NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - A former NBA star is teaming up with Tennessee lawmakers to not only bring awareness for stuttering but also push for insurance coverage for stuttering treatment.
Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis) and Rep. Harold Love, Jr. (D-Nashville) are working with former NBA star Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to advocate for the state’s stuttering community.
Kidd-Gilchrist is well known for his time with the University of Kentucky and with the Charlotte Hornets. In 2021, he stepped away from basketball and turned to advocating for stuttering awareness at the state and federal levels.
Now, he’s partnering with Sen. Akbari and Rep. Love, Jr. on [Senate Bill 231/House Bill 296](https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=SB0231), which would ban limits on benefits related to speech therapy and prevent health insurance policies from denying patient claims through utilization reviews. The legislation would also require insurance policies to cover speech therapy provided via telehealth.
“I realize that I have a platform to help others who struggle with stuttering and that includes advocating at the highest level,” said Kidd-Gilchrist. “I’m grateful to Sen. Akbari and Rep. Love for their efforts to help change the stigma around stuttering and propose this legislation to help Tennessee families.”
Sen. Akbari is scheduled to present the legislation to members of the [Senate Commerce & Labor Committee](https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/videocalendars/VideoCalendarOrders.aspx?CalendarID=32262&GA=114) on Tuesday, March 11.
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