Promoting the Profession of Art Therapy!

The American Art Therapy Association’s public policy and advocacy programs serve to support the full participation of art therapists in their careers and in specialty job areas in which they seek to provide quality health and wellness services.
American Art Therapy Association - Position Statements
Advocacy for a professional Art Therapy License
Advocacy for Health System Reform: Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)
Advocacy for Child and Adolescent Art Therapy Services
Advocacy for U.S. Military Personnel, Veterans and their Families
Advocacy for Vulnerable Populations and Persons
Collaboration with Other Organizations
News & Updates
Track how each state’s is progressing in setting up the Health Care Reform Act’s health care exchanges: http://healthreform.kff.org/State-Exchange-Profiles-Page.aspx

New York Joins states with insurance mandates for autism services.
New York recently became one of over 30 states and the District of Columbia with laws requiring insurance coverage for autism.  Click here for details.
Guidelines for Insurers:
Art Therapy Services & Reimbursement Claims Determinations
These Art Therapy Guidelines for Insurers are designed to assist healthcare insurance companies and third-party claims administrators in their review of reimbursement claims that involve art therapy services. The guidelines provide information about how to apply medical necessity criteria to art therapy services and differentiate cases where coverage exclusions do not apply. Study abstracts, on the efficacy of art therapy services in improving client outcomes, are included with citations, categorized by population type. Click here to read the guidelines.
Launching and Managing Your Art Therapy Practice
This tool kit assists practicing art therapists, new professionals and students structure and grow their practice effectively. The step by step guide and connection to resources is intended to be a convenient way for members to begin and continue to build a successful private practice career in art therapy. New information and practice management resources will be added to this on-line resource going forward. Members may access the kit by clicking here.
State Licensure Support
The Association through its Government Affairs Committee works to encourage and support the ‘Professional Art Therapy’ license and to broaden licensure access for art therapists in general. In addition to the “Professional Art Therapist” license (LPAT) and the “Creative Arts Therapist” license (LCAT), many art therapists choose to hold licenses in closely related fields that reflect their practice focus, i.e., clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, occupational therapist and others.  Click here: licensing resources & State License Board links
Insurance Coverage and Reimbursement
The Association works for greater insurance coverage and appropriate fees for services for art therapists.  For an invaluable information source for both private and public health care provider qualifications and service reimbursement - Members-only, Go to: Art Therapists’ Credentialing in Public and Private Healthcare Insurance
Healthcare Reform
The Association supports healthcare reform to benefit art therapists and their clients in areas such as employment, grants to School Health Centers and other facilities, educational assistance, broader insurance coverage that creates larger client pools, PCIPs and new QHP health plans, under the “Healthcare Reform Act,” PPACA.

UPDATE: Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plans (PCIPs), established by the 2010 healthcare reform act (PPACA), enable people with “pre-existing” mental or physical conditions to obtain healthcare insurance coverage for these.  Before PPACA, insurers commonly refused to cover “pre-existing” health disorders. If you or your clients have been denied health insurance for this reason and for PPACA information, go to www.healthcare.gov

How does health care reform affect you and other art therapists?  Find out through Members-only, Go to: Overview: Healthcare Reform Act
 

Contacts

US Senators
US Representatives
Governors
Legislation Tracker-Federal
Register to Vote

Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association is an informative member benefit that attracts a worldwide audience of art therapists who want to stay current in the field. Members receive the journal and archived issues FREE as part of their member benefits.

If you are interested in contributing to the Journal by submitting Cover Artwork or an Article, members may click here.

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