Many patients utilize workplace benefits to pay or partially pay for their massage therapy care. Insurers agree, there are benefits to receiving massage therapy, but are concerned benefits are short-term, lower cost alternatives for the same outcomes are available, and question the exploitive business practices of some practitioners. Insurers are signalling that change is coming, and stakeholders in the massage therapy profession should double-down on efforts to improve relations, ensure accountability and demonstrate efficacy. Join veteran RMT Don Dillon and MTC editor Jannen Belbeck as they ..read more

In this episode, Editor Jannen Belbeck interviews Janet Penny (RMT) and Rebecca Sturgeon (LMT), co-authors of the book "Oncology Massage: An integrative approach to cancer care." Listen in as we talk about unique challenges to the therapeutic relationship, debunk myths about oncology massage, pertinent intake questions, confidence in treating, and much more. To buy the text and for more information, visit annexbookstore.com ..read more

Massage therapists frequently experience strained relationships with the public and media. Associations with the sex trade, sexual abuse, alternative therapies and insurance fraud have hurt the profession. Practitioners can influence public perception by reaching out to the media while sending the right messages to the front line of their practice. In this edition of On the Table, we speak with RMT and veteran of public and media relations, Margaret Wallis-Duffy. Learn critical skills to position you in positive light, whether speaking to a referring health professional, your patients, or the ..read more

Without provincial health funding, clients of RMTs rely heavily on employee health benefit plans (EHBPs) to finance their massage therapy care. Worker's compensation and auto-insurance are reportedly tough to work with, and increasingly insurers attempt to position themselves as guardians of health care funding. With adversity rising in relations with some insurers, practitioners worry for this source of funding while insurers are critical on whether utilization of massage therapy provides real value for dollars spent. In this edition of On The Table, we speak with RMTAO Executive Director And ..read more