massage therapy rules

By Lance O. Leider, J.D., The Health Law Firm

You can run, but you can’t hide.

During the 2014 Legislative Session CS/HB 1065 was passed. This law requires all new applicants and existing massage therapists and establishment owners to submit digital fingerprints. The law has been in effect since July 1, 2014 for new licenses. However, the deadline to submit fingerprints for existing licenses is January 31, 2015.

Click here to read CS/HB 1065.

Law Details.

According to the law, the following individuals must undergo a criminal background screening prior to January 31, 2015:

–    All massage therapists licensed in Florida prior to July 1, 2014.

–    Any person with an ownership interest in a massage establishment licensed in
Florida prior to July 1, 2014.

–    If the massage establishment is owned by a corporation that has more than
$250,000 of business assets in Florida, the owner, officer or individual directly
involved in the management of the establishment will be required to submit to
background screenings.

What’s a Digital Fingerprint?

If you haven’t already, massage therapists must locate a Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)-approved LiveScan Provider. LiveScan is a digital fingerprint used throughout the country by law enforcement, state agencies, and employers. The LiveScan provider will electronically send your fingerprint to the FDLE.

The cost for submitting a digital fingerprint varies by location, as does the information an applicant needs to bring with them.

It’s important to remember, if you include a photo with a LiveScan fingerprint, it will stay in the Florida Department of Health’s (DOH) database. However, if there is no photo included, then you will need to resend your finger print every two years.

Exemptions with New Requirement.

Licensed physicians, osteopathic physicians or chiropractors, who employ a licensed massage therapist to perform massages on the physician’s patients at the physician’s practice, are exempt from the background screening requirements.

Purpose of the New Law.

This law is new to massage therapists, not to the field of healthcare. Many other healthcare providers in Florida, including doctors, dentists, chiropractors, and nurses, have been required to submit digital fingerprints for years.

If a qualifying felony offense does show up on the background screening, the DOH will issue an emergency suspension order (ESO), suspending the license of that massage therapist or massage establishment. The DOH will also deny the application or renewal of any massage therapist or massage establishment with certain prior felony conviction. The purpose of the fingerprint-based background checks are to eliminate people with past felony convictions from obtaining or keeping their massage therapy licenses. Be mindful that any and all prior convictions will show up on this background check. This means, that even if you have a very old criminal history, it can potentially result in an investigation by the Board and possible disqualification from licensure. If you have questions regarding your massage therapy license, contact an experienced healthcare attorney.

Comments?

Did you know about this new law? Have you sent in your digital fingerprint yet? Please leave any thoughtful comments below.

Contact Health Law Attorneys Experienced in the Representation of Massage Therapists.

The attorneys of The Health Law Firm provide legal representation to massage therapists in Department of Health (DOH) investigations, licensing matters and other types of investigations of health professionals and providers. We have represented a number of massage therapists who have had summary actions initiated against their massage therapy licenses by the Department of Health (DOH).

To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

About the Author: Lance O. Leider is an attorney with The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Avenue, Altamonte Springs, Florida 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of George F. Indest III, P.A. – The Health Law Firm, a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
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