FSMTA Keeping You Informed….. by Maureen Gilbert, BOMT Liaison

FSMTA Report – Board of Massage Therapy Meeting – April 19-20, 2012

The April 19-20, 2012 General Business Meeting of the Florida Board of Massage Therapy was held at the Double Tree by Hilton, Tampa Airport Westshore, Tampa, FL

Members Present: Karen Ford LMT- Chair, Bridget Burke-Wammack LMT- ViceChair,Lydia Nixon LMT, Lisa Oliver, Consumer Member

Staff Present: Anthony Jusevitch-Executive Director, Paula Mask- Program Operations Administrator and Alexandra Alday, Regulatory Specialist II

Board Counsel: Lee Ann Gustafson, Esquire – Assistant District Attorney

Department Prosecuting Attorney: S.J. DiConcilio, Esq.

The Florida State Massage Therapy Association  was well represented by Maureen Gilbert (BOMT Liaison), Scott Hartsfield (FSMTA Legislative Chair), Ron Stephens (Liability Insurance Liaison) Frank Ansel (State Treasurer, Marion Padgett (State 1st VP), Donna Smith (State 2nd VP), Teresa Matthews (Sports Team Director) and four Chapter Presidents: Jeri Gabbard (Heart of Florida), Diane Hanley (Tampa Bay), Edwin Hooper (Sarasota/Manatee) and Nena Sudduth (Gulf Coast).

The American Massage Therapy Association – Florida Chapter was represented by President Karen Roth, IPP/Treasurer George Schwind and Cheryl Back Steinke (Education Chair).

Also represented: NCBTMB (National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork; FSMTB (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards; AFMTE (Alliance for Massage Therapy Education). Several massage therapy schools were present including instructors and/or owners and FLAME (Florida Association of Massage Educators).

To view the Minutes of the April 19-20, 2012 BOMT Meeting, please follow this link: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/massage/ma_minutes.html

 A Few Points of Interest…

Points of Interest….

The Board voted on the following 2013 meeting dates and locations:

January 24-25, 2013   Ft.Lauderdale

April 25-26, 2013       Jacksonville

July 24-26, 2013         Orlando

October 24-25, 2013  Tampa

Proposed Rule Change to Save Time and Money

Renee Alsobrook, Deputy General Counsel, Prosecution Services Unit, advised the Board that Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods such as Mediation, Notices of Non-Compliance, and Citations have been identified by statute as appropriate methods of resolving minor violations. Authority to determine which violations may be resolved by ADR has been given to the Boards. The BOMT has rules authorizing use of Citations, Mediation, and Notice of Non-compliance for specific violations.

Enforcement is requesting amendments to rules 64B7-30.004, 64B7-30.005 and 64B7-30.006, F.A.C., to allow more violations to be handled through ADR and in turn save the Board money and focus more resources on more serious allegations.

Action: A draft will be prepared by Lee Ann Gustafson, Esq., and Ms. Burke-Wammack using the proposed Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods to be discussed at the next Board meeting.

Educator’s Forum

BOMT Online Systems/Services Presentation – Allison Stachnik, DOH/MQA gave a brief presentation of the massage therapy online application and other payer code option. A question and answer session was held. I believe this information will be presented again at the July BOMT meeting.

Florida Board Approved Schools in Attendance:

ArlingtonSchoolof Massage

Bene’s International School of Beauty – Adrienne Inman

Educating Hands – Iris Burman

ErwinTechnicalCenter– Karen Harrison

EverestUniversity:Jacksonville- Raymond Chasse

EverestUniversity:Lakeland– Wanda Reyes and Jeri Gabbard

EverestUniversity:Tampa

Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology

RidgeCareerCenter- Sharon Phillips

Sanford Brown Institute:Tampa– Ken Hewes

 New Business:
Exam Requirements – After some discussion, there will be no changes to the exam contracts at this time. The requirement 64B7-25.001 (2) remains the same.

FSMTB www.fsmtb.org/ announced the launch a new national program to provide State regulatory agencies with a centralized quality assurance process for the renewal of State licensure or State certification. A copy of the proposal for maintenance of core competency program may be viewed on-line along with a YouTube presentation. MOCC Proposal Summary Presentation And a website link has been provided for feedback on the proposal. Maintenance of Core Competency Program Proposal Feedback Link

NCBTMB http://www.ncbtmb.org/ announced implementation of new Board Certification Credential programs aimed at elevating the massage profession which will become available over the next 12 months. NCBTMB Statement Regarding Continuing Education

Colon Hydrotherapy 64B7-31.001(2) was on the April agenda but time ran out and it was tabled until the next Board meeting.

Disciplinary & Administrative Proceedings:

All actions are recorded and listed in the BOMT Minutes found on line at: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/MQA/massage/ma_minutes.html

Massage Therapist Applications- these are applicants who have something in their history that the Board needs further clarification on in order to make an informed decision as to whether or not to issue a license. Many cases are heard at each meeting – most applicants are issued licenses unencumbered, some are denied and others require probation or monitoring.

Voluntary Relinquishments – Twelve Licensees were caught working outside their scope of practice, the charges could not be defended.

Settlement Agreements / Informal Hearings / Determination of Waivers:  Fines, costs and disciplinary actions are imposed with these cases. Suspension, probation or revocation may also occur.  Several were revoked at this meeting. All receive a reprimand on their license. The combination of fines and costs is very expensive ranging from $100.00 to thousands…. stay within your scope of practice and this will not happen to YOU.  Please keep in mind that it is your responsibility to know the rules and laws pertaining to the massage profession. Ignorance of the law is no excuse!

Upcoming DOH/BOMT 2012 Meeting Dates:  Check the BOMT Web site for more information: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/massage/ma_meeting.html

Conference Calls: conference calls are only conducted if necessary

Location: Conference Call Number: (888) 808-6959; Conference Code: 2454590.

Date	General Business Meetings or Conference Call
June 12, 2012, Tuesday – 9:00 a.m.	Conference Call
July 25th, 26th & 27th -Orlando	General Business Meeting
September 11, 2012, Tuesday – 9:00 a.m.	Conference Call
October 25-26, 2012 -Naples	General Business Meeting
December 11, 2012, Tuesday – 9:00 a.m.	Conference Call

Respectfully submitted by Maureen Gilbert, FSMTA/BOMT Liaison

Disclaimer: This information is not the official transcript or minutes of the Board of Massage Therapy. The official minutes can be found on the BOMT website at http://www.doh.state.fl.us/MQA/massage/ma_minutes.html

To read previous “Board Beat” articles, please visit the Board Beat Archive here: http://fsmta.org/licensure/board-beat-archive/