03/24/2011
As previously reported, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) and the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) Kansas chapter submitted a sunrise document to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). The sunrise document is an assessment and overview of the profession, focusing on whether there is a need to license massage therapists in Kansas. The KDHE Occupational Credentialing Technical Review Committee (Committee) was appointed to review the document in a series of four meetings and issued its decision today in Topeka at the final meeting.
The Committee recommended that massage therapists should be regulated in the state of Kansas.
The committee voted “yay” on the criteria in the application and recommended the profession be licensed in Kansas. I’ve included a summary of the criteria that were voted upon below. Next steps: The committee recognized the need to license massage therapists. A bill will still have to be drafted and introduced in the Kansas State Legislature in order to establish a licensing program. There is currently a state association in Kansas that opposes the idea of licensing; ABMP and AMTA will reach out to that group to discuss what the specifics of a future bill will look like. We want diverse input regarding a grandfathering provision, continuing education, and in other areas. Sunrise criteria: Criterion I – AYE The unregulated practice of massage therapy can harm or endanger the health, safety or welfare of the public and the potential for such harm is recognizable and not remote. Criterion II – AYE The practice of massage therapists requires an identifiable body of knowledge or proficiency in practice, or both, acquired through a formal period of advanced study or training, and the public needs and will benefit by assurances of initial and continuing occupational or professional ability. Criterion III – AYE If the practice of massage therapy is performed, for the most part, under the direction of other health care personnel or inpatient facilities providing health care services, such arrangement is not adequate to protect the public from persons performing noncredentialed functions and procedures. Criterion IV – AYE The public is not effectively protected from harm by certification of members of the occupation or by means other than credentialing. Criterion V – AYE The effect of credentialing of massage therapy on the cost of health care to the public is minimal. Criterion VI – AYE The effects that credentialing of massage therapists would have on the availability of health care personnel providing services by such occupation or profession is minimal. Criterion VII – AYE The scope of practice of massage therapist is identifiable. Criterion VIII – AYE The effect of credentialing of the occupation on the scope of practice of other health care personnel, whether or not credentialed under state law, is minimal. Criterion IX – AYE Nationally recognized standards of education or training exist for massage therapy and are identifiable. Criterion X - Licensing All recommendations of the technical committee and the secretary, which relate to the levels of credentialing regulations of a particular group of health care personnel, shall be consistent with the policy that the least regulatory means of assuring the protection of the public is preferred.State: