0001|                       HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 82
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0002|     43RD LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 1998
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0003|                            INTRODUCED BY
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0004|                              RICK MIERA
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0005|     
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0006|                                   
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0007|     
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0008|     
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0009|     
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0010|                           A JOINT MEMORIAL
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0011|     REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
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0012|     TO DEVELOP LEGISLATION FOR THE FIRST SESSION OF THE FORTY-
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0013|     FOURTH LEGISLATURE TO REQUIRE INSURERS TO PROVIDE INSURANCE
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0014|     COVERAGE FOR MASSAGE THERAPY AND TO PROVIDE PATIENT FREEDOM OF
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0015|     CHOICE OF MASSAGE THERAPY.
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0016|     
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0017|          WHEREAS, massage therapists receive many referrals from
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0018|     state-licensed physicians for treatment of patients for
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0019|     chronic and acute muscular pain; and
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0020|          WHEREAS, medical research demonstrates that massage is
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0021|     highly effective in treatment of many soft tissue health
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0022|     problems, and massage therapy is cost effective in treatment
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0023|     of acute soft tissue injuries and highly effective in treating
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0024|     premature infants; and
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0025|          WHEREAS, soft tissue therapies stimulate the body's own
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0001|     natural self-healing mechanisms, bring immediate and direct
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0002|     pain reduction, are cost effective and complement preventative
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0003|     medicine techniques; and
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0004|          WHEREAS, chronic back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome
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0005|     cause high medical expenses, lost time and low productivity in
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0006|     the workplace and are immediately mitigated by massage
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0007|     therapy; and
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0008|          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE
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0009|     STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative health and human
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0010|     services committee together with the board of massage therapy
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0011|     establish a task force to assess the impact of mandating
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0012|     health insurance coverage for massage therapy, including the
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0013|     fiscal impact on the cost of health insurance coverage as well
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0014|     as the quality of care for the patient; and
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0015|          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be composed of
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0016|     ten members to include a massage therapist with a
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0017|     neuromuscular or sports massage therapy background, an
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0018|     orthopedic surgeon, a rehabilitation specialist, a
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0019|     chiropractor, a doctor of oriental medicine, a physical
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0020|     therapist, two consumers, a health insurance representative
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0021|     and a business professional; and
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0022|          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force report its
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0023|     findings and recommendations to the legislative health and
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0024|     human services committee by November 1, 1998; and 
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0025|          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
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0001|     transmitted to members of the legislative health and human
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0002|     services committee.
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0003|                              
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