Banks, Kim Introduce Stuttering Legislation with Former NBA Player Support

Senators Jim Banks (R‑Ind.) and Andy Kim (D‑N.J.) introduced the Kidd’s Stuttering Act on Wednesday, a bipartisan bill that seeks to improve early identification and treatment of stuttering in children. The proposal directs the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to add stuttering and fluency screening to its list of conditions eligible for coverage, thereby expanding access to diagnostic services and therapeutic interventions for young patients.

The legislation was drafted with the assistance of former NBA player Michael Kidd‑Gilchrist, who has spoken publicly about his own experience with stuttering. By leveraging his platform, the bill aims to raise awareness and encourage insurers to cover evidence‑based treatments, potentially reducing long‑term communication difficulties and associated costs for families and the healthcare system. If enacted, the act would provide a structured pathway for children to receive timely care, aligning federal health policy with the growing recognition of stuttering as a treatable speech disorder.