Legislation and Policies

Government Relations & Legislation

Interested in making an impact on the Massage Therapy Profession in the State of Ohio?

Get involved in the Legislation Committee!

We are working with the Medical Board as well as with the State Legislators to make a difference.
Contact

Melissa Ryan, Legislative Committee Chair

For Application for participation on Workman’s Compensation ins (1)

For More Information on Becoming and Insurance Provider bwc1 copy

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES/LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE

NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE CHANGES:

HB 483 has been passed and the Medical Board has also filed proposed rule 4731-1-24 with the Common Sense Initiative Office. (The rule number is a link to the rule and related documents.) 4731-1-24: Massage therapy continuing education.   Comments have been submitted to the Common Sense Initiative and awaiting response.

The full code can be found:
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText130/130_HB_483_EN_N.html
The state medical board is currently in the rule making process, we are awaiting their draft rule in the coming months and hope to provide it to the membership for comment.

Proposed Massage Therapy Modernization Bill being drafted with consideration to include 100% licensure for massage within the State of Ohio and insurance coverage mandate.

House bill 130 that AMTA-Ohio supported was passed into law provided language prohibiting the advertising of massage using sexually suggestive wording or images, this year we hope to strengthen that law to any advertising of massage or related services unless the practitioner is a licensed massage therapist (LMT).

It is important that we as LMT’s report any suspicious to keep people safe and our profession clean. The National Trafficking Resource Center’s website can be found here: http://www.traffickingresourcecenter.org/ the number is 1-888-373-7888 it’s all confidential. They also have a texting service at 233733.

You can be a part of our legislative efforts.  Once our bill is drafted and we have a sponsor, we will need the help of all of membership to garner attention to our efforts by reaching out to your legislators.

Details on How to talk to your legislator can be found HERE!

 

Clarification on Continuing Education Requirement:

We would like to clarify, CE’s are not currently required.
HB 483 has been passed. Section 4731.155 of HB 483 states: The state medical board may adopt rules that establish continuing education.
The full code can be found:
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText130/130_HB_483_EN_N.html
The state medical board is currently in the rule making process, we are awaiting their draft rule in the coming months and hope to provide it to the membership for comment.

As with any work involving the Government, persistence, preparation, and patience are what get things accomplished. It is going to be an exciting year as we diligently pursue elevation of our profession!

MEMBER UPDATE: The Affordable Care Act and Massage Therapy

January 1, 2014 is an important date for healthcare providers across the nation. Many of the significant provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will go into effect on January 1st, including provisions around essential health benefits and non-discrimination in healthcare services. These two pieces may be especially important for massage therapists as they will allow patients greater access to massage therapy services.

Of the 10 categories of coverage in EHB, massage therapy has shown benefit in 4; ambulatory services, mental health and substance use disorder services, habilitative and rehabilitative services, and preventive/wellness services and chronic disease management.

According to the State Medical Board of Ohio, the massage therapy scope of practice includes the treatment of disorders of the human body by the manipulation of soft tissue using massage techniques. For purposes of coverage under section 2706, the Medical Board is the sole entity that can define our scope of practice. In this instance, massage therapists may have a number of opportunities to seek insurance coverage and treat new patients.

If you would like to have more information on how to become an eligible provider or are experiencing issues with insurance coverage, please contact the Ohio Chapter. We are currently collecting research and we may seek legislation this year to improve insurance coverage of massage therapy.

AMTA-OHIO CHAPTER STANDING RULES

AMTA-OHIO CHAPTER STANDING RULES

 

Section 1: Chapter Name
A. The name of the Chapter shall be the American Massage Therapy Association-Ohio Chapter.       The name may be abbreviated AMTA-Ohio Chapter.

