Washington State Massage Therapy Association General News

APRIL SUPPORT GROUPS

Jo Elan Collins Beldin — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 23:43:51 GMT

LMT SUPPORT GROUP

4 MAY 2026 | 7:00 PM | Zoom

Allison Hanelt, LMT will joint us to discuss regulations and best practices for chart notes when working with insurance companies whether you use paper or electronic notes.

https://www.mywsmta.org/event-6658380

Dagmar Growe, LMT

WSMTA Clinical Practices Program

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PRACTICE OWNERS & MANAGEMENT SUPPORT GROUP

13 MAY 2026 | 7:00 PM | Zoom

This month we continue our Practice Management Software discussion series and share research on what best meets our business needs.

https://www.mywsmta.org/event-6658391

Susan Rosen, LMT

WSMTA Clinical Practices Program Director

What to Look for in Contracts: Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Chelsea DeSouza — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 18:27:17 GMT

I recently found myself hitting my head against the wall over a contract I had signed. As a small business owner, I don’t know what I was thinking when I agreed to a contract that locked me in for three years! I guess I had stars in my eyes, thinking nothing in my life or business would change and everything would be smooth sailing.

Oh, how wrong I was.

From being a solo practitioner to managing a full-time practice with five employees—and then back to solo again—my business has gone through many changes, I couldn’t have predicted any of it.

It wasn’t until I was sitting in one of the WSMTA LMT Support Group meetings, listening to other therapists vent about the contracts they had signed with insurance companies, that it finally clicked for me: I didn’t understand the contract I had signed either. I thought I had no negotiating power, so I just signed and (confession time) didn’t even read the fine print. Yet another forehead slap moment. And to make matters worse, this contract wasn’t even insurance-related!

I kept berating myself, thinking I should have known better. But as I listened to other LMTs, I realized—this is just part of being in business. Ideally, we’re working with companies that have their customers (us!) in mind, but the reality is, many contracts are filled with confusing language that can lead us astray (been there, done that, got the invoice).

Whether you’re credentialed with insurance or not, understanding the contracts you sign is essential. Some of the common contracts LMTs are entering into include:

Business insurance agreements
Laundry service contracts
Commercial leases
Independent contractor agreements
Partnership agreements
Retail or vendor agreements
Reseller or Wholesale Agreement

WSMTA has written several articles on understanding contracts, like this one on terminating an insurance contract or this one on Supporting House Bill 1589 Insurance Contract Fairness—but the same principles apply across the board. We’ve seen firsthand how contracts can make or break your confidence, income, and even your schedule.

Here are some tips to know before signing any contract.

Read the Fine Print (Yes, All of It!).

Before signing any contract, it’s crucial to read the fine print. We understand how tedious and time-consuming this can be, but take it from the thousands of LMTs who are currently stuck in unfavorable contracts—sometimes paying to work instead of getting paid for their labor. Don’t rush through the process. Take your time, highlight areas of concern, and ask questions if something doesn’t make sense.

Avoid Costly Audits.

Imagine being in a situation where an insurance carrier audits your practice, or you want to cancel a contract and they make you do a buy out, and you find yourself responsible for paying out hundreds to thousands of dollars—all because of a small clause buried in your contract. Unfortunately, this scenario is all too real for many therapists. That's why we offer our regular support group for clinic owners and managers, where you can ask questions, review contracts, and get the guidance needed to avoid these costly mistakes.

Understand Your Reimbursement Rates

One of the most critical aspects of any insurance contract is the reimbursement rate. Ensure that the rates outlined in the contract are clear, consistent, and align with the standard rates for your services. Look out for language that allows the insurer to change rates without prior notice or agreements that lock you into low reimbursement rates for extended periods.

Watch for Hidden Fees and Costs

Contracts can sometimes include administrative fees or costs related to billing and processing claims. These hidden fees can add up, reducing your profit margins. Read the fine print and calculate how these costs could impact your bottom line.

Know the Billing and Coding Requirements

Insurance companies often have specific billing and coding requirements. Missteps in this area can lead to rejected claims, delayed payments, or reduced reimbursements. Make sure you fully understand the required billing procedures and maintain accurate records to support your claims.

Be Aware of Termination Clauses

Termination clauses outline how either party can end the contract. Look for clauses that allow the company to terminate the contract without cause or with minimal notice. Ideally, you want a contract that provides a fair process for termination, giving you time to adjust and secure other resources.

Avoid Exclusive Contracts

Some companies may require you to sign an exclusive contract, preventing you from working with other companies of the like. This can limit your practice’s growth or financial stability. Aim for contracts that allow flexibility and autonomy in your business decisions.

Look for Authorization and Pre-Approval Requirements

Many insurance contracts include provisions for prior authorization or pre-approval for certain services. Failing to meet these requirements can result in denied claims and lost revenue. Familiarize yourself with these stipulations and create a process to manage them efficiently.

Clarify Your Liability and Risk

Understand what liabilities you are taking on by signing the contract. Some agreements may shift the burden of risk onto you, making you responsible for unpaid patient bills or discrepancies in claims. Avoid contracts with broad indemnity clauses that can expose your practice to undue financial risk.

Check for Dispute Resolution Processes

A good contract should include clear procedures for resolving disputes. This might involve mediation, arbitration, or legal proceedings. Make sure the process is fair and that you are not waiving important rights by agreeing to specific terms.

Evaluate the Length and Renewal Terms

Long-term contracts may seem like a sign of stability, but they can also trap you in unfavorable conditions. Understand the renewal terms and whether the contract automatically renews or if there is an opportunity to renegotiate.

You Have Options: Accept, Negotiate, or Decline

When it comes to contracts, it’s easy to feel like you have to accept whatever is offered, but that’s not the case. You always have the option to accept the terms, negotiate for better conditions, or walk away if the contract doesn’t serve your best interests. The power to decide is yours, and it’s worth taking the time to make an informed choice.

In Conclusion:

Curious what my contract was for? Laundry services. Yep, a three-year contract I signed without batting an eye. I paid $2,400 annually for a service I barely used because my workload had changed significantly.

It was an expensive lesson, but one I’m now grateful for. It woke me up to the importance of reading every line, even in contracts that seem routine. Next time, you better believe I’ll have a pen, a highlighter, and maybe even a buddy with me to help review the details—so I know exactly what I’m committing to.

Learn from my mistake. Whether it's a vendor, lease, or insurance agreement—read it, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to say no. You have more power than you think.

Have you signed a contract you shouldn’t have? Join the conversation on Facebook!

How Our Support Group Can Help

At our Members Support group for clinic owners and managers, we dive deep into contract-related questions, offering a safe space to explore the fine print, share experiences, and learn from others. Whether you're considering a new contract or re-evaluating an existing one, our community is here to provide support, insights, and resources to ensure you make the best decisions for your practice.

BECOME A MEMBER

Tense Muscles and Tariffs: What Global Trade Has to Do With Your Massage Table

Chelsea DeSouza — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 12:00:00 GMT

✍️Tariffs? That’s Above My Pay Grade... Right?

If you’re like most massage therapists, “tariffs” sound like something out of a government textbook or a heated political debate. But the truth is — even if we never discuss them with clients — tariffs can quietly ripple into our practices. From the oils we choose to the costs of supplies, global trade can hit close to home... even when our work is deeply local.

Let’s break this down — in plain English — so you can feel confident talking about how tariffs may affect your business and your clients.

WHAT ARE TARIFFS (AND WHY SHOULD YOU CARE)?

A tariff is a tax on imported goods. The idea is that by taxing foreign products, we encourage domestic buying.

Proponents say tariffs protect American jobs and businesses.
Critics argue they can raise prices on everyday goods and disrupt small businesses like ours.

I’m not here to debate policy — but I am here to make sense of how this affects your massage table, your wallet, and the way you serve your clients.

MASSAGE THERAPISTS: LOCAL BUSINESS, GLOBAL SUPPLY

Massage therapists usually operate with low overhead:

Laundry? Local.
Rent? Local.
Clients? Definitely local.

But products? Not always.

Many of the best oils, essential blends, or even certain tools are imported. For example:

Organic jojoba oil from Argentina
Shea butter from West Africa
Essential oils from France, India, or Morocco

Heck, even Amazon might start charging more for our beloved therapy tools like that jade gua sha, hot stones, bolsters, or that one cupping set we swear we’ll use more often (right after we organize the linen closet).

I’ve seen it firsthand with my skincare line. A sudden tariff or trade delay can mean:

Price hikes (sometimes overnight)
Long shipping times
Limited access to certain ingredients

These effects don’t just hit product makers — they hit practitioners, too.

THE RIPPLE EFFECT: INFLATION & CLIENT BEHAVIOR

Tariffs don’t just touch your supply cabinet — they also contribute to inflation across the board.

When gas and groceries become more expensive, your clients may start re-evaluating their spending. And as we all know, self-care is often the first thing to go.

That doesn’t mean you need to panic — but it’s smart to stay financially nimble.
Here’s how tariffs and inflation may trickle into your day-to-day:

Cash-paying clients might begin to space out appointments or ask about shorter sessions.
Insurance-covered clients may remain more stable, as co-pays are usually fixed.
Retail sales (like skincare or supplements) may dip if clients are cutting back.

CHECK-IN WITH YOUR OWN FINANCIAL WELL-BEING

Before making adjustments for others, start with your own stability.
Put your own mask on first.

Review your business and personal expenses
Identify your non-negotiables (rent, marketing, product costs)
See where you can trim or streamline
Decide in advance what kind of flexibility you can offer clients — and where you need to hold your boundaries

A GOOD TIME TO VISIT YOUR LONG-TERM PLAN

Tariffs and inflation may feel out of your control — and to some extent, they are. But moments like these are powerful reminders to revisit your long-term business plan.

Ask yourself:

What systems do I have in place for price changes?
Do I have clear boundaries around cancellations, rescheduling, and late payments?
Am I prepared to shift my offerings if client needs or global circumstances change?
This could be the right season to:

Draft a clear pricing policy that includes how and when you might raise rates
Put terms in writing that protect both you and your clients
Think through your sustainability strategy — so you’re not caught off guard next time

We never know what tomorrow will bring. But when we take the opportunity to expand or adjust now, we create more stability in the future — for ourselves and for the clients who depend on us.

Being proactive now builds resilience later.

