Legislative Hullabaloos in WV and TN

As usual, the opinions on my blog are my opinions and not to be construed as the opinions of anyone else.

I haven’t had much to say on the legislative front for a few months…when the legislators go home for the summer, not much is happening; then there tend to be shorter sessions in the fall before they take a break for the holidays and not much happens then, either. Well, the break is over, and how.

I received a press release from the NCBTMB yesterday announcing what amounts to a win for them in the state of WV. Here it is:

The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) is pleased to share the news that Nationally Certified Massage Therapists in West Virginia will continue to have their services covered by the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA). Initially, the PEIA Finance Board considered discontinuing massage therapy coverage altogether as a cost-savings measure, but with input from NCBTMB, the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) and practicing therapists, it will still cover active employees and non-Medicare retirees who visit massage therapists with national certification.

The new financial plan goes into effect July 1, 2012. Certified therapists must also carry $2 million in malpractice insurance as well as follow treatment guidelines of the AMTA.

“NCBTMB commends the Public Employees Insurance Agency for providing their employees with access to nationally certified massage therapists who commit to a code of ethics, standards of practice and pass a national credentialing exam,” said NCBTMB CEO Mike Williams. “We see this as a win-win situation for both PEIA employees and Nationally Certified Massage Therapists in the state of West Virginia.”

“PEIA has an obligation to state employees to cover necessary medical treatments, but also an obligation to the state of West Virginia to be fiscally responsible,” stated PEIA Executive Director Ted Cheatham. “We stand behind the PEIA Finance Board and its decision to only accept massage therapy claims from therapists who meet the new criteria.”

Disclaimer: I am Nationally Certified myself and have been since 2000. I am not obligated to maintain that; I just do because I want to. When I got licensed, it was also the only option available, as it was in most states for many years, saving those few that have their own exam. As any of my long-time readers know, I’ve had my ups and downs with the NCBTMB, criticized them many times, and applauded them when I thought they deserved it. I am also a member of AMTA, and due to having multiple coverage on different policies I have as a business owner and employer, I personally have $12 million of liability insurance. If I lived in WV, I’d be good to go.

My first thought on this was that it will be challenged immediately by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards. I’d bet the farm on it. West Virginia is a member state of the Federation. The Federation, and thus the member states, own the MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Exam) which is accepted by the state of WV, as is the NCB exam. Therapists in that state have a choice of which exam to take in order to get licensed. READ MORE...