Take Action Now Say No to Licensing Alternative Therapies in Massachusetts!

Say No to Licensing Alternative Therapies in Massachusetts!

Please Help us Defeat S.221/ H.350 

A public hearing was held on zoom on December 13th, 2021 S.221/H.350, An Act Regulating Alternative Healing Therapies with the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. 60 people gave oral testimony with overwhelming opposition to S.221/H.350.

Written Testimony has been extended to January 10th, 2022. So far we have over 1,200 people who have sent in written testimony in opposition. Please help us defeat this bill. Sample letter below.

The proposed legislation S.221/H.350, An Act Regulating Alternative Healing Therapies, affects therapies such as Reiki, Asian bodywork therapy, Reflexology, Feldenkrais Method, Trager Approach, Ayurvedic Therapies, Polarity or Polarity Therapy, Structural integration or Rolfing, Qi Gong, and Body/Mind Centering. This bill creates a licensing board (with members who do not have the expertise in each of our practices - 3 massage therapists and 2 alternative health practitioners).  This board will establish professional and ethical conduct, will direct us how to practice and teach, and mandate continuing education generally beyond the scope of our practices. If this bill passes it will increase the cost of practicing, reduce the number of practitioners, increase the cost to consumers, generate unnecessary barriers with higher fees to practice, increase unemployment, discriminate against low wage earners, people of color, and women. 

SAMPLE LETTER THAT YOU CAN USE TO WRITE FOR YOUR TESTIMONY

 The subject line of your email should be: Testimony in Opposition to S.221 and H.350, An Act Regulating Alternative Healing Therapies

The email should be addressed to the following individuals:   jointcmte-consumerprotection@malegislature.gov, paul.feeney@masenate.gov, Michael.Brady@masenate.gov, brendan.crighton@masenate.gov, edward.kennedy@masenate.gov, Bruce.Tarr@masenate.gov, Tackey.Chan@mahouse.gov., Mary.Keefe@mahouse.gov, Rady.Mom@mahouse.gov, Tricia.Farley-Bouvier@mahouse.gov, Joan.Meschino@mahouse.gov, tami.gouveia@mahouse.gov, david.leboeuf@mahouse.gov, Danillo.Sena@mahouse.gov, Jacob.Oliveira@mahouse.gov, joseph.mckenna@mahouse.gov, Steven.Howitt@mahouse.gov, susan.moran@masenate.gov,  

 Sample Email:

(Month) (Day) (Year)

 The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

The State House

24 Beacon Street, Room 42

Boston, MA 02133

 RE:  Testimony in Opposition to S.221 and  H.350, An Act Regulating Alternative Healing Therapies

 Dear Chairs, Senator Moran and Representative Chan, Vice Chairs Senator Feeney and Representative Keefe, and Members of the Committee:

My name is (your first and last name) (or I am writing on behalf of a business or organization) and I am a (type of practitioner, teacher or consumer) who resides in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. (Do not add where you reside if you do not live or work in MA. Please note, that anyone in the US can join in writing a letter of opposition)

State why you oppose the bill or other issue here.  Include a personal story.  Tell the Committee why the issue is important to you and how it will affect you, your family, and your community (and/or organization or business).

Also, choose up to three of the strongest points that support your position from the fact sheets and state them clearly.

• FACT SHEET  Talking Points

• FACT SHEET Talking Points

Example: I want to voice my strong opposition to S.221 and H.350 as it affects over 100 holistic modalities (or 150 different styles of Reiki practice) that will not be fairly represented with the proposed Board of Massage and Alternative Healing Therapies.  There is no risk of harm to the public from these modalities. The restriction that you can only be licensed if you receive training at a program licensed by the state will put many holistic health care practitioners and teachers out of business and on unemployment because of the burdensome fees.  They will limit healthcare choices for consumers, raise prices of sessions, and close hospital and hospice volunteer programs.

 Please vote no on S.221 and H.350. I would greatly appreciate a response.  Thank you for your time and consideration of this issue.  

 Sincerely, 

 Print your name 

Street address 

City, State, Zip code

Phone

Email