CREATIVE WAYS TO SUPPORT YOUR CLIENTS (AND YOURSELF)

With some simple, thoughtful shifts, you can continue to care for clients — even when money is tight for them — without compromising your business.

Consider:

Sliding Scale Options — Offer a tiered payment system for those experiencing financial hardship
Payment Plans — Allow loyal clients to pay over time for packages
Mini or Maintenance Sessions — Shorter, lower-cost treatments to keep clients in care
Customized Treatment Plans — Offer bundled services that fit their budget while still delivering value

You don’t have to offer all of these — but thinking through a few options ahead of time helps you be both empathetic and prepared.

EMPOWERED TALKING POINTS (FOR CLIENTS OR COLLEAGUES)

Here are some neutral, informative responses you can use:

“A lot of our products rely on global supply chains, and tariffs can change how fast or affordably we can get them.”
“We support local as much as possible, but some of the ingredients that make our treatments so effective are sourced from small farms around the world.”
“When prices go up, we always look at what we can do to maintain quality without compromising your care.”

These statements show you're informed — and that you care.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

✅ Support Local Suppliers: Washington has some incredible small businesses supporting massage therapists - by doing a quick google search you can find a handful that will ship to your door.
✅ Educate Yourself (a Little): Just enough to feel confident — no need for a trade degree.
✅ Start Conversations: Clients appreciate transparency and trust.
✅ Connect With WSMTA: We’re always here to help you stay informed, empowered, and connected.

CLOSING THOUGHT: MASSAGE THERAPY IS LOCAL — BUT WE’RE NOT ISOLATED

Your work is rooted in your community. But global events — including tariffs — can still find their way into your practice.
You don’t have to know everything. But you can know enough to stay grounded, connected, and proactive.

Let’s keep the conversation going. Because informed therapists are empowered therapists. Want to get these updates in your inbox? Sign Up For Our Email List Here.

Enhancing Your Client Care: Robust Charting and Stronger Intakes

Chelsea DeSouza — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 13:00:00 GMT

The beginning of the year is a great time to reassess intake forms and charting processes. You may want to clear space by removing outdated records that exceed legal retention requirements or updating consent forms for clients with significant health changes. As a healthcare-focused massage therapist, robust charting and thorough intake processes are fundamental to delivering effective treatments, ensuring continuity of care, and maintaining legal and ethical standards. Prioritizing these aspects of your practice enhances both client outcomes and your professional credibility.

1. The Role of Charting as a Healthcare Provider

In Washington state, Licensed Massage Therapists (LMTs) are legally recognized as healthcare providers, not just service providers under Chapter 18.108 RCW . This distinction means that thorough documentation is critical to meeting professional standards, supporting clients' health journeys, and collaborating effectively with other healthcare professionals. Charting is an essential part of integrating massage therapy into the broader healthcare system and ensuring clients receive comprehensive, informed care.

2. Building a Strong Foundation with Detailed Intakes

A comprehensive intake process allows you to gain a clear understanding of your client’s health history, lifestyle, and specific concerns. While it may be tempting to rely on verbal check-ins, written documentation ensures accuracy, reduces the risk of missing key health indicators, and creates a professional standard for your practice.

What Should a Thorough Intake Include?

Medical history: Chronic conditions, past injuries, surgeries, medications, and contraindications.
Pain and symptom assessment: Using pain scales, body charts, and functional assessments.
Lifestyle and occupational factors: Sedentary habits, repetitive motions, stress levels, and sleep quality.
Client goals and expectations: Understanding what they hope to achieve through massage therapy.
Informed consent and treatment plans: Clarifying boundaries, modalities used, and frequency of sessions.

A well-documented intake ensures that each session is tailored to the client’s evolving needs, providing a roadmap for effective treatments.

3. The Role of Robust Charting in Client Care

Charting is the backbone of tracking progress, adjusting treatment plans, and providing continuity of care. Detailed documentation not only helps you remember critical details but also demonstrates professionalism and accountability in the event of audits or insurance claims. Additionally, proper documentation allows LMTs to collaborate effectively with primary care providers, chiropractors, physical therapists, and other healthcare professionals who may also be working with the client.

Best Practices for Effective Charting

SOAP Notes: Utilizing the Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan (SOAP) framework ensures structured and useful documentation.
- Subjective: What the client reports about their condition (e.g., “Lower back pain, 6/10, worsens with prolonged sitting”).
- Objective: Your observations and findings, including posture, range of motion, and palpation notes.
- Assessment: How the client responded to the session, changes in symptoms, and patterns observed.
- Plan: Recommendations for future sessions, at-home care, and any referrals if necessary.
Consistency and Legibility: Whether digital or handwritten, notes should be clear, concise, and recorded within 24-hours after each session.
HIPAA Compliance: If you store electronic records, ensure they meet privacy standards and are securely stored.

While SOAP notes are not explicitly required under Washington state law, WAC 246-830-565 mandates that LMTs maintain comprehensive and legible records within 24 hours of treatment, ensuring thorough documentation of each client session. (WAC 246-830-565)

4. Legal and Ethical Implications of Charting and Intakes

Proper documentation isn’t just about good practice; it is also a legal safeguard. If a client has a reaction to treatment, disputes services, or requires continuity of care with another healthcare provider, your records become critical evidence of professional responsibility.

Washington State Legal Requirements for Charting

LMTs in Washington must follow the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) regulations regarding documentation. The following are required elements for legally compliant charting:

Client health history and initial assessment
Informed consent for treatment
Charting for each session
Objective findings and progress notes
Referrals and recommendations made to other healthcare providers
Contraindications and modifications made during treatment
Retention of Records: Washington state requires that client records be maintained for at least three years following the last treatment session (contracts with insurers may specify a longer period). (WAC 246-830-570)
Updating Intake Forms: Clients should complete a new intake form at least annually or whenever significant health changes occur.
Renewing Informed Consent: Consent for treatment should be reviewed and renewed at least once a year or whenever a new treatment approach is introduced. (WAC 246-830-500)
Recordkeeping Standards: Comprehensive client records must be maintained in alignment with Washington state standards for healthcare documentation. (WAC 246-830-565)

Failure to adhere to these requirements can lead to legal consequences, insurance claim denials, or professional disciplinary actions. Staying compliant with WAC regulations ensures ethical and professional integrity in your practice.

5. Enhancing Client Relationships Through Strong Documentation

Clients appreciate a therapist who listens attentively and remembers their preferences, goals, and sensitivities. Strong documentation allows you to:

Show clients their progress over time, reinforcing the benefits of regular massage therapy.
Identify patterns in their symptoms that they may not have noticed.
Provide personalized recommendations for self-care, strengthening trust, and adherence to treatment plans.

Final Thoughts: Elevating Professional Standards

Emphasizing detailed charting and thorough intakes positions you as a knowledgeable, responsible, and effective healthcare provider. By treating documentation as an integral part of your practice, you enhance the quality of care you deliver, protect yourself legally, and strengthen your role in the broader healthcare community.

WSMTA encourages all massage therapists to refine their intake and charting methods as part of their professional development. Investing time in these practices not only benefits clients but also elevates the massage therapy profession as a whole.

Are your charting and intake practices up to standard? Find us on Facebook and let us know how you ensure thorough documentation in your practice!

Understanding the Role of Massage Therapists as Licensed Healthcare Providers

Chelsea DeSouza — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 22:42:39 GMT

Washington State is unique in recognizing Licensed Massage Therapists (LMTs) as healthcare providers. This classification, established under the Health Professions Act (RCW 18.108), grants massage therapists a professional standing distinguishing them from personal service providers. But what does this mean for LMTs, their clients, and the broader healthcare system? In this article, we take a deep dive into Washington’s classification of massage therapists and explore the benefits of this status.

Healthcare Provider vs. Service Provider: Key Differences

A healthcare provider is under the oversight of the Department of Health and is a licensed professional delivering medical or therapeutic care based on standardized education, regulatory oversight, and a defined scope of practice. Depending on their scope of practice, these professionals may diagnose, treat, and manage health conditions while being accountable to state health authorities.

A service provider is under the oversight of the Department of Licensing which regulates everything from architects, bail bonds, and cosmetologists to embalmers, private investigators, and vehicle dealers. These service providers are regulated and have laws and regulations to follow. While some of these service provider professions may focus on relaxation, aesthetics, or wellness they do not operate within the healthcare system or bill medical insurance.

Key Distinctions:

Regulation & Oversight: Healthcare providers must meet state licensing requirements, maintain continuing education, and adhere to professional standards. Service providers have fewer regulations and typically operate under business licensure.
Insurance & Reimbursement: Healthcare providers, including LMTs in Washington, can bill medical insurance for medically necessary treatments. Service providers usually accept direct payments.
Collaboration & Integration: Licensed health care providers work with medical professionals, while service providers function independently.
Legal Protections: Healthcare providers are recognized under state laws with specific protections and responsibilities. Service providers do not share this legal recognition.

For an official definition of a health care provider, visit the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS):https://www.hhs.gov/ and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):https://www.cms.gov/.

What Does It Mean to Be a Licensed Health Care Provider?

Being classified as a licensed health care provider in Washington means massage therapists must meet rigorous education, training, and regulatory requirements. LMTs are overseen by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Board of Massage, ensuring adherence to professional standards, ethical guidelines, and ongoing continuing education.

As part of licensing requirements, Washington LMTs must:

Complete a Workforce approved massage therapy program with a minimum of 625 hours of instruction.
Pass the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) or an equivalent test.
Adhere to HIPAA regulations for client confidentiality.
Fulfill continuing education credits, including training in ethics, infection control, and professional boundaries.

Upleveling Professionalism Through Compliance

To maintain professionalism and fully embrace their role as health care providers, Washington LMTs must ensure their charting and intake forms comply with WAC requirements for LMTs. Proper documentation enhances credibility, protects both the practitioner and client, and ensures adherence to legal and ethical standards.

Additionally, LMTs should familiarize themselves with their city or county municipal codes to ensure their business operations align with local regulations. Understanding these municipal requirements can prevent legal complications and enable LMTs to operate with confidence.

The Benefits of Health Care Provider Status

This designation carries several advantages, both for therapists and their clients.

1. Insurance Reimbursement & Accessibility

One of the most significant benefits of being a licensed healthcare provider is the ability to bill insurance for medically necessary massage therapy. In Washington, LMTs can work with:

Health insurance
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) claims from auto accidents
Workers’ compensation claims through the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I).

