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Alaska Chiropractors want to license LMT's under their board

Yesterday Alaska AMTA chapter sent out a revised annual meeting agenda. They have added a new agenda item.

New Agenda Item

A draft proposal from the Board of Chiropractic Examiners will be discussed at our Annual Meeting. We will have copies of the draft proposal available to members and hold a discussion.

The
Board of Chiropractic Examiners will soon be discussing a draft
proposal that would license massage therapists under their board. The
proposal includes adding two massage therapists to their board, creating
a seven member board, requiring applicants to pass the NCBTMB or MBLEx
and applicants will have to show proof of a completed course of study of
at least 500 hours in a massage program
approved by the board.

This
proposal will be discussed at the Chiropractic Examiners Board Meeting
Oct. 15th at 11;15 a.m., with public comment at 11:45 a.m at
550 West 7th Ave., Suite 1270 Atwood Building, Anchorage, AK., if you
would like to receive a copy of the agenda for this meeting, contact
Debora Stovern: debora.stovern@alaska.gov

309 Breeze Ct.

Anchorage, Alaska 99515

Questions I have:
1. Are there any other states besides Maryland that license LMT's under their chiropractic board?
2. What are your opinions re pros & cons of being licensed under chiropractor board

I was originally not going to attend the annual meeting but have decided that I will go after all. I am currently preparing a list of question I want to ask at the meeting.

I would appreciate any input and opinions on this matter.

Thanks,
Jeanette

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Daniel Cohen on October 9, 2010 at 10:04am

Why should massage be under another profession's board? I hope the Alaska Massage Therapists will use this as an argument for forming their own board. Not all Massage Therapists work for Chiropractors, although many do. During the long fight for State Certified Massage in California the Chiropractors' Association was a strong opponent, fearing the loss of income generated by Massage Therapists working in Chiropractic Offices. What is the reason that they want to regulate massage in this way?

It hardly seems professional, to me, that Massage Therapists would have a minority voice in regulating their own profession.

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Permalink Reply by Jeanette Stack on October 10, 2010 at 11:47am

Thank you for your comment.

A massage therapist who participated at the Alaska AMTA chapter meeting has an appointment with a state representative this next week and was looking for more talking points and suggestions. I will pass your comment along.

At the meeting another massage therapist who has a chiropractic friend said that the chiropractors reason for trying to do this is because they are having increasing difficulties getting insurance companies to pay for massage treatments at their office that are provided by "unlicensed massage therapists".

This same LMT also stated that the chiropractors also had a meeting a few hours before the AMTA meeting. Apparently there is some disagreement amongst them about this and that massage therapists were not included in this discussion and drafting of the proposed amendment to their statute. Supposedly they are planning on dropping this for now, but I will still attend their board meeting to confirm this and possible ask questions during their public comment period.

There were copies of their draft proposal. They listed NCTMB or MBLex and a test (written, practical & oral) administered by their board as requirements. They include all body workers (Rolfing, reflexology, Reiki, Polarity therapy...), all modalities that are recommended by AMTA to be exempt, to be required to be licensed by their board.

The last serious licensing attempt by Alaskan massage therapist, about 2 years ago, mainly AMTA members, caused quite a stir amongst massage therapists. The Alaska chapter had a written draft proposal and a sponsor for the bill but things fell apart during the public comment period. The Alaska chapter is very small and has a difficult time with getting communication out across the state to non-amta members. A lot of therapist were upset about not having heard anything about the licensing efforts of the AMTA and felt that there is no need for licensing massage that comes with pesky regulations and rules and are worried that they will be restricted in their scope of practice.

Here in Alaska massage therapist can pretty much do what ever they want as long as it is not specifically regulated by an existing statute for PT's, Chiropractors, or other established professional board.

I believe it is only a matter of time before the Chiropractors or another board try again to license massage therapy under them and it would be in our interest for all massage therapists to unit and fight for our own board. But that is only my humble opinion.

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Permalink Reply by Jimmy Gialelis on October 11, 2010 at 9:51am

A positive step for Alaskan LMTs as long as scope of practice isn't diminished greatly. Will LMTs still be able to stretch and manipulate soft tissues freely or will there be restrictions on employable techniques? Will reflexology, reiki or other masssage-related modalities be covered as well?

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Permalink Reply by Joyce Laine on October 18, 2010 at 9:07pm

I am a massage therapy teacher at a local career college in Anchorage. I became aware of the little-advertised proposal to license massage therapists and other body workers under the Ak Chiropractic Board. I have heard rumors of requiring massage therapists and Rolfers take and pass courses on Chinese herbs, among other things, that may have nothing to do with one's practice of massage therapy or Rolfing.
Why has this been kept so quiet? Why is the Chiropractic Board interested in regulating massage therapists? Why have no therapists, Rolfers, even chiropractors been informed of the possibility of this suggested regulation?

I practiced massage therapy in Anchorage for 17 years, always licensed and certified.

Though I am not actively practicing at this time. I stay both licensed and nationally certified for my job as certified instructor of massage therapy.If I were to have to take various arbitrary courses outside of my specific field in order to stay licensed and certified, I would likely lose my job. Please do not support this proposal; it has not been thoroughly thought through, nor has it been presented to the massage and Rolfing communities for their input. Thank you for your time. Joyce Laine CMT, LMT