Wow what a jam packed day at the Massage Therapy Foundations Highlighting Massage Therapy in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (CIM) Research conference.
There is too much to assimilate right now but the one thing I can say and already knew this – WA State is far ahead of all the other states in being accepted as a health care profession and perhaps others could be learning from what is going on here in WA. Debra Senn was the insurance commissioner in the early 90′s who was instrumental in getting massage and other CAM providers to be a providers for health insurance companies. She spoke at the conference today and I wish I had got a chance to meet her afterwards. The current problem that CAM providers (MT, Acupuncturists and others) in WA are now having is not being paid fair fees for services. Her advice was to just hang on and bear with the system as they work things out. It is taking time for insurance companies to really get the idea that massage can actually help save them money. They still don’t see massage as being a replacement for things like surgery. That is one of the main reasons I think that we need to have more research to show these companies just what it is that massage can do. But then again WA State has accepted it without much research in place so I guess go figure…
I sat through some really interesting break out sessions of presentations of case studies and discussions that I am still trying to figure out what it all really means. I think what case studies are used for is to help decide what research is needed next.
There were big posters in the lobby that I haven’t figured out what they are about – if they are case studies or actual research studies so hope to get to them tomorrow!
The other striking thing to me is that I think I heard the attendance count was about 350 people which is great and about 1/3 of them were from WA State. Out of 15,000 MT state wide, that number is disappointing. I am not sure if it because MT don’t care because we are already providers and accepted as health care professionals or what – but I do know that getting MT to rally is like herding cats. It seems to be the same people in the leadership roles around the country. I know most are just focused on getting and keeping clients and making a living but you could be in CA where I here your careers are being really challenged with this Assembly Bill 1822 -For more info see Massage Today.
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