Comments Document

Testimony in support of HB 579 from the American Massage Therapy Association

Comments Document

Testimony in support of HB 579 from the American Massage Therapy Association

Comments Document

Attached please find the testimony of the United States Department of War regarding House Bill 579.

Comments Document

HB 579 – Opposition Summary Position: The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) opposes HB 579 and urges the Subcommittee not to advance the bill this session. Context: Virginia has already enacted the Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact), a regulator-led compact developed through a multi-year national process and now approaching the threshold needed to form the Compact Commission and begin implementation. Key Concerns with HB 579: Reopens and alters compact statute before the Compact Commission is formed, bypassing the agreed governance structure. Makes substantive policy changes that are inaccurately characterized as technical amendments. Risks creating multiple versions of the Compact, delaying implementation and undermining interstate licensure portability. Weakens uniform public protection safeguards, including those critical to addressing illicit massage businesses and human trafficking. Removes regulatory issues that are more appropriately addressed through Commission rulemaking, not statute. Public Protection Impact: Massage therapy regulation intersects directly with anti–human trafficking enforcement. Fragmented or weakened standards increase risks related to licensure fraud, regulatory evasion, and public harm. Professional Support: FSMTB survey data from over 1,700 verified massage therapists shows 98% support for the original IMpact language, including strong support among Virginia licensees and members of national professional associations. Recommendation: Allow IMpact to proceed as enacted, enable formation of the Compact Commission, and address any future refinements through the established compact governance and rulemaking process.

Comments Document

I am the Executive Director of Healwell, an Arlington-based 501c3 that works to create sustainable careers for massage therapists in healthcare settings through research, education and service (since 2009). Our team of 20 massage therapists works at Inova Fairfax/Schar Cancer Institute, Goodwin House/Goodwin Living, in homes throughout the DMV with home hospice and palliative care programs, with Georgetown University Medical Center, Children’s National Hospital and Johns Hopkins Howard County. The expense and logistics of maintaining multiple licenses for our team has been a challenge for the 17 years we have existed. The progress that has been made toward the establishment of an interstate compact signals a game change for us. We have read and fully support the original language and also the momentum that it represents for other states who are primed to ratify it this session. Changing the language to allow less-qualified therapists to transfer their licenses and shifting the structure of the commission is both unwelcome and unnecessary. Healwell opposes S.282 and respectfully requests that it not advance this session. Our key concerns about this proposal are shared below: • It was not requested by regulators or the profession These amendments were not sought by state regulatory boards or by massage therapists. • Undermines a regulator-led compact process IMpact was developed through a multi-year, regulator-led effort and is now only two states away from forming the Compact Commission. The massage therapy profession cannot wait for years more while this process begins again with new language that attempts to circumvent the rulemaking process. • Creates competing compacts and delays implementation Advancing these amendments would result in two competing compacts, delay multistate licensure, and create “compact islands” that limit practitioner mobility, perhaps more than is already the case. • Raises public protection and human trafficking concerns Certain provisions weaken uniform education and licensure standards, increasing vulnerability to exploitation by illicit massage businesses and human trafficking networks. • Lacks professional support A national IMpact survey of 1,715 professionals shows 98% support for the original IMpact language, including 97% of AMTA members and 98% of Virginia respondents. I am hopeful that legislators will not permit S.282 to advance in this session. The remaining specifics about the compact can and should be allowed to be addressed through Commission rulemaking rather than statutory reopening. I welcome the opportunity to speak with you directly and answer any questions you may have. Thank you again for your leadership and for your continued consideration.