Greetings dear NER folks! It gives me great pleasure to be addressing you for the first time as the new NER president. I have long served our professional organizations, and it seems that the time has come for me ake on this leadership position for our region. So let me just say right off that I will always do my best to fulfill this ffice with clarity of vision and an attempt to lead our region as aptly as those who came before me.

My name is Judy Nguyen Engel and I am honored to serve as the NER’s Vice-President–Elect. With my recent move to connecticut, I have been greeted with open arms and warm hearts. I am pleased to continue working with the executive board and hope to serve this region well.  I graduated from Florida State University where I received my undergraduate and graduate degrees and have eight years of clinical experience in a variety of settings including: general medical setting, hospice/palliative care, and psychiatric populations.  I am currently working with hospice and palliative care patients and have hopes to expand music therapy services for premature infants in southern Connecticut.  I have served as the Research Committee representative for the NER for the past year, as a member of the Practice Analysis Committee and will serve as a member of the Self Assessment Exam for the CBMT.

~ Welcome to our new Vice-President-Elect!

Some music therapists receive reimbursement from medical insurance companies in the New England Region. Direct reimbursement for music therapy primarily happens for people who live in the community (i.e., on their own, with their families or in group homes, but not for medical facilities) and have a medical or behavioral need for music therapy.  Many people are confused by the idea of “medical necessity” in music therapy.  Medical necessity is largely about either medical issues that need to be addressed now, or what can be done now to address and prevent medical issues that will become more problematic and cost medical insurers more money in the future.  If you have a question about reimbursement or are wondering if your client might have a “medically necessary” reason for accessing music therapy, please contact Jodie Deignan through the NER website.