Today, Governor Rick Scott announced the appointment of Joy L. Buckley to the Board of Massage Therapy.

Buckley, 52, of Boynton Beach, is a self employed massage therapist. She is appointed for a term beginning July 13, 2012, and ending June 30, 2015.

It seems Buckley will not be alone when she takes up the tireless cause of advancing all things massage.

Incidentally, massage therapy is big in the Sunshine State. There is an annual “Massage Therapy Awareness Day” in Tallahassee where lobbyists push for a massage therapy legislative platform. Probably something like ‘we support the use of ergonomic chairs and lavender scented oils.’ The governor also designates one week in October as “Massage Therapy Awareness Week.”

There is a Florida State Massage Therapy Association which boasts a host of legislative accomplishments like getting the legal designation changed from Masseur/Masseuse to Licensed Massage Therapist

There is also a Florida Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), which, among other things, recently discussed the concerns massage therapists have about the TV series, The Client List, with the Senior Vice President of Communications for the A&E Networks.

It should come as no surprise, then, that Florida is one of two states where massage therapists have the ability to bill health insurance for services. 

But it seems Buckley is taking office during an uncharacteristically tense period for massage therapists. On May 4, 2012, Scott signed into law a bill that will prohibit the state’s massage therapists from billing personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. This was a big pressure point for the massage world, one that Buckley will no doubt have to relieve in her new role.

–Nora McAlvanah

Tags | Board of Massage Therapy., Joy L. Buckley, rick scott