This increases accessibility to therapeutic massage, ensuring those needing treatment for pain management, injury recovery, and rehabilitation receive care.

2. Collaboration with Other Health Care Professionals

Because massage therapists hold recognized healthcare status, they can collaborate more effectively with other providers, such as physical therapists, chiropractors, and physicians. This allows for integrated treatment plans improving clinical outcomes and patient care.

3. Professional Credibility and Legal Protections

LMTs benefit from credibility coming from being part of the healthcare profession. This classification differentiates them from unlicensed bodyworkers or spa service providers and reinforces the therapeutic nature of their work. Additionally, it provides legal protections under Washington state law, ensuring licensed massage therapists are recognized as legitimate medical providers rather than personal service workers.

4. Enhanced Career Opportunities

Recognition as health care providers opens doors for LMTs to work in various settings beyond private practice, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, chiropractic clinics, and sports medicine facilities. This broadens career options, increases earning potential, and improves job security.

The Role of WSMTA in Advocacy and Professional Support

The Washington State Massage Therapy Association (WSMTA) is a vital organization advocating for LMTs and ensuring the profession remains recognized as part of the health care system. WSMTA provides legislative advocacy, professional development opportunities, and community support to help LMTs navigate changes in policy, insurance reimbursement, and practice regulations. By working closely with state lawmakers, WSMTA plays a key role in protecting massage therapists' rights and scope of practice.

On a broader scale, national organizations such as the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) and the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) also offer professional support, education, and advocacy at a national and state level. These organizations help elevate the profession, create unified standards, and provide resources for continued growth and recognition of massage therapy as a legitimate healthcare service on a national level.

Summary:

Washington’s classification of massage therapists as licensed healthcare providers is a significant recognition of the profession’s medical value. This status benefits LMTs by granting professional credibility, legal protections, and greater career opportunities, while also making therapeutic massage more accessible to the public. By ensuring compliance with WAC documentation requirements, understanding local municipal codes, and engaging with organizations like WSMTA and national advocacy groups, massage therapists can continue shaping the future of the profession and advocating for their rights within the health care system.

Resources

Washington State RCW 18.108 - Massage Therapists:https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=18.108
Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 246-830 - Massage Practitioners:https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=246-830
Local Municipal Code Resource: [Insert Municipal Code Resource Link] In your preferred browser (google, mozilla, etc) do a search which includes the following two things: 1) the name of your city/town, and 2) “municipal codes”. When you pull up your municipal codes, do another search for “massage” and these will generally pull up any ordinances related to massage. If you have a home-based massage practice, you should also look up your municipality's home business ordinances to ensure you are in compliance.

Did you know you are a Health Care Provider? Join the conversation on Facebook!

WSMTA MASSAGE THERAPY SUPPORT GROUP

Chelsea DeSouza — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 15:00:00 GMT

Many of us are working in isolation. Even in clinics with multiple practitioners, schedules usually leave little opportunity to connect with other therapists. WSMTA’s Clinical Practices Program offers monthly meetings to inform, discuss, vent, problem solve, and support each other.

We invite you to join these meetings on Zoom, the 1st Monday of each month, from 7 to 8:30pm.

Meetings are open to members, and non-members. Depending on topics, CE credits will be available for free to WSMTA members. Non-members may join WSMTA to receive free credit as well.

CLICK HERE to join us at our next meeting!

State Of The Association

Chelsea DeSouza — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 18:00:00 GMT

Meet Chelsea Desouza, WSMTA Membership Director

As we step into 2025, we at the Washington State Massage Therapy Association (WSMTA) are thrilled to share our accomplishments from 2024 and give you a glimpse into what lies ahead. This year marks an exciting milestone—WSMTA's 10-year anniversary! We celebrate a decade of advocating for Massage Therapy as a recognized healthcare profession in Washington State, and we couldn’t have done it without your support.

Here are some of the key achievements we’re proud to share from 2024:

Advocating for the Massage Compact Bill:
- We met with the legislative sponsor of the Massage Compact bill to express concerns about potential harm to the profession in Washington.
- Educated LMTs across the state about the Compact—what it could and couldn’t do—and polled therapists on their understanding of its implications and personal impact.
Collaborative Efforts to Improve the Compact:
- We initiated conversations with other interested parties, seeking ways to refine the Compact and make it better for Washington LMTs.
Educating on the "Cost of Living" Bill:
- Partnering with the Washington State Chiropractic Association and other groups, we informed LMTs about this legislation, how it benefits our profession, and how they could support it.
Providing Expertise to the State Board of Massage:
- By consistently offering historical context, data, and insights on key agenda items, WSMTA has become a trusted resource for the State Board of Massage.
Addressing Federal Legislation Concerns:
- We informed LMTs about a federal bill that could have far-reaching effects, including fingerprinting mandates that might disrupt practices. By raising awareness, we’re ensuring LMTs are prepared and protected.
WSMTA COVID-19 Protocols:
- Our protocols continued to lead the way, helping therapists and the public navigate safely as we progressed through the pandemic's impact on the profession

None of this would be possible without our incredible Members and Volunteers. Every one of our Board Members, Directors, and Facilitators is a volunteer who shares a passion for advancing the massage therapy profession.

If you’re not yet a member,we invite you to join us in this mission in 2025 and become part of the growing movement to elevate massage therapy in Washington State.

If you’re already a member and feel ready to give back, there are countless ways to get involved:

Advocating in Olympia
Networking with healthcare providers
Writing educational content for the next generation of LMTs
And so much more!

In the months ahead, we’ll share more relevant updates and insights about massage therapy in Washington State. Together, let’s continue to shape a brighter future for our profession.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to a successful and impactful 2025!

Chelsea DeSouza
WSMTA Membership Director
www.mywsmta.org

WSMTA is committed to Advocating for Massage Therapy in Washington State. To stay informed with essential news for this profession learn more here.

Annual Meeting and Continuing Education

WSMTA — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 15:55:18 GMT

Washington State Massage Therapy Association Annual Meeting

Greetings Washington State LMT's!

Please join the WSMTA Directors, Government Relation Program and Clinical Practices Program for the 2024 Annual Meeting.

Date: September 29, 2024 9:30AM-3:30PM

WSMTA Membership is required to attend, free to WSMTA members.

REGISTER HERE

If you are not a member and wish to attend join here.

Annual memberships are $65

This Year's Theme: How to Improve Your Practice and Quality of Life Without Losing Your Practice Or Your Mind

Annual Business Meeting: We will have Reports from the Government Relations and Clinical Practices Programs on all that they have accomplished in the past year and what they will be working on in the future!

Presentations (4.5 CE Hours*):

Information on the Interstate Massage Compact and updates on HB1655 - Provider Compensation (the cost-of-living bill): Marybeth Berney and Robbin Blake

Interstate Massage Compact: What are compacts, what is the Interstate Massage Compact and what are the pros and cons of it?
HB1655 Provider Compensation: What is it, what is happening to it this session, what can we do to help the coalition of professions supporting it?

Understanding the legal nuances of being a massage therapist: John Conniff

The “Corporate Practice of Medicine” and what all LMTs need to know about it
Why LMTs should set up as PLLCs and not LLCs
FinCEN reporting

Knowing when to pivot in your massage practice: Cherie Sohnen Moe

Deciding to make a change in your massage practice can be difficult as is knowing when to do it. This presentation will discuss knowing how to recognize when it’s time to make a change and how to go about doing it. Change comes in many forms, from knowing when to change your business model (e.g. cash vs insurance or membership; employee vs self employed or employer, etc) or when it’s time to increase or decrease your number of clients/hours, or change your primary way of doing massage.

Learn to optimize your web presence to increase business: Tory Felkey

The Importance of online presence for local businesses
Why Google is the only place online that makes room for and empowers local businesses and service providers
Statistics on local search behavior
How Google Business Profile impacts local SEO
What is a Google Business Profile
Explanation of Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business).
Available for massage therapists, clinic owners or those in private practice
How to claim and complete your Google Business Profile:https://www.google.com/business
What types of content can you post
How frequently you should post
What you should never do (how not to get banned)
How to locate the results of your efforts at Google Business Profile (read and interpret your data)

About Our Presenters:

Marybeth Berney, LMT has been a full-time licensed massage therapist in Washington since 1985. As soon as she was eligible (licensed for 3yrs.), she began working as an examiner for the Washington State Department of Health, Board of Massage.

From 1993 - 2001 Marybeth was a Washington State Board of Massage member. During those years she participated in rule writing, creating minimum curriculum requirements and creating an approval process for WA board approved massage programs. In 2007, Marybeth was appointed to the American Massage Therapy Association Washington Chapter (AMTA-WA) Board of Directors as Secretary. She spent almost 10 years as a volunteer for AMTA-WA serving as Secretary, Government Relations Director, 1st Vice President and President.

In 2015, Marybeth joined a bunch of other passionate WA massage therapists and became a part of what is now the Washington State Massage Therapy Association (WSMTA). She is the current President. Along with regulatory and association work during her career, Marybeth also provided Expert Consultant/Witness services. She contracted with the Washington State Department of Health-Legal Services Unit on many occasions, providing expertise in Standards of Practice in the massage profession. She has also contracted with several legal firms acting as an Expert Witness in civil cases involving massage practitioners.

Robbin Blake, LMT, Certified Aston-Patterner® is a graduate from the Brian Utting School of Massage 1000-hour professional licensing program in 2004. She completed an advanced certification program in Orthopedic Massage and a 750-hour training program to become a certified Aston-Patterner (structural bodywork with movement and ergonomics coaching). In total, Robbin has taken over 1,500 hours of continuing education.

Robbin has been the owner and operator of the Therapeutic Training Center, Inc. (TTCI) for the past 15 years. TTCI provides continuing education classes in massage therapy in Washington and Idaho. Robbin has also been a volunteer for the Washington State Massage Therapy Association for the past 9 years and its Government Relations Program Director since January 2019.

John Conniff, Attorney combines his broad background and practical knowledge to help his clients find workable solutions to difficult problems. For over 25 years, he has counseled individuals, businesses, professionals, legislators, and government officials.

His wide range of experience provides him with insight into the complicated connections between business and law. He has worked extensively on insurance regulation, health information privacy and security standards, health care regulatory compliance, managed health care, ERISA, and business transactions.

He represents diverse organizations, businesses and professionals including trade associations, employer health plans, insurers, and health care practitioners. In addition to currently having his own practice and having been in a partnership practice, John has been the:

Washington State Deputy Insurance Commissioner, Olympia, Washington (1993 – 2000) responsible for law and policy governing health insurance and health care reform.

Legislative Counsel, Olympia, Washington (1986 – 1993) with the Washington State House of Representatives, Office of Program Research. Responsible for laws governing insurance, managed health care, financial institutions, and related subjects including ERISA, antitrust, health care regulation, and tort liability.

Tory Felkey is a Digital Marketing Strategist with a decade-long focus on small and local businesses.

Built/launched more than 50 thriving local websites

Retained by over 20 brands to facilitate and execute sustainable growth and grow brand awareness

Preferred provider for Kitsap County 2020-2023 to educate entrepreneurs on how to build a brand using primarily free tools

Cherie Sohnen Moe is an author, business coach, and international workshop leader. She has been a successful business owner since 1978. Before shifting her focus to education and coaching, she was in private practice for many years as a massage and holistic health practitioner. She has served as a faculty member at the Desert Institute of Healing Arts (DIHA), the Clayton College of Natural Health (CCNH), and the Arizona School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ASAOM).

Cherie has written more than 200 articles that have been published in over 15 national and international magazines. She is the author of the book, Business Mastery. It is in its fifth edition, has sold more than 430,000 copies to date, and is recommended by more than 1,000 healing arts associations and schools worldwide (with 350 schools requiring it as a text). Cherie is also the author of Present Yourself Powerfully and the co-author of the ground-breaking book, The Ethics of Touch, which is used in more than 700 schools and associations with 200 requiring it as a text. Cherie and Lynda Solien-Wolfe recently co-authored the book, Retail Mastery. Cherie is a contributing author of Teaching Massage: Fundamental Principles in Adult Education for Massage Program Instructors.

Cherie holds a degree in psychology from UCLA and has extensive experience in the areas of business management, training, and creative problem solving—which combines well with her ability to support others to achieve what they want in life. Between her educational background and life experiences, the wisdom garnered from working with hundreds of clients and thousands of participants in her workshops and classes she has taught in schools, and the knowledge gained from researching hundreds of articles and several books, she is a strong resource.

She is active in many professional and community organizations and is Past-President of The Alliance for Massage Therapy Education (AFMTE). Among her honors she has received the Distinguished Service Award and the Professional Achievement Award from the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD), the Outstanding Instructor Award at the Desert Institute of Healing Arts, and is listed in several editions of Who’s Who. Cherie is a 2012 Inductee to the Massage Therapy Hall of Fame. She lives in Tucson, Arizona with her husband, Jim.

*These CE hours count for Washington State remaining hours per statute.

(Filled) WSMTA is looking for a Membership Director

WSMTA — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 21:05:21 GMT

Are you looking for a way to give back to/promote the massage profession in Washington State (and make a few bucks on the side)? If you have skills in marketing, business administration, sales or school admissions, then WSMTA is looking for YOU.

The WSMTA Board of Directors is looking for a Membership Program Director (see position description here, Volunteer Position Descriptions. You will be able to help create WSMTA’s Membership Program from the ground up. You will be a primary “face” of the organization, interacting with massage schools, current members and potential members. When certain membership goals are attained there will be a financial benefit for you!

If you are interested in being our Membership Program Director contact Marybeth Berney, WSMTA President, at mberney@mywsmta.org.

If you are curious about joining our band of passionate volunteers in clinical practices, government relations, editing and social media or as a Director– please email info@mywsmta.org and put “volunteer” in the subject line.

Insurance Resources

Carl Wilson — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 02:17:50 GMT

WSMTA is actively researching various insurance products and options you may be interested in for your practice, from Liability Insurance, Business, and Audit insurance products.

Watch this page for updated information and contacts for various insurance products for your practice.

Insurance Resources

Why I volunteer.

Carl Wilson — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 02:33:17 GMT

Dear Massage Therapists and Massage enthusiasts,

Back in 1990-91, while I was enrolled at Seattle Massage School, I attended a transformative event where I was witness to the dedication and passion of AMTA-WA Chapter board members. It was during that board meeting that I realized the pressing need for active involvement in our profession. I pledged that, once licensed, I would dedicate myself to volunteering and contributing to the growth and progress of massage therapy.

In 1992, I embarked on my volunteer journey with AMTA-WA, a commitment that extended until the early 2000s. The demands of advocating for our profession led to burnout for some, causing them to step back and focus on their practices. Yet, the external pressures on massage therapy never ceased. This underscores the importance of a continuous cycle of dedicated volunteers stepping up to ensure the well-being of our profession, fellow LMTs, and the patients we serve.

From my firsthand experience, I observed the unwavering commitment of our professional leaders, including educators, clinic owners, and practicing LMTs, who selflessly devoted their time despite the challenges and the additional time taken from their practices, classrooms, and businesses. Fast forward to today, and we continue to grapple with many of the same pressures on our profession. Issues like inadequate insurance coverage and access, the challenge of human trafficking under the guise of massage, and persistent uneven treatment in local regulations, to name but a few – all demanding our collective action and advocacy.

In 2015, we took a significant step by establishing the Washington State Massage Therapy Association (WSMTA) to champion our profession at the local state level. This organization provides an independent platform for advocacy, free from potential constraints by other professional associations and outside stakeholders. While we aim to collaborate with other associations, provider groups and stakeholders whenever possible, our primary focus remains on the advocacy and advancement of massage therapy in our state.

Over the years, WSMTA has emerged as a respected and influential voice in Washington State, with a dedicated membership that fund our operations for the benefit of all State LMT’s. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your support, which empowers us to continue our tireless advocacy efforts on behalf of the massage therapy community. Allow me to share a brief list of past and ongoing achievements:

Development of COVID Return to Practice Guides and informative webinars
Dissemination of COVID updates from Governor/DOH through our newsletters and website, offering clarifications for their implications.
Annual provision of free educational opportunities at our flagship Annual Meeting, featuring valuable CE hours.
Tireless representation and advocacy for massage therapists and WSMTA members in discussions with the Board of Massage, state agencies, and other organizations.
Instrumental assistance in revising massage ordinances in Bremerton and the City of Lacey.
Active participation in WA Health Systems Quality Assurance (HSQA) meetings to voice our concerns and contribute to discussions.
Pivotal role in developing and continuously refining comments for the Board of Massage's rules revisions through collaboration and research.
Rigorous examination of continuing education requirements, CE tracking and storage, and other pertinent matters, with ongoing research and commentary.
Establishment of key contacts for collaboration with the Office of Insurance Commissioner, third-party payers, credentialing bodies, and insurance companies.

In the state of Washington, we face unique challenges as healthcare providers. Our profession's voice often lacks the strength seen in other healthcare professions and associations. This places us at the mercy of more influential interests that shape our industry's perception and regulation. Since our profession's inception as a state licensed profession, it has been our responsibility as practitioners to stand up, raise our voices, and advocate for fair access to patients, equitable compensation, and the accountability of those who tarnish our field.

My ask is for you to join the movement and contribute to the betterment of our cherished profession. If you have ever found yourself contemplating a solution while facing a challenge, you already possess the seed of volunteerism within you. Your unique perspective, insights, and dedication are needed now more than ever. Together, we can shape the future of massage therapy, ensuring its growth, recognition, and fair treatment.

Join us in advocating for a stronger, more vibrant massage therapy community in Washington. Your voice matters, your actions make a difference, and your commitment will leave a lasting impact. Let's come together and propel our profession to new heights. Reach out to us today at info@mywsmta.org and be a part of this exciting journey.

With heartfelt gratitude and anticipation,

Carl Wilson

Director and Treasurer

Washington State Massage Therapy Association (WSMTA)

Seattle/King County Free Vision Clinic

Robbin Blake — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 02:47:13 GMT

For four days over October 20-23, 2022 there is a free vision clinic offering free vision exams and prescription eyeglasses. Anyone from the Seattle/King County region who struggles to get access or afford healthcare is welcome.

This is a first-come, first serve clinic that starts at 6am each day of the clinic and is held at Seattle Center. All medical professionals and staff are volunteers. For full details, click on this link:

https://seattlecenter.org/patients/

This clinic has been occurring annually since 2014 and has provided free medical, dental and vision services. It took a hiatus during the pandemic. This is the first year it is operating again, but only as a vision clinic as they navigate such a massive healthcare undertaking through COVID. It is possible they may offer free health and/or dental services again in future annual clinics, so keep this website in mind for 2023 if you or someone you know might benefit from their services.

Blankets Remain a Single Use Linen

Robbin Blake — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 00:37:47 GMT

Currently, in a massage practice or clinic, blankets are defined as a single service item, meaning that after every use, the blanket must be laundered. The Board of Massage had considered changing how often a blanket must be laundered but decided in it's July 29, 2022 meeting to keep blankets a single service item.

WAC 246-830-005 Definitions subsection (12) defines linens. The WAC currently states:

"Linens" means sheets, blankets, towels, gowns, pillow cases, face cradle covers, and other nonimpervious fabrics used in the practice of massage.

WAC 246-830-500 Equipment and Sanitation subsections (5) and (6) currently state:

(5) A massage therapist must provide single service materials or clean linen such as sheets, towels, gowns, pillow cases, and all other linens used in the practice of massage.

(6) Linens must be stored in a sanitary manner. All towels and linens used for one client or patient must be laundered or cleaned before they are used on any other client or patient.

The Board of Massage has been in the process of amending 5 WACs, which also included WAC 246-830-500 Equipment and Sanitation. The Board of Massage had planned to amend the language to read:

(5) A massage therapist must provide single service materials or clean ((~~linen such as sheets, towels, gowns, pillow cases, and all other~~)) linens used in the practice of massage. Linens must be stored in a sanitary manner.

(6) All ((~~towels and~~)) linens ((~~used for one~~))that come into direct contact with a client or patient must be laundered or cleaned before they are used on any other client or patient. Blankets used on a client or patient must be laundered at least once a day or when the blanket comes in direct contact with a client or patient or becomes soiled.

However, in the July 29, 2022 Board of Massage meeting, the Board of Massage decided to keep blankets a single service item, which requires laundering after each client use.

