5/30/20 office update
Massage Therapy is still closed in NY
Hi Everyone! Thanks so much to those who called the Governors office and advocated for Massage Therapy. The state did end up reclassifying Licensed Massage Therapy under Title VIII which includes Physical Therapy, Acupuncture, Chiropractic, etc. However the state specifically excluded Massage Therapy to reopen from the other professions in this category during phase 2 reopening.
My professional association has been advocating for massage in Albany and had submitted a plan for massage offices to reopen statewide. However, there has been no word on which phase we will get to reopen, that decision is up to the Governor to make. At the time of writing this (5/30/20), Massage Therapy isn't attached to any reopening phase.
It pains me to say no when I've had clients begging me to come into the office or go to their home for massage during this lockdown. If I practice massage before it's legal for me to work, I can face a $10,000 fine and permanent revocation of my license to practice. So if you hear about other massage therapists practicing during this time, just know they are not supposed too and are risking their license.
I'm using this time to get my office ready for when I can return to work. I'll inform everyone of my new sanitation & office protocols, as well as informed consent and liability release that everyone will need to look at and sign in order to get treatment. I'm also anticipating stringent guidelines from the state on how to operate when they do give us a phase to reopen. I'll update you as soon as I have any news about reopening.
I appreciate each & every one of you. I hope your doing well during this time and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone when I do get to go back to work.
As always, If you have any issues, comments, questions, my door is always open for you by calling/texting 585-735-5308 or emailing me at shawnblmt@gmail.com. Wishing you the best!