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Thread-Topic: Music Therapy Practice Act
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Subject: Music Therapy Practice Act
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2016 21:47:28 -0500
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<APP>CUSTOM
<PREFIX>Mrs</PREFIX>
<FIRST>Natalie</FIRST>
<MIDDLE></MIDDLE>
<LAST>Mullis</LAST>
<SUFFIX></SUFFIX>
<TITLE></TITLE>
<ORGANIZATION></ORGANIZATION>
<ADDR1>309 Summerlea Dr</ADDR1>
<ADDR2></ADDR2>
<CITY>Columbia</CITY>
<STATE>SC</STATE>
<ZIP>29203</ZIP>
<EMAIL>natalie@keychangestherapy.com</EMAIL>
<PHONE_H></PHONE_H>
<PHONE_B></PHONE_B>
<ISSUE>SCHED</ISSUE>
<SUBJECT>Music Therapy Practice Act</SUBJECT>
<CUSTOM1>98.25.183.78</CUSTOM1>
<MSG>
Governor Haley,
My name is Natalie Mullis and I am writing to you on behalf of The Music Therapy Practice Act, SB 589. This bill is currently awaiting readings in the House after having passed the senate, and I hope to meet with your prior to it coming to your desk so that we may discuss the impact of the bill.

This bill aims to license board certified music therapists practicing in the great state of South Carolina so as to protect consumers, increase access, and prevent medical insurance fraud. 
Currently in this state, the Department of Health and Human Services which administers the Medicaid program recognizes music therapy as a core service. However, DHHS will not recognize board certified music therapists (the only qualified music therapy providers) as providers without a state license. This lack of licensure creates a large gap in the access to quality healthcare services of our state's Medicaid participants- primarily children with disabilities. 

Music therapy is an established healthcare profession with over 60 years of clinical research and practice. Board certified music therapists are dedicated to providing best practice in the field of music therapy and have seen measurable effects of their work with children with disabilities, adult survivors of brain injury, children and adults in mental health, neonatal intensive care, medical hospitals, dementia and geriatric care, hospice and more. 

Currently DHHS states that any licensed practitioner of the healing arts can render "music therapy" services and be paid by the state. This potential misuse of state dollars is bothersome, and should be amended by permitting qualified professionals to render the service that they are trained to perform.

I hope that I can count on your support of SB 589. South Carolina organizations like the South Carolina Autism Society, Hidden Wounds, The Sigurd Center, Palmetto Pediatrics, the South Carolina Speech-Language Hearing Association, the Charleston Autism Academy and more have pledged to support this bill. Please let me know if we can count on your vote as well. 

Please let me know when we may meet.

Thank you, 
Natalie Mullis, MT-BC

</MSG>

</APP>