https://www.facebook.com/581433635042417/

Indiana Music Therapy Task Force

Home
United States
Kalamazoo, MI
Indiana Music Therapy Task Force

Indiana’s volunteer task force, recognized by AMTA and CBMT to lead statewide advocacy for access to and formal recognition of music therapy services.

10/09/2026

It’s an election year!

As music therapists, we know that decisions made at the local and state level can have a meaningful impact on our profession and the individuals we serve.

The Indiana Music Therapy Task Force does not endorse candidates or tell music therapists how to vote. We do, however, encourage Indiana MT-BCs to be informed and engaged citizens.

As Election Day approaches:
• Know what elections are taking place in your district
• Learn about the candidates and issues on your ballot
• Research the topics that matter to you
• Make a plan to vote

Advocacy doesn’t only happen at the Statehouse. Staying informed about the people and policies shaping our communities is another important way to stay engaged. We will be sharing more resources soon for you to know where to look to learn more about the issues on your ballot.

10/02/2026

Great updates this week from the Arc of Indiana!

09/16/2026

🚨 DDARS Advisory Council Update

Lindsey Wright and Amanda Henley (representing AMTA, AIMT, and the Indiana Music Therapy Task Force) were able to attend today's DDARS Advisory Council meeting. Here are a few important updates shared at today’s meeting:

Assessment & Denial Process: DDARS shared that there is currently a pause on pending denials while quality improvements are made to the new assessment process. New measures are already being implemented, including an attestation that the individual/guardian participated in the assessment in person, along with additional training, office hours, and other quality-improvement efforts.

Youth Waiver: DDARS is planning waiver amendments around March 2027, with implementation targeted for July 2027. Planning will include consideration for youth who will age out to help support a seamless transition to the adult waiver.

Provider Revalidation: These should generally take about 60 days, but DDARS acknowledged that processing is currently taking longer than normal. Providers are also navigating additional requirements related to HCBS providers now being classified as high risk.
Due to the extended timeline for processing revalidation, some applications may still be in review at the expiration of the deadline. In these cases, Providers will no longer be able to bill until the application has been approved, at which time the approval will be applied retroactively.

We appreciate the opportunity to attend these meetings and will continue sharing updates that are important to Indiana’s music therapy community and the individuals and families we serve.

09/04/2026

If you or someone you love has received an HCBS Level of Care denial, we know the appeal process can feel overwhelming.

You may be trying to understand what the notice means, what deadlines apply, what documentation you need, and how to prepare for a hearing — all while worrying about services and supports that matter in daily life.

To help, The Arc of Indiana has created two resources:

Detailed Guide: A more in-depth guide to help you understand the appeal process and prepare next steps.
https://bit.ly/IN_LOC-Appeal_Guide

Quick Guide: A shorter overview for families who need the key steps in one place.
https://bit.ly/IN_LOC_Appeal_Quick-Guide

These guides are for informational purposes only and are not legal advice or legal representation.

If you have questions, please call The Arc of Indiana at 317-977-2375 and ask to speak with a Family Advocate.

Also, register for our upcoming Ask the Arc webinar on Thursday, September 10th, where we will walk through the appeals process and you can ask questions: https://bit.ly/Ask_the_Arc

08/28/2026

🚨 Advocacy Update

Yesterday, representatives from the Indiana Music Therapy Task Force, AIMT, AMTA, CBMT, and our government relations partners met with leadership from BDS, DDARS, and FSSA to continue conversations about Music Therapy within Indiana’s Medicaid waivers. We are grateful for the opportunity to bring our organizations together with state leadership for a collaborative discussion.

Looking ahead, we are also pleased to share that we will be meeting quarterly with BDS going forward. These ongoing meetings will provide an opportunity to continue asking questions, identifying challenges, and sharing the clinical perspective of Music Therapists as Indiana moves through Waiver Reset.

Our collective goal throughout this process is to help build a waiver structure that:
• increases access to Music Therapy when clinically appropriate
• supports and strengthens quality services
• remains person-centered and responsive to individual needs
• recognizes the clinical expertise of Music Therapists
• and creates requirements and processes that are workable for clinicians providing services in the real world.

There is significant work ahead as Indiana updates its waiver system, and we appreciate the willingness of BDS, DDARS, and FSSA leadership to engage directly with the Music Therapy community.

We will continue to keep Indiana Music Therapists informed as these conversations move forward.

08/27/2026

🚨 Advocacy & Quarterly Reporting Update

Today, representatives from the IN Music Therapy Task Force, AIMT, AMTA, CBMT, & our government relations partners met with leadership from BDS, DDARS, & FSSA to continue conversations about Music Therapy within Indiana’s Medicaid waivers.

We received clarification on two questions surrounding the new quarterly reports:

1. Does the 75% direct / 25% indirect ratio need to be met each month?

No. BDS clarified that the monthly ratios on the quarterly report does not create a new requirement that the ratio be met each month. Rather, the monthly information is intended to provide greater transparency on how services are being billed. This is important because monthly percentages can naturally fluctuate based on factors such as cancellations, the timing of required documentation, etc.

