NY State Task Force Update!

New York State Task Force on Occupational Regulation (NYSTF)

Respectfully submitted by Donna W. Polen, LCAT, MT-BC

Information current as of 1/15/16

The voting members of NYSTF, appointed by the MAR Executive Board, are: Ari Amir, MA, MT-BC; Clare Arezina, MME, MT-BC, CCLS; Beth R. McLaughlin, MSE, LCAT, MT-BC; Donna W. Polen, LCAT, MT-BC, Chair; and Tracy S. Wanamaker, MS Ed, MT-BC. Ex-officio members, without the right to vote, are: Rachel Reed and Rebecca Rossi, student members; Maria Hricko Fay, MSW/LSW, LCAT, MT-BC, MAR Government Relations Chair; Judy Simpson, MHP, MT-BC, AMTA Director of Government Relations; and Gabby Ritter, MMT, MT-BC, MAR President. NYSTF works closely with CBMT Regulatory Affairs Advisor, Dena Register, PhD, MT-BC, and CBMT Regulatory Affairs Associate Kimberly Sena Moore, MM, MT-BC, as well.

NYSTF is coming to your school!

We have tentative workshop dates scheduled as follows:

NYU Sunday, February 21

SUNY Fredonia: Sunday, April 3

Nazareth College: Saturday, September 24

These workshops provide a 2-hour morning session geared toward students and others pursuing licensure, providing step-by-step guidance for those who are beginning the licensure process, followed by a 5-hour pre-approved CMTE (including 3 hours of ethics for CBMT recertification); the course includes detailed information on the Mental Health Practitioners Practice Guidelines as well as new legislation and other considerations that may impact the practice of music therapy, now and in the future. If you are interested in attending any of these events and do not receive registration materials within a week or so in advance, please contact us directly and we will make sure to get the information to you.

Medicaid and other service provision concerns

NYSTF continues to follow issues related to Medicaid regulations as well as other concerns related to reimbursement and the provision of music therapy services in New York. We are currently working with the national team to create an extension of the task force that will concentrate exclusively on these issues.

Mandatory Continuing Education Requirements for LCATs

At their January 11, 2016 meeting, the Professional Practice Committee of the Board of Regents recommended that proposed rules for continuing education requirements for LCATs be added to the regulations as written and enacted as scheduled on January 1, 2017. You can read the PPC meeting report here:

https://www.regents.nysed.gov/report/jan-2016/professional-practice

and review the full document as submitted to them, including a summary of public comments and the Department responses, here:

https://www.regents.nysed.gov/common/regents/files/116ppca4.pdf

NYSTF at the MAR conference in Harrisburg

For detailed information and the opportunity to discuss recent changes and upcoming efforts for the recognition of music therapy in NY, please plan on attending a concurrent session at the upcoming MAR conference. The State of Music Therapy in New York State is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, March 19 from 11:00-11:50 a.m. We look forward to seeing you there!

As always, please contact the task force with any questions you may have regarding the LCAT and any music therapy related legislative, regulatory or advocacy issues. We can be reached at: nystf@aol.com