Continuing Education in Person Training Waiver Ends December 31, 2022

Robbin Blake — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 22:33:40 GMT

On September 27, 2022, the Department of Health sent an email out to every massage therapist it has an email address for. The email stated:

Continuing Education in Person Training Waiver Ends December 31, 2022
Dear Interested Party:
At its September 23, 2022 meeting, the Board of Massage (board) voted to not extend the expiration date for Policy Statement BOM 20-01.6 Continuing Education Requirements During the COVID-19 Response. The policy, which is in effect through December 31, 2022, waives the requirement for an LMT to obtain in person and directly supervised massage skills training as part of their continuing education.

Beginning January 1, 2023, to renew their license, LMTs will be required to complete the CE requirements as provided in WAC 246-830-475, subject to the exception outlined below.

Exception
An LMT whose CE reporting date is after December 31, 2022, will not be found non-compliant with their CE if they obtain their CE hours in accordance with the allowances of the policy while it is in effect.

Example
An LMT who must report their CE by February 20, 2023, will not be required to obtain eight hours of in person training if they complete all CE requirements in accordance with the policy’s allowances before December 31, 2022. Their next CE reporting date would be February 20, 2025.

In addition, the Board will continue to exercise its authority in WAC 246-12-210 to review extenuating circumstances that may prevent an LMT from meeting their CE requirements.

Davis Hylkema
Interim Program Manager
Washington State Board of Massage
massage.therapy@doh.wa.gov

Click on the link, https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/bulletins/32f45fa to read the email in an official format.

A shorter version of this email is also published on the Department of Health, Massage Therapist page, just click on https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/professions-new-renew-or-update/massage-therapist to read it.

Masking in the Healthcare Setting

WSMTA — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 16:38:23 GMT

The Washington COVID state of emergency will end on October 31, 2022. The rest of the Governor’s Proclamations, that are still in effect, will come to an end on this same date. Here is a link to the latest news release from Governor Inslee’s office about the ending of the COVID state of emergency.

https://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/inslee-announces-end-remaining-covid-19-emergency-orders-and-state-emergency-october-31

But (there is always a but) it is important to understand that the requirement to mask in healthcare settings is an order from the Department of Health and as of this writing, this requirement will continue past October 31 (see below).

The state wide face covering order issued by the state Department of Health will remain in place for health care and long-term care settings, as well as correctional facilities under certain circumstances after the state of emergency ends. The governor is also looking at options to ensure there are protections for workers who choose to wear a mask in their workplace.

As updates are available, we will post them here. Until then masking is still required in all massage therapy places of business.

Question of the Month

WSMTA — Sun, 27 Feb 2022 20:12:17 GMT

How many times per month do you have to turn away insurance patients because you are too full?

Respond via email to: info@mywsmta.org
Subject: Question of the Month

WSMTA 2022 Annual Meeting and CE 26 Jun 2022, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM @ On-Line

Carl Wilson — Sun, 27 Feb 2022 18:59:53 GMT

*SAVE THE DATE*
Empowering LMT's and Clinic Owners in an insurance dominated environment.

More details to come.

January 2022 Question of the Month

Marybeth Berney — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 22:39:06 GMT

What is it that you would like to know, but might not know, about operating a massage practice or being a massage therapist in the state of Washington? For example:

Do you have questions about the new WACs that have gone into effect for massage therapists in the last couple years?
Do you have questions about the current COVID-19 regulations for healthcare providers?
Maybe you have tax questions or questions about business structures for healthcare providers?
Maybe you would like to know more about the details of effective insurance billing or charting.

Let us know what knowledge would help you to feel more confident in being a massage therapist employee or running your own practice or clinic.

Contact us at info@mywsmta.org

Massage Therapists’ Information Guide to Massage Organizations, Advocacy and Government

Marybeth Berney — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 23:17:12 GMT

Written by Stephanie Dickey, Edited by Marybeth Berney

As a practicing LMT for over a decade now, I have the honor of being a former member and chair of the Board of Massage (BOM) in Washington and am a current volunteer for the Washington State Massage Therapy Association (WSMTA). In that time, I have witnessed a great deal of confusion from LMTs about what the various state agencies and organizations are, as well as the differences in what they do. I have had questions where LMTs have been confused about how and where to go for information, requests or procedures. With good reason! There are many acronyms to keep track of and each entity does very different things. The truth is that there are many ways we can be a part of our profession and be a voice or advocate for the things we believe in, if we know the right place to go.

LMTs are often not sure what each agency/organization’s focus is or the subtle differences within them. Unless you are volunteering your time in one of these groups or you are interested in government, regulation and massage, you are likely not thinking about how the rules that govern your profession came to be…until you need to be that is! My hope here is that this information can assist in helping you find your way.

Many of the laws/rules that govern us in massage are created in two ways: legislative acts (Revised Code of Washington, RCWs) and Board of Massage rulemaking (Washington Administrative Code, WACs). These are entities that are part of the State and are tasked with the primary goal of protecting the public and creating laws and regulations that allow a profession to operate without infringement on financial gain, while not harming the public while doing so. They also define what our scope of practice is and how we can operate within that scope.

Each one of these branches of government are only able to create or define certain actions or language in our profession. For instance, the Board of Massage (BOM) cannot create a new scope of practice. For example, if we wanted to increase our scope to use Cold Laser Therapy, the House and Senate health committees and Washington State legislators would first have to take up this scope of practice request as a bill and vote to approve the new scope of practice thus creating a new RCW or expanding an already existing RCW. Then the BOM would create rules, also known as WACs, to give detail to this new law regarding our scope. This can also happen in other ways. A recent example was a law that passed in Washington requiring LMTs to have their valid government issued photo ID and their massage license present while they are working. This law was passed by the legislature and then adopted as law with no need for the BOM’s input. It is also possible sometimes that a court case can cause a need to change rules or laws and when this happens, both the legislature and the BOM may need to take action to line up with the court findings.

The Board of Massage does not set your rates for licensure and state legislators are only a little bit involved in this. Existing laws and regulations require that all healthcare boards be financially self-sufficient. The cost of licensure is based on all the costs of support staff and their responsibilities for licensure, complaints, etc. associated for each profession. This means if the Department of Health receives lots of complaints about our profession, or many LMTs are not fulfilling their CE requirements or other requirements, the cost of investigating and potentially adjudicating cases increases costs to the Board. Every year, these fees are reviewed and the rates rise and fall based on the budget’s bottom line for the Board of Massage.

The Office of Insurance Commission (OIC) is also a part of this governmental dance in our rules for practice, as they oversee the laws that are created by legislation for health carriers and thus healthcare providers. They also monitor how those laws and rules are administered.

The following is a brief summary of each of the Governmental entities.

House Health Care and Wellness Committee/Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee

These two legislative committees consider a broad range of issues relating to the provision of physical and behavioral healthcare services; long-term care; and strategies to promote better health. Healthcare service issues include the licensing and regulation of healthcare facilities and the credentialing of healthcare providers. The committee also regulates pharmacies and pharmaceutical drugs and has oversight and regulatory responsibility for state public health programs. The committee also considers issues relating to the accessibility and affordability of healthcare in both the private health insurance market and public health programs such as Medicaid and the state health exchange.

Department of Health (DOH)

The Department of Health is a branch of Washington State's regulatory entities and within the DOH is the Health Systems Quality Assurance (HSQA), this division oversees all boards and commissions that represent and regulate healthcare providers. The DOH is involved in creating regulatory guidance for all healthcare providers, such as the protocols and rules recently established for COVID-19. They also credential licensees and review continuing education completion. They are guided by, and answer to, the Secretary of Health. The BOM is one of many boards governed by the Department of Health's Health Systems Quality Assurance division.

Department of Health - Board of Massage (BOM)

The mandate of the Board of Massage is to protect the public’s health and safety and to promote the welfare of the state by regulating the competency and quality of professional healthcare providers under its jurisdiction. The Board accomplishes this mandate through a variety of activities working with the Department of Health, Health Systems Quality Assurance division.

The Washington State Board of Massage was created by the legislature. The Board consists of four professional members who are appointed by the governor for a term of four years each. Members must be residents of this state and shall have not less than three years’ experience in the practice of massage immediately preceding their appointment and must be licensed and actively engaged in the practice of massage during their incumbency.

In addition to the professional members, the governor shall appoint a consumer member of the board, who also serves for a term of four years. The consumer member of the board must be an individual who does not derive his or her livelihood by providing healthcare services or massage therapy and is not a licensed health professional. The consumer member must not be an employee of the state nor a present or former member of another licensing board.

Powers and Duties of the Board of Massage

1) In addition to any other authority provided by law, the board of massage may:

(a) Adopt rules in accordance with chapter34.05 RCW necessary to implement massage practitioner licensure under this chapter, subject to the approval of the secretary;

(b) Define, evaluate, approve, and designate those massage schools, massage programs, transfer programs, and massage apprenticeship programs including all current and proposed curriculum, faculty, and health, sanitation, and facility standards from which graduation will be accepted as proof of an applicant's eligibility to take the massage licensing examination;

(c) Review approved massage schools and programs periodically;

(d) Prepare, grade, administer, and supervise the grading and administration of, examinations for applicants for massage licensure;

(e) Establish and administer requirements for continuing education, which shall be a prerequisite to renewing a massage practitioner license under this chapter; and

(f) Determine which states have educational and licensing requirements for massage practitioners equivalent to those of this state.

(2) The board shall establish by rule the standards and procedures for approving courses of study in massage therapy and may contract with individuals or organizations having expertise in the profession or in education to assist in evaluating courses of study. The standards and procedures set shall apply equally to schools and training within the United States of America and those in foreign jurisdictions.

Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC)

“We protect consumers, the public interest and our state’s economy through fair and efficient regulation of the insurance industry”. With 242 employees (and 400 volunteers), we are one of the smaller state agencies, but we cover a lot of ground:

Holding down costs to consumers by reviewing insurers' proposed rates.
Answering questions and investigating problems from more than 100,000 consumers each year.
Recovering millions of dollars a year for consumers with insurance disputes or delays.
Licensing and auditing the 37 insurers based in Washington -- and monitoring the other 2,135 that do business here.
Testing, licensing and monitoring the more than 158,000 individuals and businesses that sell insurance here.
Collecting more than $1.1 billion a biennium for the state’s general operating budget.
Maintaining a statewide network of volunteers who advise thousands of consumers on health care issues.

