Insurance and Massage Therapy
by Deborah Reid
of insurance, for example Avmed or Vista must approve treatment. This too may
U
nfortunately, massage is not a insurance holders. That list of providers prove difficult as many case managers
covered benefit with most in- usually includes chiropractic, acupunc- are not familiar with medical massage
surance plans. Most employers ture, and massage therapy. Check with for treatment either and the immediate
choose plans that include chiropractic your employer to see if you are on a thought that comes to mind is that you
and physical therapy but not massage provider network. are going to the spa and having a “fluffy”
therapy. Blue Cross Blue Shield - Blue Employers have to provide Workers’ massage. They may deny the treatment
Options provides massage therapy Comp insurance for your workplace. The and in that instance they must provide a
coverage of 45% of the service. Most process can be more complicated for a reason for doing so and you can then ap-
insurances do not recognize an individ- work related injury. You will have to see peal the process for denial of treatment.
ual massage therapist, but rather only the occupational doctor and be assigned Auto or MVA (motor vehicle ac-
those working under a doctor’s super- a case manager. The doctor must pre- cidents) are covered under PIP law. You
vision which means in a chiropractic scribe the massage therapy for treatment are allowed $10,000 under this law for
office. Other plans will allow massage of the injury. Many doctors are not aware diagnostic tests and treatment. It is sug-
therapy but only if it is performed by of medical massage and therefore do not gested you see your doctor immediately
a chiropractor or physical therapist. A prescribe massage therapy as an option following an accident. She/he may want
chiropractor and physical therapist may for treatment. You may have to suggest to do further diagnostic testing such as
not be trained in medical massage and that particular treatment modality to the an MRI. If you have pain and the doctor
they are not going to work on you for doctor. It is suggested to be specific, for clears you for treatment, then medical
an hour as a massage therapist will. example: Trigger Point Therapy for 1 time massage is a great alternative other than
There are networks such as Health- per week x 10 weeks. If you are fortunate physical therapy. Too often physical ther-
ways whose providers offer a percentage to receive a prescription from your doc- apy is over prescribed and doesn’t really
off to clients that have a particular type tor for treatment, then your case manager help with the pain issue. It is common
for patients to come for medical massage
after the physical therapy treatment and
still be in immense pain. Physical therapy
does little to address pain. It is great for
range of motion and acquiring strength
but does not facilitate pain reduction as
does a modality such as Trigger Point
Therapy. You may have to suggest a pre-
scription from your doctor for medical
massage. You do not need approval for
the therapy; just take the prescription to
your medical massage therapist and they
will call your insurance to make sure you
have benefits remaining.
Make sure you locate a medical
massage therapist that is professional
and will provide your doctor and case
manager with weekly updated progress
reports.
Reid Medical Massage specializes in
Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy and Thai
Massage for deep and effective healing
of chronic and nagging pain. Workers’
comp, auto accidents, Blue Options,
and Healthways accepted. Reid Medical
Massage, 12333 NW 18th St, Pembroke
Pines, FL 33026. Visit www.reidmedical-
massage.com or call Deborah Reid, LMT
for appointment 954.865.8310. See ad
page 61.
28 Broward County
http://FtL.NaturalAwakeningsMag.com
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