03/02/2021
The Idaho legislature introduced House Bill 273 (HB 273) on March 2, 2021. The bill is sponsored by the Idaho House Business Committee. HB 273 addresses massage therapy and a host of other professions, and would be effective July 1, 2022, if it passes.
ABMP is opposed to this bill and is sending a letter to Idaho representatives, urging them to remove the section that deregulates massage therapy. Specifically, Section 5 at line 20 that reads: “Chapter 56, Title 54, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby repealed.”
Massage therapists in Idaho have undergone extensive training and passed the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx). Without the education and training licensed massage therapists have, severe damage could be done when performing massage techniques on the public. The Massage Practice Act is in place to protect the public. The public can be harmed without a licensed massage therapist’s knowledge of anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, contraindications, law, and ethics.
Deregulation could lead to injury and harm for the public, such as overextended hips and muscles, broken ribs, herniated disks, and neck injuries.
We encourage you to use this advocacy email template courtesy of ABMP to voice your opinion. Simply fill out the email template with the appropriate information and send it to your representative. Find your senator and representative here.
If you have questions or concerns, email us at gr@abmp.com.