Here at DCS Therapeutic Massage we LOVE Institute for Integrative Healthcare – Massage CEUs and Articles. They have the best online continued education and up to date articles for massage therapists. When we are asked “Where did you learn that information” its more likely than not from something we have read from Institute for Integrative Healthcare’s website or Facebook posts and articles.

If you are looking for articles pertaining to massage therapy take a look at Institute for Integrative Healthcare. And they have the best feature photos.

www.IntegrativeHealthcare.org

Are you a talented Massage Therapist?

DCS Therapeutic Massage is looking for an LMT to join our team.

The ideal candidate must have the following:

• Ability to document/chart appropriately and thoroughly for all patient records, before leaving for the day; for both injury treatment as well as asymptomatic wellness care.
• Ability to preform deep tissue massage, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, stretches, traction, and contrast hydrotherapy. The more modalities the better.
• Be personable with great people skills
• Is punctual, responsible and trustworthy
• Has excellent communication skills
• Has the ability to work in a team environment.
• Has no prior history or current malpractice suit.
• Is current on all Washington State licensing, continuing education, and has current malpractice insurance.

All providers are required to become credentialed with select major medical insurances. Credentialing service is provided by the office. Our providers work together to find solutions with in our scope of practice, to care for our patients and their pain.  Which may include asking for another provider to assist in treatment or with charting.

Compensation varies based on experience, current credentialing and includes up to 8 CE’s per year after the first year of employment. This position is an employed position and will include paid sick leave and family medical leave.

If you are ready to join a team of skilled up beat massage therapists, in a laid back patient focused environment; then this is the place for you.

Please contact Danielle at  319 S. 11th Ave Yakima, WA 98902. 509-453-1420. Or email resume’s to dcsmassagetherapy@gmail.com

I have been asked many many times, why I think massage therapy is so important. The American Massage Therapy Association, in their November 5th 2018 article, listed almost every reason I could think of as to why I think EVERYONE needs massage in their life.

“A growing body of research supports the health benefits of massage therapy for conditions such as stress, fibromyalgia, low-back pain and more. Find out how you can benefit from adding massage therapy to your health and wellness routine.”

25 Reasons to Get a Massage

1. Relieve stress
2. Relieve postoperative pain
3. Reduce anxiety
4. Manage low-back pain
5. Help fibromyalgia pain
6. Reduce muscle tension
7. Enhance exercise performance
8. Relieve tension headaches
9. Sleep better
10. Ease symptoms of depression
11. Improve cardiovascular health
12. Reduce pain of osteoarthritis
13. Decrease stress in cancer patients
14. Improve balance in older adults
15. Decrease rheumatoid arthritis pain
16. Temper effects of dementia
17. Promote relaxation
18. Lower blood pressure
19. Decrease symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
20. Help chronic neck pain
21. Lower joint replacement pain
22. Increase range of motion
23. Decrease migraine frequency
24. Improve quality of life in hospice care
25. Reduce chemotherapy-related nausea

https://www.amtamassage.org/articles/1/News/detail/3124/25-reasons-to-get-a-massage

Did you know most major medical insurances do cover massage therapy? However in most cases you must meet your insurance carriers “Clinical Review Criteria”. Kaiser Permanente for instance does offer its providers and customers access to their notice to Clinical Review Criteria on Washington plans. This explains the rules that Kaiser Permanente has set in order for them to cover massage therapy services for their customers.
When accessing your insurance plans massage therapy coverage information, please be sure to verify coverage per plan. And understand your medical insurance “reserves the exclusive right to modify, revoke, suspend or change any or all of these Review Criteria” at their “sole discretion, at any time, with or without notice” to you or your provider.
In almost all cases massage therapy is NOT covered by medical insurance, if it is provided for prevention, recreation, or stress reduction. If it is directed at the maintenance of current levels of function. Or you the patient has achieved a therapeutic goal set by you and your provider, or are not showing “meaningful progress”.
This means NO preventive care should be billable to your insurance. This also means if you are receiving massage therapy regularly without documentation that the complaint you have made, (the reason you received a prescription), is not getting better, over a reasonable amount of time; your insurance has the right to suspend care and revoke payment. This would leave YOU the patient responsible to pay for all services rendered.
So be sure you know your insurance carriers rules if you plan of having them pay for your massage therapy care. All medical insurances will also required a prescription or referral from your medical doctor. This must include a valid diagnosis. Some insurance companies regularly deny billing with diagnosis codes they have deemed massage therapy ineffective for. IE: HMA insurance and code G43109 Migraine with aura, not intractable, without status migrainosus. This is NOT a code they are willing to accept as valid for massage therapy (per billing in 2018 abd 2019, subject to change). Your primary care or referring physician will always be the provider to decide what code your massage therapist will be billing under. Diagnosing a patient is out of the scope of practice for all Washington State Massage Therapists, without exception. And ALL medical insurances require a diagnosis to accept a billing.
So, please know your insurance carriers rules prior to scheduling your massage; if you plan of having it billed to your medical insurance.
We are always happy to help if you have any questions or concerns.

