Update about New York’s Insurance Reimbursement for Mental Health Bill

Licensed Creative Arts Therapists in New York were, in a last-minute amendment to the legislation, stricken from bill A1171A, which required blanked reimbursement from private insurance companies for a range of allied mental health professions. This came after NY art therapists and representation from AATA’s National Office were assured by Gov. Hochul’s staff that there was no indication that LCATs would be removed in response to concerns raised following LCATs’ removal from similar legislation regarding Medicare/Medicaid earlier last year. The New York Art Therapy Association (NYATA) is taking steps to ensure that, in the coming legislative calendar, legislation is introduced to remedy this setback and ensure that access to art therapy is supported as much as possible in the state.