This is done with virtually no state general-fund dollars. Most of their budget comes from assessments charged to the insurers regulated.

Where Do YOU Come Into This Equation?

In many ways, you are already a part of this process. You are licensed and working in the field of massage and learned the techniques and laws in our profession to become an LMT. You also have the opportunity to be part of a larger body of voices, both in our state and across the country through massage organizations. They are not governmental entities and many of them are nonprofit organizations, they often influence and work closely with the massage boards and legislators in states to influence and help create language for our profession. In fact, much of the laws that change and the rules that are written are created by the organizations and then presented and lobbied for. This is where so much of the groundwork is laid for making changes in our profession.

The following is a list of the organizations that work with the state and that make changes across the country while advocating, suggesting and supporting the profession of massage and what they do.

Washington State Massage Therapy Association-WSMTA (Non-profit)

“The Mission of the Washington State Massage Therapy Association is to Advocate for Massage Therapy as a Recognized and Respected Healthcare Profession.” The WSMTA was formed in 2015.

WSMTA is completely independent of any national massage therapy association and as such can focus its attention on challenges and opportunities that are unique to Washington LMTs.
Until WSMTA, massage was the only healthcare provider group in WA that was not represented by a State Association.
WSMTA is not supported or influenced by massage corporations and large chain lobbyist activity.
WSMTA promotes and ensures the accessibility and financial viability of massage therapy as a reimbursed healthcare service through advocacy and communication with government entities (agencies), third-party insurance payers and allied healthcare organizations.
WSMTA provides necessary resources for practitioners of massage therapy, including advanced education in manual therapy and healthcare business development as well as advanced credentialing avenues.

Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals - ABMP (For-profit)

Professional liability insurance, discounts on massage products, massage business services, free website builder, Find a Therapist database of members…are just a few of the benefits.

This organization has a Government Relations position that keeps updated on all the states current laws and changes state by state. They send a representative to board meetings to support or reject changes to language and to advocate. They also work on larger broader issues that affect all massage therapists across all states.

American Massage Therapy Association - AMTA (Non-profit)

“The mission of the American Massage Therapy Association is to serve AMTA members while advancing the art, science and practice of massage therapy.”

AMTA offers professional liability insurance, member discounts and offers online educational CE for massage.

AMTA’s president and the executive director are the only persons with inherent authority to speak for or on behalf of the AMTA or to bind AMTA to any agreement.
AMTA seeks cordial relations with all professional massage organizations and it requires chapters and local AMTA groups to develop joint political efforts with compatible non-AMTA groups.
AMTA and its chapters should not create or be affiliated in any way with political action committees (PAC).
The purpose of AMTA Chapters shall be to hold meetings and conduct the business of the Chapter; provide professional and social networking opportunities; organize educational, legislative, public relations, and membership programs on the state and local levels; provide various means of communication such as publications; and support the activities and programs of the National Association for the benefit of its members. The Washington Chapter is called AMTA-WA.

National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB)

NCMTMB maintains that Board Certification is the highest voluntary credential attainable in the massage therapy and bodywork profession with a distinct level of achievement beyond entry-level licensure—including completing more education, hands-on experience, and a background check—that will give meaning to your career (and your clients!) with credentials that matter. Formerly the top content creator for testing of LMT’s in all states, NCBTMB is more focused now on continuing education and competency.

That’s why they created the Board Certification credential for the profession. It is more than just another credential—it’s a lifelong commitment to raising the standards of our esteemed profession. Even more, Board Certification now aligns the massage therapy and bodywork profession with other allied health and medical professions, enhancing value and credibility to what we do best.

A Specialty Certificate symbolizes advanced education and training in a particular modality or when working with a specific population—requirements both massage therapy leaders and healthcare organizations agree are necessary to:

Further elevate the standards of massage therapy
Further massage therapy’s role in integrative healthcare
Provide therapists access to high-quality, advanced programs for specific modalities and populations
Ensure patients receive the best possible care

The creation of NCBTMB’s Specialty Certificate Program furthers its mission of defining and advancing standards by creating yet another career pathway for massage therapists. By partnering with major healthcare organizations and academic programs across the country, Specialty Certificates empower current and future massage therapists with the top-notch education and experience necessary to succeed in various environments or when working with specific populations. NCBTMB’s Specialty Certificate Program provides the credentials to prove such training, as well as continues to tier the profession—an evolution NCBTMB is proud to be a part of with Board Certification, and now with Specialty Certificates.

Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB)

The mission of the FSMTB is to support its member state massage boards (42) in their work to ensure that the practice of massage therapy is provided to the public in a safe and effective manner. In carrying out this mission, the FSMTB shall:

Support efforts among member boards to establish compatible requirements and cooperative procedures for the legal regulation of massage therapists, in order to facilitate professional mobility and to simplify and standardize the licensing process
Ensure the provision of a valid, reliable licensing examination to determine entry-level competence
Improve the standards of massage therapy education, licensure, and practice through cooperation with entities that share this objective, including other massage therapy organizations, accrediting agencies, governmental bodies, and groups whose areas of interest may coincide with those of member boards
Represent the interests of its member boards in matters consistent with the scope of the bylaws
Is offering CE required course content to some states and encouraging others states to join.

FSMTB History

In early 2005, the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP) convened a meeting of massage regulators and educators to re-energize a former “Alliance” of the massage regulatory community. Attended by representatives from seven regulated states, along with educators from around the country, this group recognized the need to establish an organization that could bring the regulatory community together in its mission of public protection. Importantly, the concerns of most significance were the need for the provision of a valid and reliable licensing exam and the desire to bring commonality in licensing requirements to assist with professional mobility. The commitment to re-energize this former alliance came to fruition with the formation of an interim organization. The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) formed an interim board consisting of all the regulators in attendance. This interim board was charged with conducting research into other similar organizations, reaching out to the community for feedback, drafting bylaws and planning a meeting to formally establish the organization. In September 2005, the FSMTB held its formalizing meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico prior to the annual American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) convention. The meeting was attended by 22 states and the District of Columbia. During this landmark event, bylaws were unanimously adopted, and the first formal board was elected. Additionally, dialogue arising from the meeting suggested that three key issues were of utmost concern for the massage therapy regulatory community:

The need for consistent scopes of practice and entry level standards across the country
The need for a valid and reliable licensing exam that would be accepted by all jurisdictions
The need for a common database with licensing and disciplinary information and the ability to store critical documents

Since the formational meeting in September 2005, the volunteer Board of Directors and committee members have continued to diligently work to establish a foundation upon which to build and advance the organization to carry out the desires of the member states.

How to Become Involved

Most states now have legislation and licensing for massage. Whether you are a LMT, LMP, RMT,CMT or something else, there is likely a website for your regulatory agency. Organizations create a voice for us and help to maintain regulation and scope of practice, as well as many other things. During the last two years, many of these organizations provided guidelines and information to give LMTs a way to successfully navigate COVID- 19. Some groups such as the WSMTA, AMTA-WA, and ABMP monitor, attend, and provide feedback for government entities. They also monitor insurance providers’ changes to contracts and provide LMTs important information that may impact their practices.

One of the most effective ways to understand how we all work together is to get involved with your local massage groups and organizations. There is one sure way to help make change or support the massage profession: leave the therapy room for just a short amount of time and get to know your Board of Massage and other massage organizations. Attend a meeting or volunteer a bit of time to work on one of the many things that the organizations are working on. It is important to network with others and talk to people in our field. Groups such as the WSMTA, ABMP, ATMA, NCBTMB and FSMTB all have places where you can get involved and have a voice in your profession.

We know this all seems like a lot for someone to take in. We know that you are trying to balance a career, life, and potentially all sorts of other things, but it will be handy information for you at some point . The best thing to do is find one place to start getting connected and the rest will usually flow. You do have a voice. Go throw that pebble in the pond and watch the waves!

Contact us at WSMTA if you are interested in volunteering time and becoming a part of our organization or explore some of these other links for information as well.

To learn more about these organizations and Government entities please visit the websites below.

Washington State Massage Therapy Association (WSMTA) - https://www.mywsmta.org

Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP) - https://www.abmp.com

American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) - https://www.amtamassage.org

Washington Chapter, American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA-WA) - https://wa.wp.amtamassage.org

National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) - https://www.ncbtmb.org

Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) - https://www.fsmtb.org

Department of Health - https://www.doh.wa.gov/

Dept. of Health - Board of Massage (BOM) - https://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/ProfessionsNewReneworUpdate/MassageTherapist

House Health Care and Wellness Committee/Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee - https://leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/HCW/Pages/default.aspx

Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) - https://www.insurance.wa.gov

Web Based Non-Technique CE's

WSMTA — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 19:09:51 GMT

We want to know what non-technique, web based, 2-4 hr content CE you would attend?

Lets us know at info@mywsmta.org

Use "WEB CE's" in the subject line.

Thank you for your ideas and input.

Annual Business Meeting and Continuing Education

WSMTA — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 04:46:40 GMT

Sustaining and Growing Your Business in Tough Times: Thinking Outside the Box During the Pandemic

In this live, interactive webinar our presenters will present creative healthcare business models. Thinking outside the box, they will share the benefits and risks of various models as well as the underlying values that inspire them.

Our presenters, from an array of healthcare practices, will inspire you to consider new ideas to grow your practice or recover from the effects of the pandemic.

June 27 2021 at 9:30AM - 2:30 PM
Zoom attendance is limited to 100 participants.
Free to members, must be a member to attend.
4 Continuing Education Credits

Are you an Animal Massage Therapist?

WSMTA — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 03:23:21 GMT

Hello WSMTA Community! My name is Aidan and I’m excited to be here. This is my first article, and hopefully with many more to come, I will be exploring and documenting the world of large animal massage. Specifically, we will be focusing on equine massage and bodywork – but I’m not saying only horses (and donkeys, mules, etc.), because if there’s a creature with four legs who weighs more than a Mastiff, we’re not going to rule them out of the discussion.

I am a life-long “horse girl” and a fairly new massage therapist. I graduated from the Port Townsend School of Massage in 2019 and worked in a chiropractic office for six months before everything went to hell in a hand basket, as my mother would say. I left my job at the chiropractic office, and the income from my other job gave me the freedom to do some massage career soul-searching. I knew one thing for certain – I really did not want to go back to working for someone else. When it came time to restart my work, it would be on my own. It was on a Zoom call with a former teacher that I realized what was next for me – a combination of my education and skills as a massage therapist, and my passion and love for horses. That conversation helped me realize that an equine-centered massage business felt exciting, inspiring, and fulfilling.

