Till he was 3, Brandon Markosek was not in a position to speak.
When he began talking, he developed a stutter that lasted into maturity.
“Some days are higher than others, however I nonetheless do stutter,” he stated. “My stutter by no means went away absolutely, however I used to be in a position to go to remedy.
There, he discovered of assorted instruments that he nonetheless makes use of at this time.
“I normally carry a bottle with me,” he stated. “So if I get nervous or get caught on a phrase, I take a sip of water to form of calm my nerves.”
Markosek was in a position to afford remedy, however many should not.
Now that he’s a state consultant, the Allegheny Democrat is working to be an advocate for others who stutter.
His invoice to make sure non-public insurance coverage covers speech remedy for youngsters aged 2 to six with stutters handed the Home Wednesday in a bipartisan vote of 181-21.
Many insurance coverage corporations don’t present enough protection for speech remedy, in accordance with theChildren’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
“When you may get therapy early, you possibly can stave off a variety of the dangerous issues that come together with a stutter,” Markosek stated. “In order that’s actually what we’re making an attempt to do.”
Rep. Rob Mercuri, R-Allegheny, is cosponsor of the invoice. He referred to as it a compassionate and sensible insurance coverage invoice that will assist younger folks obtain their “desires by overcoming childhood stuttering and speech challenges.”
The Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Listening to Affiliation and its nationwide affiliation, the American Speech-Language-Listening to Affiliation, are supportive of the measure, PSHA President Dana Bitetti stated.
Initially, the invoice centered on all stuttering however was amended to tailor the scope to youngsters.
It is because most well being care plans in Pennsylvania cowl grownup stuttering, Markosek stated.
Receiving speech remedy early might help decrease the probabilities a toddler continues stuttering, in accordance with the American Speech-Language-Listening to Affiliation.
It now heads to the GOP-controlled Senate.
Senate Banking and Insurance coverage Committee Chair John DiSanto, R-Dauphin, declined to remark.
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