We, the undersigned, respectfully request that Florida state officials, including Governor Ron DeSantis, the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Legislature, and related agencies, take immediate action to review and update current laws and regulations that limit the professional practice of Licensed Massage Therapists (LMTs) in Florida.

Licensed Massage Therapists in Florida are highly trained professionals who provide valuable therapeutic care to individuals suffering from musculoskeletal, circulatory, neurological, and other health conditions. Our work goes far beyond relaxation and is a critical part of pain management, injury recovery, and overall wellness.

Currently, massage therapists face unfair restrictions that prevent us from:

• Working within clinical and healthcare facilities;
• Collaborating with insurance companies to offer services to patients who would greatly benefit from massage therapy;
• Fully participating in integrated healthcare teams to help Floridians manage chronic pain and health conditions without unnecessary medications or surgeries.

We believe that:

• The baker bakes bread, the mortician buries the deceased, and the massage therapist performs therapeutic care to help alleviate pain and improve physical function.
• Our role should be recognized as part of the larger healthcare system, not limited to personal or luxury services.
• Allowing massage therapists to work within clinical environments and insurance networks would increase healthcare accessibility, improve patient outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs statewide.

For these reasons, we respectfully request that Florida's leadership analyze and reconsider current policies to:

• Expand the professional scope of Licensed Massage Therapists;
• Permit LMTs to work within clinics, medical offices, and hospitals;
• Allow massage therapy services to be reimbursable under private health insurance, workers compensation, and other insurance programs.

We stand ready to work collaboratively with state officials, healthcare regulators, and insurance providers to find reasonable solutions that support patients, public health, and professional practice.