Advocacy

Main Issues:

1. Practice Framework – Most professions have what is called a Practice Framework that directs many of the other things like licensing, legislation, and include a vision, mission, definitions of terms, scope of practice (Model Practice Act), Education Standards, curriculum (ELAP), licensing, career progression (Massage school, Board Certification, Specialty Certifications, Degrees) that is updated regularly. The Massage Profession has pieces of it but they are not implemented which often leads to fighting fires in the massage profession (DoE ruling, license portability, Illicit businesses, etc)
   
2. Licensing and Legislation – Most states have massage licensing acts that set requirements for licensing as a massage therapist except for Minnesota, Wyoming, Kansas. Vermont has a unique requirement to register as a MT. California has a volunatary certification process.
   Scope of Practice. Scope of practice and definitions vary greatly and some states have allowed specific disiplines to be able to be exempt from massage licensing like Rolfing and Reflexology.
   License Portability – The lack of portablity between states makes it difficult to move and continue practice. Compact Licensure is being worked on by the Federation of Massage State Boards and the Dept. of Defense.
   Illicit Businesses – While many states have language in their laws saying the only a licensed massage therapist can say they are providing massage services, the laws usually make it only a civil penalty and law enforcement agencies do not know how to handle these crimes. Requests for other services to licensed massage therapists are harrassment and are ignored by law enforcement.
   
   Interstate Massage Compact – IMpact is a bill that would allow some massage therapists to work temporarily in other states. It was created by the Department of Defense and the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards but is currently opposed by AMTA, the leading membership association, despite not polling their members. Learn more.
   
3. Healthcare Integration – Massage therapy has long been on the list of care for Pain and with the Opioid epidemic continuing to grow, the demand for massage to be covered by health insurance is at an all time high. There have been some really important events in the history of the profession leading us toward getting massage therapy to be covered by Medicare/Medicaid and all health insurance, yet he massage profession may not ready for it though. The lack of advocacy is clear across the US and in WA State where massage therapists have been able to bill health insurance for medically necessary massage for over 20 years. Low allowable fees, lack of a survey of the cost of doing business and a working relationship with the insurance carriers has hindered progress. It is all because of legislative advocacy. In WA State The Every Category Law was created in 1993 which mandated coverage of massage, naturopathic medicine and accupuncture. The insurance companies fought it but the insurance commissioner won. Why are other states so far behind?
   
4. Education: Entry Level Education and Advanced Education. Currently, the recommended entry level education requirements has been determined by the Entry level Analysis Project (ELAP) which was done in 2012. The NCBTMB offers a Board Certification requiring 500 hours of education and specialty certificates in various categories but no true Board Certifications in the various categories. There actually has not been any studies done to show what is needed for advanced education requirements. There has also been talk of tiered licensing for over 30 years and no research done on if it is needed or how it would effect the massage profession. The recent ruling by the Department of Education has set the profession putting out fires.
   
5. Continuing Education is required in most states although there is NO research that has been done to show if CE helps with professional development. The number of classes available in techniques, theory and business is astornomical with students not required to take tests upon completion of classes. This needs to be studied futher. There is a difference between Continuing Competence and Continuing Education. What is needed to continue practicing safely and effectively beyond basis massage school?
   
6. Illicit Massage Businesses. The number of Sexually Oriented Businesses Disguised as Massage Businesses is growing across the US. Most State licensing laws have laws that say only a licensed massage therapist can provide masssage, yet these businesses hide in plain sight making it difficult to know the difference. Knowing what the key signs are, creating city/county ordinances, researching if establishment licensing is working, and implementing the Hands Off Our Name Initiative is essential to solving this issue. It is grueling work because of the horrific stories so having a local network of massage therapists and community members can help.