Medical massage and insurance coverage

Andrew Wolfe, LMP of Stanwood, practices medical massage on a patient. Medical massage therapy is recognized as a health care provision under rehabilitation outpatient coverage in most major medical plans.

Coverage varies according to your benefit package.

Medical massage therapy helps heal, restore and improve functions compromised due to illness, injury, disease or surgery.

It must be part of a treatment plan your primary care provider recommends as medically necessary to restore lost function.

Provisions are given toward injuries from motor vehicle accidents under personal injury protection (PIP) and job injuries under worker’s compensation through labor and industry (L&I). Verification and preauthorization must be met before starting care.

The variety of techniques and applications of massage therapy are vast, according to the training and experience of the licensed massage therapist. State laws are in place for licensing and certification.

When looking for a message therapist, it is always a good consumer judgment to consider the continuing education and experience of the massage therapist.

When injured you should seek out a massage therapist with skill, training and experience compatible with the injuries and ailments that you have. For instance, for injury treatment, you don’t want a massage therapist who specializes in spa massage. Injury treatment is specialized and has specific protocol and training, whereas spa massage does not. Insurance companies will not recognize a “feel good” spa approach as a medical procedure.

A consumer should ask what kind of specialized training a therapist has and what kinds of clinical experience have they had in treating specific dysfunctions.

Recommendations from your primary health care provider and local hospitals are a good resource for finding an experienced massage therapist. American Massage Therapy Association offers a list of massage therapists and their specialties at www.amtamassage.org.

A proactive approach to selfeducation and consumer awareness is essential for the most efficient healing and recovery.

A 15-year resident of Stanwood and massage therapists for 23 years, Andrew Wolfe, LMP, practices medical massage in Smokey Point, as Harmony Licensed Massage Therapy. For information see www.harmonymassagetherapy. com or call 360-653-4657.