As previously reported, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) and the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) Kansas chapter submitted a sunrise document, essentially an assessment and overview of the profession focusing on whether there is a need to license massage therapists in Kansas, to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). The KDHE Occupational Credentialing Technical Review Committee (Committee) has been appointed to review the document in a series of four meetings. It will then recommend (based on information contained in this document) whether, in its opinion, massage therapy should be regulated in the state of Kansas. In order to secure a favorable recommendation from the committee, the profession must meet ten criteria, the most important being that the unregulated practice of massage therapy can potentially harm the public.
The first of four meetings was held on November 30, 2010. The three remaining meetings have now been scheduled for 2011. On January 27, 2011, the Committee will continue to review the sunrise document. At the third meeting, scheduled for February 24, 2011, the Committee will accept public comment and anyone may voice their personal opinion in favor of, or opposed to, the regulation of massage therapists. And on March 24, 2011, the Committee will make their final recommendation regarding the regulation of massage therapists.
All meetings will be held at 1pm at the same location:
Kansas National Education Association Building
715 Southwest 10th Avenue, Room D
Topeka, Kansas 66612
The meetings are open to the public and ABMP encourages members interested in the proceedings to attend. If you can’t attend the meeting in February, send your comments to:
Steve Irwin, MS
Health Occupations Credentialing
1000 SW Jackson, Suite 200
Topeka, KS 66612