Will massage become regulated in 2016? - Hometown Focus

[massage]

By Susan Santi

HTF Columnist


Getting massage state regulated in Minnesota is high on the agenda for the Alliance for Legislation of Massage Therapy (ALMT). This is in reference to the State of Minnesota passing a bill that would include specific regulations for massage therapists, providing protection for the public and freeing up local government bodies that are currently overseeing massage businesses. While 2015 did not bring passage of Bill HF 644, it is to closer to getting passed than it was a year ago.

What the bill entails is a voluntary sign-up or registration with the state for massage therapists. The perks to registering are the therapists will no longer be required to adhere to the MN Cap Law that is currently in affect for massage therapists. And it will show others in the health field that we are serious about our profession, as a Registered Massage and Bodywork Therapist (RMBT). It helps to show we have done the work to obtain the qualifications, giving us a successful integration into the health field. Massage clients could then check the registration list and have the confidence of finding someone who is truly qualified to work on them. As it stands right now there is no way to deter under-qualified people from doing massage. This bill won’t completely eradicate them, but it will help to cut down the numbers.

According to the American Massage Therapy Assoc. (AMTA) website, “Massage therapy has a significant impact on a person’s health and well-being. The public has a right to expect that a massage therapist has the qualifications to practice effectively and safely. So, legal recognition of the practice of massage therapy and clearly stated requirements to practice are essential to promote the profession and protect the health, safety and welfare of the general public.”

Before the Minnesota House of Representatives closed out the 2015 session, the bill did make it out of the House Health and Human Services Reform committee. And the bill is said to be in a good position to go before the Government Operations committee and the Senate Health and Human Services policy for 2016. Session for the House will begin March 8, 2016.

The state of Minnesota is long overdue to be state regulated. It is one of the last five states who haven’t made a commitment for massage regulation. As the ALMT website says, “Credentials Count!” If you go to their blog there are reasons given by massage therapists as to why they feel we should be state regulated. If you think about it, other health professionals, i.e. nurses, doctors, physical therapists, are all required to pass certain criteria to get their credentials before they can work; the same should go for massage therapists. A tremendous amount of work has been put into getting this bill passed. I believe it is just a matter of time and it will be. I am hopeful it will be this year.

Source: amtamn.org; almtmn.wordpress.com.

Susan Santi is a certified massage therapist and owner of Ahhh Massage in Virginia, MN. Feel free to contact her with questions at 218- 410-2144.

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