Senate committee hears bill to let licensed art therapists obtain provisional licenses and bill Medicaid

The Senate Committee on Health Care opened a public hearing May 1 on House Bill 3,761, which would allow the Health Licensing Office to issue provisional licenses to art therapists who meet specified criteria and require the Oregon Health Authority and coordinated care organizations to reimburse licensed art therapists for behavioral health services provided to Oregon Health Plan members.

Representative Thuy Tran, sponsor of the bill, told the committee the measure is designed “to expand access to mental health care through art therapy.” She said the bill would allow certified art therapists to be reimbursed through Medicaid, reduce disparities, and streamline administrative requirements so services are more efficient for low‑income and underserved Oregonians.

The bill requires therapists licensed through the Health Licensing Office to complete two years of supervised mental‑health practice before advancing from provisional status. It also specifies that a licensed art therapist may use a diagnostic tool only when the provider has relevant formal training.

“House Bill 3,761 reduces barriers, enhances continuity of care, and addresses the rising mental health needs across our state,” Representative Tran said.

Dr. Mary Andress, a board‑certified art therapist and licensed professional counselor who testified in support, said the bill addresses two issues: adding art therapists to OHA’s provider lists so they can bill Medicaid mental‑health codes and creating a provisional license status to align art therapy licensure with other mental‑health professions. She noted art therapists in Oregon currently often must maintain secondary licenses such as LPC or LCSW to bill Medicaid, which increases administrative costs and slows workforce entry for new graduates.

“This bill preserves high standards,” Dr. Andress said, noting provisional licensees would complete two full years of supervised practice and fully licensed art therapists must pass a national board certification exam.

Senator Casey Chama also spoke in support, describing art therapy’s application with refugee and immigrant children and urging the committee to expand tools available to the behavioral‑health workforce.

Committee staff said the bill builds on prior legislation that created a dedicated art therapy license in 2019. Testimony described the bill as intended to align licensure and reimbursement systems without increasing state costs.

The committee closed the public hearing on HB 3,761 and scheduled a work session for Tuesday, May 6.