Most equine massage therapists only work on the animal, and not the rider. This is where I hope to come in an offer something a bit different – a service for both horses and riders. Unless you are an equestrian yourself, or you’ve ever spent significant time watching someone ride, you may not fully appreciate the physical relationship between a horse and rider. An instructor once summed up riding as “one unbalanced being on top of another unbalanced being, trying to be in balance,” and that really is about as succinct as it gets. The physical imbalances, limitations, injuries, strengths, and weaknesses of both horse and rider play off of each other constantly. The end goal is harmony, but we sometimes end up with what feels, and maybe looks, like disaster.

As massage therapists, we know that the desire to achieve a perfectly balanced body is idealistic and not realistic. An admirable goal, perhaps, but not a functional one. One rider with significant imbalances, who regularly rides several horses, will eventually have all horses going in the same compensatory way to offset their own imbalances. By creating a practice that works on both bodies, I believe I can help riders balance their equations with their horse.

In my next article I will be exploring some of the different modalities used by equine massage therapists, and what the licensure and governing bodies are in Washington State. If you have any specific questions or areas of interest that pertain to large animal massage, please send them over and I’ll work to cover them.

Aidan Sievertson, LMT

Annual Meeting & Continuing Education

WSMTA — Mon, 10 May 2021 02:04:39 GMT

Annual Business Meeting and Continuing Education

June 27 2021 at 9:30AM - 2:30 PM
Zoom attendance is limited to 100 participants.
Free to members, must be a member to attend. To become a member JOIN HERE
4 Continuing Education Credits

Sustaining and Growing Your Business in Tough Times: Thinking Outside the Box During the Pandemic

Our presenters, from an array of healthcare practices, will inspire you to consider new ideas to grow your practice or recover from the effects of the pandemic.

Annual Business Meeting

Results of the 2021 election of Directors.
Reports from WSMTA Clinical Practices, Government Relations, Membership Programs, and Treasurer. Our team of volunteers have been working especially hard for you and the profession this last year.

Continuing Education Sessions

Direct Primary Care (Concierge Service) by Dr. Richie

Dr. Ritchie will describe the pros and cons of a Direct Primary Care (DPC) practice, and answer any questions you may have in case you are contemplating starting a DPC practice in the future within a massage or multidisciplinary setting. With DPC, also known as concierge service, the provider works directly for the patient, and insurance companies are not part of the equation. Since the provider does not have to hire multiple billers and coders to deal with insurance companies, she can see fewer patients and give more time and individualized attention to each patient. The hassle factor of a medical practice goes down dramatically.

Biography: Samantha Ritchie M.D., is a family physician who retired from full time practice in 2019. Her 32 year career included working in a private practice, teaching at a family medicine residency, being the medical director at a rural healthcare clinic, and working for the last ten years in a direct primary care (DPC) practice.

Understanding the Alphabet Soup of Supplemental Insurance Benefit Options - Taking Control of How Your Healthcare Dollars are Spent by Jessica Bradley

As healthcare providers and consumers of healthcare, it is important for massage therapists to understand the basics of supplemental health care accounts. There are a variety of tax advantages and reasons why you or your clients may wish to utilize options to set aside money to pay for healthcare expenses. Also, these types of accounts can help increase your practice if you are willing to welcome clients into your practice that have supplemental healthcare accounts. This workshop will explain the basics of Health Savings Accounts (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and employer sponsored Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Association (VEBA) plans.

Biography: Jessica J. Bradley has a Masters Degree in Public Administration and served as a labor relations adjudicator and mediator for over a decade. Jessica has assisted with negotiations of hundreds of contract negotiations involving health insurance benefit options and supplemental health benefit accounts. Jessica is now self-employed in Washington State as a small and large animal massage therapist (SAMP & LAMP).

Widening Your Horizons and Adding Additional Services to Your Practice with Leslie Korn

Dr. Leslie Korn will share her story beginning as a bodywork practitioner, expanding and evolving to an Integrative Medicine clinician, focused on mental health, somatic therapies & nutrition. She will describe her motivation to expand her education, knowledge base and income sources which led her to become an educator, author, mentor & supervisor. Leslie will also describe the opportunities for partnering with researchers & creating projects to increase access & deliver services to under-served communities which are funded by grants.

Biography: Leslie Korn, PhD, MPH is a licensed psychotherapist, certified in Functional Nutrition, board-certified in both Polarity therapy and Bodywork and Massage therapy, and is a national board-approved clinical supervisor. She has a private practice where she works with clients to improve mental health and reduce or eliminate medications using natural medicines. She mentors clinicians who want to enter the field and provides supervision for clinicians in the field. She is also director of research at the Center for World Indigenous Studies, a non-profit American Indian organization focusing on social justice and consultation to indigenous communities on revitalization strategies using traditional medicine, herbal and culinary practices.

Developing and Running a Membership-Based Wellness Spa by Nicole Chryst, LMT

Nicole will describe the membership model and how she transitioned out of the typical pay-as-you-go model that most massage practices and clinics have. Membership models require customized software to implement this business format. Nicole will also describe how to accurately calculate the overhead expenses per massage treatment as well as discuss how to develop the online marketing and employee education that goes into making her wellness spa successful.

Biography: Nicole has been an LMT since 2006. In 2008, she created, Ballaura, a wellness spa that focuses on fitness, health and healing using an employee-based model. Four years ago, Nicole transitioned Ballaura into a membership-based wellness spa.

How are you doing?

WSMTA — Fri, 07 May 2021 19:39:06 GMT

How are you doing?

By Dagmar Growe

Thank you to all of you who responded to our question we posted in February. It provided some interesting insights into the challenges and opportunities our members have been facing during COVID-19. As expected, a number of LMTs saw their business evaporate overnight, especially those who specialized in the corporate and mobile massage. Many of you felt for various reasons uncomfortable to resume practice, and are struggling to make ends meet. We know that many LMTs have opted not to renew their licenses and are moving either temporarily or permanently out of the profession.

But we also learned from some for whom COVID-19 created new opportunities. The decreased number of massage therapists has created a new demand for therapists. Patients and employers alike are looking for therapists. Most patients, especially those who have been vaccinated, have no hesitancy to receive massage therapy. Wearing a mask has become standard practice. Many of us have created efficient cleaning protocols.

If you are one of those who have rebuilt their business from scratch, if you are unhappy with the working conditions in your current place of work, or if you are simply just looking for a change, I encourage you to sign up for our annual conference: Sustaining and Growing Your Business in Tough Times: Thinking Outside the Box During the Pandemic.

We are looking forward to connecting with you at the annual meeting. Until then please feel free to send us your questions and comments - we love to hear from you.

Here is one especially encouraging story from a fellow LMT that responded.

Hello,

I hope this finds you well.

I appreciate being a part of this organization.

When Covid closed my practice in March of 2020, it was some hard learning and uncertainty about Covid itself and what it means to be in the healthcare profession during a pandemic, and "should I even be open?" However I was fortunate to receive unemployment and I'm so grateful for that.

I opened again in August 2020. The pandemic brought new costs, new complexity, new waivers, screening, and continual adaptation to what will work best for relative covid safety. Fortunately, at least to my knowledge, nobody that has come to my office nor myself contracted Covid.

The lengths I went to educate myself and change my office and shared office suite area brought about an unexpected change. I raised my rates and for the first time, I feel solid in my fee, and have felt completely unapologetic or sheepish. Also, the risk to myself and doing the private practice anyway also gave me a greater sense of value in the work I provide people. What also contributed to this, I believe, is that so many other therapists were not working and people were happy and grateful to find that my doors were open. More demand than ever.

Feeling like I'm in demand does give me more confidence to do what I feel I need to do for the sake of the person's session, not for expectations of clients that I think I had spent too much time unconsciously being snagged in, people pleaser that I've been most of my life.

Being in demand also had a few other byproducts. I started having to say on my website "please plan for your therapy as appointment availability may be 2-3 weeks." This statement was out of kindness and necessity, but I stopped getting requests for same day appointments.

And then I noticed that most clients coming in this year mostly all had more seasoned expectations of bodywork; the cost, how many sessions it takes, etc., and they were already inclined to return regularly, understanding bodywork's process well.

That's been really nice!

Surprisingly to me, when I put on my website that I am not open to new clients at this time, it did not stop people from contacting me and asking me to put them on a waitlist for when I do open up. What a shock. A really sweet shock.

Thanks for asking, I hope this was in some way helpful.

Wishing you well,

Broehe

Broehe Karpenko, LMT, CCSP

(Broehe rhymes with Zoey....she/her)

Rosewater Craniosacral

Annual Meeting & Educational

WSMTA — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 01:31:12 GMT

SAVE THE DATE

June 27, 2021. 9:30am to 2:00pm.

Sustaining and Growing Your Business in Tough Times: Thinking Outside the Box During the Pandemic

Our presenters, from an array of healthcare practices, will inspire you to consider new ideas to grow your practice or recover from the effects of the pandemic.

Free to WSMTA Members.

You will be notified when registration opens or check here for event updates in the future.

How are things going for you?

WSMTA — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 20:11:12 GMT

Almost a year in with COVID 19 and we would love to hear how things are going for you and your practice. We value your insights, needs, and questions. Drop us a line at info@mywsmta.org.

Governor Inslee’s new restrictions

Carl Wilson — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 03:29:13 GMT

So, many LMTs in WA are asking, “What do Governor Inslee’s new restrictions (Proclamation 20-24.2) mean for me?” At the time of this writing, this is what we know, in brief.

Neither the Department of Health nor the Governor's office have announced any changes to the status of healthcare providers or the healthcare phases. We are closely monitoring the situation for any changes to our status. I would suggest that you look at the governors posting for 11/15 here… https://www.governor.wa.gov/issues/issues/covid-19-resources and continue to watch for additional updates there. Also, make sure to read the recent article written by WSMT’s own Julie Johnson on Critical Judgment for LMTs. This article will take you through the very important critical decision making steps with regard to COVID-19 and your massage practice.

