Includes coverage of treatment rendered by a massage therapist

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

• Democratic1

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Jessica Ramos says this is needed

Massage therapists are licensed to provide care to patients in New York State under the provisions of Article 155 of the Education Law. Howev- er, injured employees can only be reimbursed for massage therapy services on an ad-hoc basis, with some workers' compensation carriers allowing it and others denying it. This bill would add licensed massage therapists to the list of author- ized providers and would allow an injured employee to receive reimburse- ment for massage therapy services. Massage is a treatment used with children, older adults, babies in incubators, patients with cancer, AIDS, heart conditions and strokes, and in intensive care units. Most American hospices provide massage and it is offered in many health centers, pain clinics, and drug treatment clinics. An October 2003 study by the American Hospital Association (AHA), with support from the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), shows that many hospitals are incorporating massage therapy into their pain manage- ment programs. Of the 1,007 hospitals responding to the AHA survey, massage therapy was the most prevalent complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) offer- ing, with 32 percent of hospitals reporting CAM use saying they offer massage therapy. Of the hospitals with massage therapy programs, more than 73 percent utilize massage therapy for pain management and pain relief. The AHA survey and the increasing use of massage therapy as revealed in annual consumer visit surveys suggest that hospitals and healthcare organizations are responding positively to the consensus of research and evidence highlighting the benefits of massage therapy. Recent clinical research on the efficacy of massage for pain management has demonstrated that: - Massage therapy is more effective for back pain than other complemen- tary therapies. - Massage therapy promotes relaxation and alleviated the perception of pain and anxiety in cancer patients. - Massage therapy reduces post-traumatic headaches better than cold pack treatment. - A pilot study conducted at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles found that massage, as part of hospital-based surgery treatment, reduces pain and muscle spasms in patients who have undergone heart bypass surgery. - Massage stimulates the brain to produce endorphins. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), has identified the management and treatment of pain as a significant national health issue. According to NIH, pain is the most common reason people seek medical care and that more than one third of all Americans will suffer from chronic pain at some point in their lives. Chronic pain accounts for more than $100 billion in annual losses to American businesses through healthcare expenses and lost productivity and approximately 14 percent of all employees take time off from work due to pain each year. In addition, a recent study was published by the American Massage Thera- py Association titled Massage Therapy in Integrative Care & Pain Manage- ment. Massage therapy is widely recognized as an effective non-pharmaco- logical therapy for managing chronic and acute pain, behavioral health issues and for rehabilitation of injuries. In addition to the study, on April 27, 2018 the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) sent clarification to Medicare Advantage organ- izations and Section 1876 Cost Contract Plans in order to provide addi- tional guidance to assist plans in preparing their CY 2019 bids. The clarifying memorandum: "Reinterpretation of 'Primarily Health Related' for Supplemental Benefits" includes a specific reference to the avail- ability of massage therapy as an approved supplemental benefit for pain management.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.