services are delivered in-person or through telemedicine or telehealth.
c. c. As used in this section:
1“Speech-language pathologist” shall have the same meaning as provided in section 2 of P.L.1983, c.420 (C.45:3B-2).1 11. a.
Notwithstanding Notwithstanding any State law or regulation to the contrary, the Department of Human Services shall ensure to provide benefits to persons served under the Medicaid program, established pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.),(C.30:4D-1 et seq.), for medical expenses incurred in the treatment of stuttering, including habilitative speech therapy and rehabilitative speech therapy, as determined to be medically necessary or neurogenic or developmental by the person’s medical doctor. doctor 1or licensed speech-language pathologist1. The benefits shall be provided whether the services are delivered in-person or through telemedicine or telehealth. b. The department may take any administrative action necessary to effectuate the provisions of this section, including modifying or amending any applicable contract or promulgating, amending, or repealing any guidance, guidelines, or rules, which rules or amendments thereto shall be effective immediately upon filing with the Office of Administrative Law for a period not to exceed 12 months, and may, thereafter, be amended, adopted or readopted in accordance with the provisions of the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.).
c. c. As used in this section:
1“Speech-language pathologist” shall have the same meaning as provided in section 2 of P.L.1983, c.420 (C.45:3B-2).1 12. This act shall take effect on the 90th day next following enactment and shall apply to policies, plans, and contracts delivered, executed, issued, or renewed on or after that date.
STATEMENT This bill requires health insurers (health, hospital and medical service corporations, commercial individual and group health insurers, health maintenance organizations, health benefits plans issued pursuant to the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage and Small Employer Health Benefits Programs, the State Health Benefits Program, and the School Employees’ Health Benefits Program) and the State Medicaid program to provide coverage for medical expenses incurred in the treatment of stuttering, including habilitative speech therapy and rehabilitative speech therapy. Whether treatment is a medical necessity or is neurogenic or developmental is to be determined by the covered person’s medical doctor.
The bill requires coverage to be provided whether the services are delivered in-person or through telemedicine or telehealth.
Pursuant to the bill, “habilitative speech therapy" means speech therapy that helps a person keep, learn, or improve skills and functioning for daily living;
and “rehabilitative speech therapy" means speech therapy that helps a person restore or improve skills and functioning for daily living that have been lost or impaired.
Action History
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REP/ACA REF AAP
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INT 1RA REF AFI
Sponsors
- Alixon Collazos-Gill · Primary
- Andrea Katz · Primary
- Shama A. Haider · Primary
- Ellen J. Park · Cosponsor
- William B. Sampson IV · Cosponsor
- Verlina Reynolds-Jackson · Cosponsor
- Robert J. Karabinchak · Cosponsor
- Antwan L. McClellan · Cosponsor
- Al Abdelaziz · Cosponsor
- Sterley S. Stanley · Cosponsor
- Mitchelle Drulis · Cosponsor
- Cody D. Miller · Cosponsor
- Robert Auth · Cosponsor
- Carol A. Murphy · Cosponsor
- Lisa Swain · Cosponsor
- Chris Tully · Cosponsor
- Shanique Speight · Cosponsor
- Tennille R. McCoy · Cosponsor
- Melinda Kane · Cosponsor
- Louis D. Greenwald · Cosponsor
- Dan Hutchison · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →3 sponsors · 18 co-sponsors · 99 not signed on
Sponsors (3)
- Collazos-Gill, Alixon Democrat
- Katz, Andrea Democrat
- Haider, Shama A. Democrat
Co-sponsors (18)
- Park, Ellen J. Democrat
- Sampson IV, William B. Democrat
- Reynolds-Jackson, Verlina Democrat
- Karabinchak, Robert J. Democrat
- McClellan, Antwan L. Republican
- Abdelaziz, Al Democrat
- Stanley, Sterley S. Democrat
- Drulis, Mitchelle Democrat
- Miller, Cody D. Democrat
- Auth, Robert Republican
- Murphy, Carol A. Democrat
- Swain, Lisa Democrat
- Tully, Chris Democrat
- Speight, Shanique Democrat
- McCoy, Tennille R. Democrat
- Kane, Melinda Democrat
- Greenwald, Louis D. Democrat
- Hutchison, Dan Democrat
Not signed on (99)
99 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 99 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrat | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Republican | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 93% | 0% | 0% | 7% |
How each member voted (14)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Bagolie, Rosaura | Democrat | Yea |
| Freiman, Roy | Democrat | Yea |
| Hutchison, Dan | Democrat | Yea |
| Peterpaul Esq., Luanne M. | Democrat | Not Voting |
| Rodriguez, Ed | Democrat | Yea |
| Schnall, Alexander | Democrat | Yea |
| Simmons, Heather | Democrat | Yea |
| Singh, Balvir | Democrat | Yea |
| Stanley, Sterley S. | Democrat | Yea |
| Venezia, Michael | Democrat | Yea |
| Auth, Robert | Republican | Yea |
| Clifton, Robert D. | Republican | Yea |
| Flynn, Victoria A. | Republican | Yea |
| Myhre, Gregory E. | Republican | Yea |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does A 3745 do?
- Treatment of stuttering-requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage
- Who sponsors A 3745?
- A 3745 is sponsored by Collazos-Gill, Alixon (Democrat), Katz, Andrea (Democrat), Haider, Shama A. (Democrat), Park, Ellen J. (Democrat), Sampson IV, William B. (Democrat), Reynolds-Jackson, Verlina (Democrat), Karabinchak, Robert J. (Democrat), McClellan, Antwan L. (Republican), Abdelaziz, Al (Democrat), Stanley, Sterley S. (Democrat), Drulis, Mitchelle (Democrat), Miller, Cody D. (Democrat), Auth, Robert (Republican), Murphy, Carol A. (Democrat), Swain, Lisa (Democrat), Tully, Chris (Democrat), Speight, Shanique (Democrat), McCoy, Tennille R. (Democrat), Kane, Melinda (Democrat), Greenwald, Louis D. (Democrat), and Hutchison, Dan (Democrat).
- What is the current status of A 3745?
- This bill has been introduced in the General Assembly. Introduced January 13, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
- Where can I track A 3745?
- Track A 3745 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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