With cases of COVID-19 rising very rapidly in WA, WSMTA is encouraging LMTs to exercise extra caution in their practice. It is important to watch what is happening in your local area. For example, pay attention to whether your local hospitals are restricting elective surgeries. This would be a clear indicator that your local area hospitals are concerned about being overwhelmed with patients and you should consider seeing only urgent need patients/clients. You should also assess your individual risk factors, your families risk factors and your patients/clients risk factors very carefully and adjust accordingly.

We are aware that many LMTs are making new adjustments to their practices with the increase of COVID-19 cases. Some LMTs are shutting down for the next few months, others are limiting the number of folks that they see in a day, some will only see a patient/client over 65/high risk if they are an urgent need patient/client, etc. This is a time to exercise extra caution in your screening of patients/clients. WSMTA strongly encourages all LMTs to do what feels safe for them, their families and their patients/clients.

We encourage you to check back here on a regular basis for updates, as we continue to do our best to keep you informed.

Be well,

Marybeth Berney

WSMTA President

Home Office Insurance for LMT's

Carl Wilson — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 19:59:37 GMT

Home Office Insurance

by Dagmar Growe, LMT

LMTs working out of their homes will generally require 3 types of insurance for complete coverage. Malpractice/Professional Liability insurance, which most commonly for LMTs is obtained through an AMTA or ABMP membership. Malpractice/Professional Liability insurance does not cover accidental injury (such as slip and fall) that patients/clients might sustain while on your premises. This type of insurance is called General Liability If you have your insurance through AMTA or ABMP your policy does cover General liability.You also will want insurance to cover your physical space and contents - these would be covered through premises insurance. And of course they would need homeowners insurance, covering the private use of their home. This is especially important, as home loans generally require homeowners insurance, and losing homeowners insurance can lead to problems with mortgages.

Unfortunately many homeowner insurance carriers will cancel a policy when they find out that a business is operated out of a home that includes patient/client visits, or refuse to issue a policy in the first place. WSMTA is working on supporting our members by developing a list of resources and options. We need your help. Have you successfully obtained insurance coverage that covers your home business? We want to know how and through which company or agent. Please contact Dagmar Growe at dgrowe@mywsmta.org with any information.

Governors Reopening for Non-Urgent Medical Care

Carl Wilson — Thu, 28 May 2020 01:08:27 GMT

20-24.1 - COVID-19 Non-Urgent Medical Procedures

COVID 19 Return to Practice Guidelines

Carl Wilson — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 22:25:57 GMT

COVID 19: Massage Therapist Return to Practice Guidance

The Washington State Massage Therapy Association has been hard at work accessing the most current and most reliable information available to us. Whether you have continued to see patients with urgent medical needs, or you are considering how to adjust your environment and practices when you choose to return to work when you are able to, we have information for you. We want you to be able to work in the safest (for you and your patients/clients) and most professional and ethical way possible.

Part 1: Introduction is currently available for members on the www.mywsmta.org website under COVID 19 Resources & Links page. In the next few days the next editions of “COVID 19: Massage Therapist Return to Practice Guidance” will be, Part 2: “WSMTA’s Interim Guidance on PPE” and the “WSMTA’s Interim Guidance on Sanitation” for Massage Therapist. Shortly following that will be, Part 3 “WSMTA’s Interim Guidance on Practice Guidelines”.

COVID-19 Health Alert for Massage Therapists

Carl Wilson — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 23:01:13 GMT

COVID-19 Health Alert for Massage Therapists

COVID 19 & LMT Work Status

Carl Wilson — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 20:51:40 GMT

From: Maxey, Megan (DOH) <Megan.Maxey@doh.wa.gov>
Date: Wed, Mar 25, 2020 at 1:32 PM
Subject: Current guidance from DOH for LMTs
To: Berney, Marybeth

Good afternoon,

Gov. Jay Inslee has issued proclamation 20-25, which restricts many businesses from operating until midnight on April 6, 2020. The proclamation permits “essential critical infrastructure workers” to continue operations in essential critical infrastructure sectors. Health care providers are included in the definition of essential critical infrastructure workers.

At this time, it is up to the professional judgement of each licensed massage therapist (LMT), to determine if his or her practice qualifies as an essential health care service. Proclamation 20-25 permits LMTs who provide health care services to continue operations with social distancing between patients and sanitation measures in place. However the possibility of transmission of COVID-19 within a massage practice is real and should be weighed by LMTs when deciding what services to continue.

The CDC has many resources available about actions to take within a health care setting to reduce risk from COVID-19. There is no procedure to eliminate the possibility of person-to-person transmission of COVID-19 without the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). We currently have a nationwide shortage of PPE.

Please use your professional judgement to reschedule appointments that are not urgent. Consider whether the risk of harm to the patient for delaying massage treatment outweighs the risk of exposure to COVID-19 and possibly contributing to community spread of the virus. Health experts are concerned that increasing transmission in our state and an increase in severe disease will limit the ability of our healthcare system to provide urgent care to all who require it.

Additional information is available from these sources:

DOH Workplace Recommendations DOH Coronavirus (COVID-19) Web Page

CDC Coronavirus (COVID-19) Web Page CDC Practice Preparedness Resources

Take care,

Megan

Megan Maxey

Program Manager

Board of Massage

Reflexology Program

Animal Massage Program

Nursing Pool Program

Health Systems Quality Assurance

Washington State Department of Health

PO Box 47852

Olympia, WA 98504-7852

megan.maxey@doh.wa.gov

360-236-4945 (phone) | www.doh.wa.gov

360-236-2901 (fax)

Please refer to the Department of Health’s COVID-19 webpage for continuously updated information.

Due to the COVID-19, we are having an increased volume of emails and phone messages and there may be a delay in our response time. Thank you for your patience.

COVID 19 Resources

Carl Wilson — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 19:42:26 GMT

To help LMTs navigate through our current situation, we have provided some links below.

We wish everyone health and wellness.

The following links have the latest information regarding the Coronavirus.

• King County Public Health

• WA Dept of Health

• Center for Disease Control

• World Health Organization

Massage License Renewal: If you are close to renewing and have not been able to secure hands-on CE due to class cancellations please contact Megan Maxey the program manager for massage therapy at the Department of Health. Megan's email is: Megan.Maxey@doh.wa.gov. She can provide information about requesting an extension.

Here are more specific links:

• Announcements from Governor Inslee Regarding COVID19 go to the bottom of the webpage

• WA State Paid Family & Medical Leave and Coronavirus

• WA State Security Employment Department -- For workers and businesses affected by COVID-19

• COVID-19 resource list for impacted Washington businesses and workers This website has federal and state resources available to help out WA state businesses and workers

• Chart Showing Who's Eligible for State Benefits due to COVID19 Scenarios

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)--(CDC)

• Who are People at Risk?--(CDC)

• Busting Myths about Coronavirus--(WHO)

• Basic Protective Measures against the Coronavirus--(WHO)

• Current list of products that meet EPA’s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19--(EPA)

• Resources for specific sectors of society--(King County Public Health) scroll to the bottom of the page to "Resources"

• Resources for specific sectors of society--(DOH) under "Resources and Recommendations" click on the "guidance" link

COVID 19 Info Resources

Carl Wilson — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 04:28:41 GMT

COVID 19 Resources for Healthcare Providers

Regence Contract Changes

Carl Wilson — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 02:30:27 GMT

Breaking: Regence Providers

It has come to our attention that some Regence providers have received a contract amendment titled, "Regence BlueShield Data Access, Use & Transfer Addendum", sometime in December or early January. We advise you to take note of this amendment and read it carefully. WSMTA is working on clarifying some of the provisions with Regence, but we encourage you to do your own research.

WSMTA is committed to continuing this vital function and representation for Washington LMT’s.

We need your continued support with your membership and/or donations to support our operations at www.mywsmta.org.

Thank you!

111519 - Board of Massage Meeting Notes

Sun, 17 Nov 2019 17:00:00 GMT

Board Members Present: Heidi Williams LMT (Chair), Anthony Sharpe (public member), Tonya Cox LMT, Chelsea Giles LMT (new member)

School Program Reviews: Altura College and Bellevue Massage School (651 hour program, transfer program and Bilingual program) -- approved

Special Meeting: This meeting was billed as a "special meeting" and not a rescheduled meeting of the cancelled November 1 Board of Massage Meeting. The purpose of this meeting was primarily to discuss a few outstanding WAC rule issues. Here are the WACs that were discussed:

The full article is here: 111519 - Board of Massage Meeting Notes

Department of Health 2020 Supplemental Budget and Agency Request Legislation

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 16:00:00 GMT

WSMTA received this email and article summarizing the Dept of Healths 2020 Budget Request and Legislative Agenda for 2020. As Health Care Providers we feel Massage Therapists must stay informed.

You can read their summary HERE

*********************************************

Hello partners in health!

The Department of Health has officially submitted its 2020 supplemental budget and agency request legislation to the Governor’s Office and the Office of Financial Management. These proposals will now be reviewed and considered for the Governor’s budget and approved policy agenda. The Governor’s budget is typically published around the third week of December.

A summary of the department’s agency request proposals is attached. These proposals reflect guidance received from the Official of Financial Management as well as feedback received in our stakeholder conversations. Thank you to those of you who participated and provided input along the way, including our August 23 legislation/decision package webinar.

Specific detail and decision package proposals are available online at either the DOH or OFM websites.

Thank you for your continued engagement with the Department of Health.

John Wiesman (DOH)

HSQA Meeting Highlights Sept. 10 2019

Mon, 16 Sep 2019 17:00:00 GMT

What is the Department of Health’s HSQA?

According to the Department of Health’s (DOH) website,

“Health System Quality Assurance's top priority is to protect and improve the health of people in Washington State. We do this by helping to prevent injuries, develop health systems and improve patient safety. We work closely with communities and local health partners to build strong health systems and prevention programs. This helps ensure that everyone has access to good healthcare and emergency medical services.

Health Systems Quality Assurance (HSQA) regulates and supports more than 463,000 health professionals in 83 health professions, and 11,000 health groups and programs. Each year we review more than 14,000 complaints and inspect thousands of facilities. Each month we respond to an average of 24,000 phone calls and thousands of emails.”

The full article is here: Highlights from the recent HSQA.pdf

Follow us on Twitter!

Mon, 16 Sep 2019 16:00:00 GMT

@my_wsmta_org

https://twitter.com/my_wsmta_org