World Renowned Soprano Renée Fleming and Legendary Singer-Songwriter Billy Joel Urge Governor Hochul to Sign Bronson, Brouk Bill to Improve Access to Mental Health Care Through Creative Arts Therapy
World Renowned Soprano Renée Fleming and Legendary Singer-Songwriter Billy Joel Urge Governor Hochul to Sign Bronson, Brouk Bill to Improve Access to Mental Health Care Through Creative Arts Therapy
Press release available as PDF here.
Albany, NY November 11, 2025 — Two of New York’s most celebrated performers — world-renowned Metropolitan Opera star Renée Fleming and Long Island icon and legendary singer-songwriter Billy Joel — are calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to sign legislation that would improve access to mental health care.
The legislation — Senate Bill S1001 and Assembly Bill A3319, sponsored by Senator Samra Brouk and Assemblymember Harry Bronson — would require commercial insurance plans in New York to cover psychotherapy services provided by Licensed Creative Arts Therapists (LCATs). The legislation passed both chambers of the Legislature in the spring with broad support and now awaits the Governor’s signature.
“Every day more research confirms the power of creative arts for a wide range of medical treatments, including psychotherapy. These non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical therapies are incredibly cost-effective, so including them in insurance coverage is a win/win for patients, caregivers, and providers,” said Renée Fleming, who has long championed the use of music and the arts for specific health interventions and lifelong well-being.
Billy Joel, an advocate for arts and mental-health programs across New York, recently took to social media to offer his support, saying, “We appeal to Governor Kathy Hochul to increase access to music therapy by signing the bill advanced by the NYS Legislature mandating that commercial health insurance companies cover psychotherapy provided by Licensed Creative Arts Therapists.”
Improving Access to Proven Mental-Health Care
Under current law, many New Yorkers can access creative-arts therapy services while hospitalized but lose coverage for the same therapists once discharged. This legislation closes that gap by ensuring that when insurance covers outpatient psychotherapy by licensed mental-health providers, it also covers treatment provided by LCATs.
“For the past 15 years, I have had the privilege of working as a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist, providing evidence-based treatment to at-risk mothers, nonverbal children, and trauma survivors in hospital and outpatient settings. Despite the demonstrated effectiveness of creative arts therapy, I am often faced with the difficult task of explaining to families that comprehensive insurance coverage for LCAT services is not available,” said Maya Benattar founder of the LCAT Advocacy Coalition. “Governor Hochul, as New York continues to confront an escalating mental health crisis, improving access to qualified providers is both a moral and public health imperative. By signing A3319 into law, you will ensure that creative arts therapists can deliver critical, evidence-based care to more New Yorkers in need. From Buffalo to Garden City to Albany, we stand ready to serve — if only given the opportunity to do so.”
Creative-arts therapists use evidence-based approaches — including art, music, dance/movement, drama, and poetry therapies — to help patients process trauma, manage anxiety, and strengthen emotional resilience. They are especially effective when working with nonverbal populations, children, and the elderly. Advocates say improving access to these services will enhance continuity of care and reduce costly readmissions and emergency interventions.
Legislative Leadership and Broad Support
“Individuals have unique ways of communicating–and we must acknowledge that traditional therapy is not a one-size-fits-all treatment. Licensed Creative Arts Therapists (LCATs) are masters-level licensed practitioners specializing in mental health, psychotherapy, and the arts. My bill, S1001, will require more insurance policies to cover outpatient care provided by LCATs to expand mental health services to patients. Thank you to celebrated artists Renée Fleming and Billy Joel for championing the healing powers of creative art therapies. Together, we must help culturally competent specialists provide care to individuals who they are well qualified to serve while ensuring New Yorkers in need receive that high quality care,” said Senator Samra Brouk (D–Rochester), Chair of the Senate Committee on Mental Health.
“It is no surprise that artists like Renée Fleming and Billy Joel, who have devoted their lives and careers to music, understand the benefits of music and art therapy for emotional wellbeing and mental health care. Licensed Creative Arts Therapy provides many advantages and is an important component to successful, dignified care for patients — especially those who do not respond to traditional modes of ‘talk’ therapy, such as nonverbal individuals. Put simply, the only way a person who is nonverbal can access psychotherapy is through creative art therapy,” said Assemblymember Harry Bronson (D–Rochester). “This is why it is so imperative that Governor Kathy Hochul increase access to Licensed Creative Arts Therapy for New Yorkers by signing my Assembly Bill, A3319, into law. I thank the LCAT Advocacy Coalition, Renée Fleming, Billy Joel and The Joel Foundation, and my legislative colleague, Senator Samra Brouk for championing this vitally important and powerful therapeutic modality so that all people in New York have access to a mental health option that works for them.”
About S1001/A3319
S1001/A3319 amends New York’s Insurance Law §§ 3216, 3221 and 4303 to include outpatient psychotherapy by Licensed Creative Arts Therapists in commercial insurance coverage, aligning them with other licensed mental-health providers.
About Renée Fleming
Renée Fleming, raised in upstate NY, is a Grammy-winning soprano and leading international advocate for the integration of arts in healthcare. Her recent anthology, Music and Mind: Harnessing the Arts for Health and Wellness, highlights groundbreaking research on the connection between creativity and well-being.
About Billy Joel
Billy Joel, a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee from Long Island, has been a steadfast supporter of arts education, mental-health awareness, and community healing initiatives throughout New York State.
About Licensed Creative Arts Therapists
LCATs are master’s-level psychotherapists licensed by New York State who integrate creative modalities — such as art, music, dance/movement, drama, and poetry — into evidence-based mental-health treatment. They serve in hospitals, schools, clinics, and private practice, helping thousands of New Yorkers each year.
For interviews or additional information, please contact: Denise Murphy McGraw (518) 339-4535 dmurphymcgraw@hgmlobby.com
