PA HB949

Expands mandatory health insurance coverage for speech therapy to include apraxia (a neurological childhood speech sound disorder) in addition to the existing coverage for childhood stuttering

Requires coverage for both habilitative speech therapy (learning/improving skills) and rehabilitative speech therapy (restoring lost skills) administered by licensed speech-language pathologists

Coverage remains subject to standard health insurance policy terms including medical necessity requirements, cost-sharing, and utilization review

Insurers are not required to cover school-based speech therapy solely because it is included in an individualized education program (IEP)

Applies to health insurance policies with forms/rates filed 180 days after the effective date, with the act taking effect 60 days after enactment