Does my health insurance cover massage?
Sometimes. Health insurance is not required to cover massage therapy.  However, occasionally a plan will reimburse you for this.  What you need to do is CALL and ask if they cover massage.  If they say yes – ask them if they will pay a licensed massage practitioner to perform the service.  Often it is only covered if it is performed by a physician or a physical therapist.

Does my Flex plan cover massage?
Yes.  What you will need is a prescription from your physician or chiropractor.

Does my auto insurance cover medical massage?
Yes.  If you have been injured in an auto accident, your MED PAY on your insurance policy will cover my services.  Once again, you will need a prescription from your physician.

Does Medicare cover massage?
No.

What is orthopedic massage?
Orthopedic Massage is the clinical application of various soft tissue and manual therapy techniques designed to evaluate and treat soft tissue injuries.  Orthopedic massage would be the best descriptive of the therapy that I provide in my office.

Orthopedic soft tissue therapy can be effective in treating a number of conditions, which include but are not limited to: tendonitis and other tendon injuries, whiplash, low back pain, myofascial pain (pain due to failure of muscle and connective tissue to glide properly), sprains, strains, sciatica, painful trigger points, repetitive strain injuries, thoracic outlet syndromes (such as carpal tunnel syndrome), post injury or surgical rehabilitation, sports injuries, headaches, concussion….

The primary goals of orthopedic soft tissue therapy are to decrease pain, increase range of motion, and help restore normal function to the soft tissues of the body - primarily muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Orthopedic soft tissue therapy is normally performed with a specific goal for functional outcome.

Orthopedic massage therapists generally have training and experience beyond the standard licensing or certification requirement. Evaluation and assessment, pathologies and contraindications, clinical and orthopedic massage techniques, medical terminology, documentation and communication, insurance billing, legal issues, HIPAA privacy rules, professional and medical ethics, and experience working in a clinical setting are all part of the experience and training that I provide.

What is medical massage?
Medical massage is orthopedic massage based on a physician's prescription, and performed with a specific goal for functional outcome. It is generally prescribed as a series of visits over a specified period of time - such as twice a week for six weeks, with work only to the diagnosed area. It is sometimes paid for by a third party, such as an insurance company.

A good medical massage therapist is a good orthopedic massage therapist who also knows how to speak the languages of insurance companies, physicians, state and federal law, attorneys, etc. If you have been injured in an auto accident, this can be a HUGE benefit to you, letting you concentrate on getting better instead of having to deal with all of the billing issues that come with your prescribed course of treatment.

What should I wear?
Wear or bring something loose and comfortable; something which allows you to move freely. During the assessment process I will observe your posture, looking at things such as the level of your hip bones and the position of your spine. The easier it is for me to see these "landmarks", the more accurate the evaluation will be. Shorts (and a sports-bra for women) would be ideal. Most orthopedic soft tissue therapy treatments require that only the area of focus needs to be accessible. Your comfort while you are at my clinic is very important, so please wear something that will help you feel at ease.