12/14/2025
Dear FATA Members,
The Florida Art Therapy Association warmly invites you to join us for a Community Check-In on Sunday, December 21 at 10:00 AM.
This gathering offers a supportive space to connect with colleagues, reflect together, and engage in meaningful conversation within our community. Whether you wish to share, listen, or simply be present, your participation is valued.
We hope you will join us for this time of connection and mutual support. Zoom link will be sent out to all members.
With appreciation,
Florida Art Therapy Association
12/19/2025
Art therapy pioneer and artist Wayne Ramirez’s recent artwork, “Mommy Please Don’t Go,” was selected for inclusion in the 2026 Embracing Our Differences exhibition. His painting is one of only 50 works selected from 14,593 entries submitted from 124 countries. This marks the third time his work has been featured in this international exhibition. In 2021 and 2024, his paintings “Stands in My Shoes” and “Yearning to Breathe Free,” respectively, were also exhibited by the organization.
The 2026 Embracing Our Differences exhibition will be held at Sarasota’s Bayfront Park from January 17 to April 19, 2026, and at St. Petersburg’s Poynter Park from March 7 to April 12, 2026. As in previous years, the selected works will be enlarged to billboard size, and viewers will have digital access to the artists’ statements for each piece.
11/07/2025
Dear Community,
Thank you to everyone who joined our recent meeting to discuss the ongoing changes to Medicaid reimbursement and credentialing for art therapists across Florida.
We know how much uncertainty these changes have created, and this meeting aimed to clarify current updates and identify next steps together.
Below is a summary for those who couldn’t attend:
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Overview
• Many art therapists have been asked to complete new fingerprinting, background checks, NPIs, and Medicaid applications.
• Some providers were instructed to pause services while credentialing or reimbursement is reviewed.
• These changes have led to service disruptions and client overflow in some regions.
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Reimbursement & Credentialing
• The proposed reimbursement rate for art therapy has been reduced from $100 to $65 per session.
• Many expressed concern that this rate does not reflect the cost of materials, travel, or session preparation.
• Confusion remains around eligibility for different credential levels (ATR, ATR-BC, ATR-P) and whether supervision billing can continue under Medicaid.
• Some providers have been asked to set up CAQH profiles and prepare for site visits as part of credentialing.
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Supervision & Ethical Practice
• Clarification is needed on whether ATR-Ps can continue billing under a supervisor’s license.
• Members emphasized the importance of active, ethical supervision rather than passive sign-offs.
• Concerns were raised about non-art therapy professionals (e.g., LCSWs or others) billing for “art therapy” services without proper credentials.
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Sunshine Health → Molina Healthcare Transition
• Sunshine Health’s contract may be ending, with Molina Healthcare expected to assume responsibility for expressive therapy contracts.
• Sunshine has 60 days to appeal the transition.
• Until finalized, rates, coverage, and telehealth policies remain unclear.
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Payments & Grace Period
• Some providers have reported payment delays since September 2025.
• MTM has communicated that payments will resume, and a grace period through November 19 has been granted to finalize Medicaid and NPI credentials.
• Many feel this timeframe is too short given the complexity of the process.
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Next Steps
• Members agreed to collaborate on a joint advocacy letter to request:
• Fair reimbursement rates
• Clear credentialing and supervision guidelines
• Ethical standards for art therapy service delivery
• Collaboration with music therapists and other expressive arts professionals will be explored to strengthen advocacy.
• The FATA Board will met to finalize next steps and communication strategies.
In Summary
While these transitions bring uncertainty, they also offer an opportunity to advocate for recognition, transparency, and fair compensation for art therapy across Florida.
We’ll continue to share updates and collective action steps as more information becomes available.
Florida Art Therapy Association
05/09/2025
Dear FATA Members:
Greetings from Tallahassee! I am writing to personally invite you to participate in a research survey regarding art therapy and career-focused art therapy services.
In collaboration with FSU colleague Dr. Debra Osborn, professor, and career development researcher, I hope to contribute to the body of knowledge regarding art therapists’ views and experiences with clients’ career-focused concerns and goals that may arise within art therapy sessions. Additionally, we hope to identify the approaches and interventions art therapists are contributing to this work.
Your views and experiences are valuable! We are interested in responses from all art therapists regardless of whether you have addressed career issues within your practice. Completion of the IRB-approved (Florida State University # 00006057) survey will take about 15 minutes. All participation is voluntary.
We recommend using a computer, laptop, or tablet to take the survey due to visual images within the survey.
You can contribute to this research by following this link to the survey: https://tinyurl.com/4rxy7ar9
With appreciation and thanks for your consideration.
Barbara Parker-Bell, PsyD, ATR-BC
FATA Member &
Professor, FSU Art Therapy Program