May 17, 2017
Prescription opioids can be used to treat moderate-to-severe pain and are often prescribed following surgery or injury, or for health conditions such as cancer. Opioids carry serious risk of addiction, abuse, and overdose, in addition to a number of side effects, even when taken as directed. According to the Centers for Disease Control, deaths from prescription opioids—drugs like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and methadone—have more than quadrupled since 1999.

For that reason, a number of health organizations are seriously looking at alternative ways to manage pain.

In the past year, the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) has been actively engaged with several organizations and agencies regarding massage therapy for pain and specifically as an alternative to opioids.

Academy of Integrative Pain Management

AMTA has worked with the Academy of Integrative Pain Management to foster ongoing dialog on integration of massage therapy into approaches to pain, instead of using opioids. Their March/April issue of The Pain Practitioner includes an article by AMTA President Dolly Wallace on the benefits of massage therapy for people with arthritis.

Helping States Address Opioid Use

AMTA worked directly with the West Virginia Attorney General for a program to reduce use of opioids for pain. The state is very positive about the incorporation of massage therapy in a list of approaches to pain that can help stop the rampant use of opioids there – the highest in the country.

The state public education program includes a recommendation of massage therapy as a first-line approach vs. opioids. As a result, AMTA has been actively discussing a similar approach with legislators in an increasing number of states.

We also connected the state officials in West Virginia with researchers in Kentucky working on this same subject. We have had an ongoing relationship with Dr. Elder’s group at the University of Kentucky for educational roundtables in West Virginia and Kentucky. They recently published some of their results, showing the value and efficacy of massage as a substitute for opioids.

Research on Massage for Pain Management

Combining those results with the publication of the results of the Massage Therapy Foundation and Samueli research meta-analysis funded by AMTA, we are hopeful about new conversations on this important topic.

In addition, the American College of Physicians recently issued a new guideline recommending massage therapy for low-back pain.

FDA Call for Comment

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is seeking public comment on the “FDA Education Blueprint for Health Care Providers Involved in the Management or Support of Patients with Pain”. Learn more »

Resources for Massage Therapists

Current Research on the Health Benefits of Massage Therapy

Communicating + Collaborating with Health Care Professionals

Low Back Pain & Massage Therapy | 2.5 CE Credits

The mystery of Medicare has been solved!!!. Medicare does cover Massage Therapy but not when preformed by a Massage Therapist.

Your Medicare part B plan will cover Massage Therapy, up to 10 visits per year in 2017. Here’s the catch, the service is only covered if preformed for rehabilitation with your Physical Therapist, Chiropractor, Acupuncturist, Medical Doctor, or Naturopath only. This means your Physical Therapist, Chiropractor, Acupuncturist, Medical Doctor, or Naturopath physically preform the treatment, in some cases a Medical Doctor must be in attendance during the treatment, if the treatment is preformed by someone other than the physician.
Your Medicare supplemental for part A plans may cover, if your supplemental acts as a primary for rehabilitative services. You will need to double check with your insurance on the rules for coverage of Massage Therapy preformed by a Massage Therapist.
This information has come directly from Medicare on 1/10/2017. Take the time to know your coverage. It can be complicated but is worth it.

If you have more questions please call Danielle at 509-453-1420

5-ways-massage-can-improve-your-health-american-massage-therapy-association

Did you know we are here for you on Saturday? Start your weekend right and come see us for a Saturday morning massage. Danielle and Amanda have Saturday openings, by appointment only, every other weekend. Call 509-453-1420 to schedule.