03/25/2020
Oh my God not in Tennessee too. They did that in Florida as well. God only knows how many other states they're doing it in. I would call for all massage therapists & bodyworkers' to contact their Governors and Legislators NOW and diplomatically and firmly inform them of the following:
We do not operate "parlors," but we operate Establishments, facilities and/or Massage Therapy Clinics.
Out profession, Nationwide, consisting of over 300,000 professional licensed massage therapy providers have had enough of being degraded. We are sick and tired of being insinuated and/or referred to in one way or the other, by governmental and other officials as "prostitutes," "hookers," "hoes," "call-girls", "pimps," anything but respect for our training in hands-on massage, restorative therapy that exceeds such training of any other health practitioner.
Our training includes training in muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments, bones, anatonomy, physiology, endrocronology, professional ethics and so much more.
Let's get it straight once and for all!
We are trained and State licensed Healthcare Practitioners.
We have been recognized by, respected by and reimbursed by some health and most all commercial and Workers' Compensation Insurance for medically necessary and prescribed cases since 1984.
We provide legitimate services to clients seeking pain and stress relief.
We provide specialized training in procedures and modalities to Physician's referred patients once physician has determined a medically-necessary diagnosis and has determined that massage therapy could be extremely beneficial for his/her patients.
I urge you to keep us out of the "parlor" and less than professional categories when creating rules and laws.
You are in a most incredible position to assist a health care profession in maintaining our dignity and appreciation for all we do for those injured, suffering in pain, brain or spinal cord injuries, in rehab centers, hospitals, hospice, private homes and physician's offices as well as our own licensed Massage Establishments.
No other profession has worked so long and hard to overcome these negative views and attitudes.
Thank you sincerely in advance for your assistance in helping us to finally move upwards and forward.
Sincerely,
Vivian M.
Mahoney
FL 35 yrs. TN 10 Yrs. Licensed Massage Therapist.
Florida & Nationally Approved CE Provider- 1990-Current.