Section 2: Chapter Officers

1. Titles and Method of Selection
2. Elected officers shall include the President, First Vice- President, Second Vice-                 President, Third Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
3. Appointed officers shall consist of, but not limited to the Education Director,                  Legislation Committee Chair, Sports Massage Team Chair, Website coordinator and                  Newsletter Editor.
4. Eligibility for Candidacy
5. A candidate for President must have been a member for a minimum of 3 years and        held an elected position for 2 years on the AMTA-Ohio Chapter Board of Directors        prior to candidacy.
6. A candidate for First Vice President must have held a prior elected office or         appointed Chair position.
7. Duties
8. President
9. The President may assign or reassign the duties to elected officers. The                 following duties of the Vice-Presidents are in effect from the time a person                  newly assumes a Vice-Presidency, unless a duty is reassigned.
10. The First Vice-President shall oversee the Legislative Committee and                                         the Standing Rules Committee.
11. The Second Vice-President shall oversee the Public                              Relations/Communications Committee.

iii. The Third Vice-President shall oversee the Membership Committee.

1. The President upon completion of their term of office will succeed for a term                              of one year as an advisor to the current President. If the individual is unable to                               serve, there will be no one serving as an advisor to the President for the                               remainder of the term.
2. The Treasurer shall:
3. keep an accurate record of all funds and financial transactions of the Chapter.
4. deposit funds received by the Chapter.
5. consult with an accountant or qualified person to ensure appropriate IRS                               filings and to secure an independent annual audit.
6. make disbursements of the Chapter, by check, under the authority of the                                Board of Directors.
7. prepare semiannual financial reports and submit them to the membership.
8. report the financial status of the Chapter at the request of the Board of                               Directors or the President.

 

3. The Secretary shall:
4. keep minutes of board of directors and membership meetings.
5. maintain records which shall include Chapter Standing Rules, all minutes,                     resolutions, official transactions of the Board of Directors, and business of the                     association.
6. maintain an official list of members indicating the category of membership                    for each.
7. The Education Director is responsible for providing education opportunities for chapter                  members at chapter meetings and/or as independent education events.

Section 3: Chapter Board of Directors

1. Composition
2. Elected members of the AMTA- Ohio Chapter Board of Directors are the President,                  First Vice- President, Second Vice-President, Third Vice-President, Secretary, and                  Treasurer.
3. Appointed officers shall consist of, but not limited to the Education Director,                  Legislation Committee Chair, Sports Massage Team Chair, Website coordinator and                  Newsletter Editor.
4. Meetings
5. The Board of Directors shall hold at least two board meetings a year which shall be                   open to the general membership.
6. Fifteen (15) days notice of open meetings of the Board of Directors shall be sent to the                   membership.
7. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be open to the general membership, except                  for any portion limited to officers and invitees, as determined by the Board of                  Directors. The general purpose for closed portions of the meetings will be stated in the                  minutes of the meeting.
8. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the Board of Directors.
9. Actions of the Board of Directors shall require an affirmative vote of the            majority of the full Board of Directors.
10. Actions of the Board of Directors involving Standing Rules must be approved             by an affirmative vote of a two-thirds majority of the full Board of Directors.
11. All standing rules adopted by action of the Board of Directors shall be held             contingent upon ratification by two-thirds majority vote of the assembly at the             Annual Meeting immediately following such Board action.

Section 4: Meetings

1. General Membership
2. At least one meeting of the general membership shall be set by the Board of Directors                 within each year, at which the business of the chapter may be conducted. This meeting                 will be designated the Annual Meeting.
3. All Standing Rules adopted by action of the Board of Directors shall be announced at                  the Annual Meeting immediately following such Board action.
4. Actions of the Board of Directors shall be reported to the membership at general                  membership meetings.

Section 5: Elections

1. The Ohio Chapter shall hold online elections in accordance with AMTA Bylaws and Policy.

 
6/27/93 Original
5/15/94 Revised
4/9/95 Revised
12/17/02 Revised
4/16/05 Revised
4/29/12 Revised

2/2/13 Revised