For the specific requirements regarding the “45/15-minute rule,” providers should to refer to the current Medicaid Waiver Manual, Section 9.15, under “Limitations.”

2. Do Music Therapy goals have to match the PCISP goals exactly?

No. BDS clarified that Music Therapy goals do not need to mirror PCISP goals word-for-word, but they should align with the PCISP. Importantly, BDS emphasized that Music Therapists are valued members of the Individualized Support Team (IST) and that development of the PCISP should be a collaborative process. This allows Music Therapists to bring their clinical assessment, professional expertise, and knowledge of the individual into the development of therapeutic goals and objectives.

We also discussed situations in which the IST agrees that a goal should change, but that change has not yet been reflected in the PCISP. BDS clarified that the therapist may document the date of the IST meeting at which the change was agreed upon, along with the relevant update, within the new quarterly report. This documentation can connect the therapy goal or update to the team’s collaborative PCISP planning process and provide helpful context while the formal PCISP is being updated.

We are grateful for the opportunity to bring our organizations together with state leadership for a collaborative discussion.

08/25/2026

📣 Update from Today’s Medicaid Waiver Provider Meeting

FSSA provided several additional clarifications today regarding the new quarterly reporting requirements. Here are the key takeaways for Indiana Music Therapy providers:

November 1 remains the implementation date. FSSA again confirmed that the new quarterly report templates begin November 1, with reports due according to each individual’s established quarterly reporting schedule.

Quarters are based on the individual’s CCB year. The start of the person’s CCB year begins Quarter 1. Each quarterly report is then due and must be submitted through the state portal by the 15th of the month following the end of that quarter.

Music Therapy providers should continue collecting/reporting data in the meantime. FSSA clarified that implementation looks slightly different for services that were already required to complete quarterly reports prior to the amendment. Because Music Therapy was already subject to quarterly reporting requirements, MT providers should continue their existing quarterly data collection/reporting practices until the new requirements take effect.

EMR-generated reports may be used. If your organization uses an EMR or other system that generates quarterly reports, the report may be generated through that system as long as it includes every field and requirement contained in the BDS template. Otherwise, providers should not alter or adapt the state template.

The quarterly reporting training video is now available in the FSSA Portal under the Resource tab. This is the video that was previously distributed with the new quarterly templates.

The table from the most recent announcement delaying the implementation of these new templates has also been corrected to reflect that Music Therapy quarterly reports are required for both the FSW and CIH waivers.

As a reminder, slides and recordings from the Medicaid Waiver Provider Meetings are typically posted to the state website following the meeting, so providers who were unable to attend today should have an opportunity to review the full presentation once those materials are available.

08/18/2026

📣 Quarterly Report Template Update

We have now received written clarification directly from BDS regarding implementation of the new quarterly report template.

BDS has confirmed:
“All providers, including those for whom quarterly reports were a requirement prior to August 1st, must now use the BDS quarterly template beginning November 1.”
This means the new BDS quarterly template will not be required until November 1, 2026, including for Music Therapy providers who were already completing quarterly reports prior to August 1.

You can find a link to the full statement and guidelines sent out here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uWJbbXH###7BdfqZfgbRVKKdcPmf9j5-/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=109030084694572766542&rtpof=true&sd=true

AIMT and the Indiana Music Therapy Task Force appreciate BDS providing this clarification in writing. We will continue to review additional guidance as it is released and share updates that impact Indiana music therapists.

*Please share this update with other Indiana music therapists who may be preparing upcoming quarterly reports.*

08/17/2026

📣 Important Update for Indiana Music Therapists

The Indiana Music Therapy Task Force and the Association for Indiana Music Therapy have continued to advocate on behalf of music therapists as we work through the questions and concerns surrounding the new quarterly reporting templates.

We are pleased to share that we have just been notified by the Director of BDS that implementation of the new quarterly templates for Music Therapy waiver services will be delayed until November 1, 2026.

Additional guidance from BDS is forthcoming, and we will share more information as it becomes available.

We appreciate BDS hearing the concerns that have been raised and allowing additional time for clarification and preparation. The Task Force and AIMT will continue working with state leadership to advocate for clear, practical guidance that supports both compliance and quality services.

Stay tuned for additional updates!

08/15/2026

🚨 Update on Quarter Reports from BDS:

A Youtube video has been made available on the FSSA Indiana account sharing an overview and some guidance regarding quarterly reports. While this video is a step in the right direction, this is a small piece of the puzzle. We are still actively working to get clearer information regarding implementing the new forms.

You can access the video here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=q6JKH08C0lQ&ra=m

Address

100 West Michigan Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI
49007

Website

facebook.com

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Indiana Music Therapy Task Force posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Indiana Music Therapy Task Force:

Want your organization to be the top-listed non profit organization in Kalamazoo?