IMPORTANT NOTICE FROM THE BOMT - POSSIBLE SCAM:
We were recently made aware of a telephone scam, whereby a licensee received a call from a woman indicating she was from the Bureau of Quality Assurance, Department of Health calling to advise his license to practice medicine was being suspended effective immediately because he failed to forward a new set of fingerprints to them. She was very convincing and indicated the mail had not been returned to their offices; however, she could put a “stay” on the suspension if he immediately sent in his fingerprints. When asked if he could go to a local police station to have them taken, she told him she would call the police station to find out if they had the correct card that was needed and that she would call the doctor back. She called him back and said the police station did not have the card and said she could FEDEX it to him and all she needed was a credit card number to charge him $25.37. She proceeded to tell him she couldn’t use the credit card he had used with them previously and that she needed a new card number, which he provided. Later, the doctor became suspicious and called both credit card companies, finding out that upwards of $10,000 had been charged to his credit cards.

In order to make our licensees aware of this potential scam and to help ensure protection of their information, the following message is being placed on: all board pages; the first page of the online services portal; the message pages after the practitioner logs into their account; and the FAQs on the online services portal:

IMPORTANT MESSAGE -
The Department of Health, Division of Medical Quality Assurance, is dedicated to protecting your personal information against fraud and scams. You can help protect your license and personal bank accounts by being cautious in giving out your own personal information such as first name, last name, business name, email address, userid/password, financial information (credit card, bank account number, PIN), social security number, and driver’s license number. We will never request personal credit card or bank account information over the telephone. If we require information from you, we will notify you in writing and request that you provide the information by mail or online only after you have safely and securely logged in to your account.

If you believe that someone may be using your account without your permission, please contact us immediately at 850-488-0595.

Services for Licensed Massage Therapists:
Renew License
Update Address
Print Confirmation of License
Request Duplicate License

Applicants & those considering getting a Florida Massage Therapy License:
Licensure Evaluation Tool (Directs you on how to get a FL license)
Apply for Licensure Online
MQA Examination Services
Applicant Status Check

Last, but not least, you can fill out a questionairre to see if you are affected by Florida Statute 456.0635.

If your license question is not answered on FLHealthsource.com, you can browse the
FL Board of Massage Therapy website or call the Board of Massage Therapy at 850-245-4161.

Vision Statement: “To Promote Public Awareness of Massage Therapy in Florida Through Education and Professionalism”

The Florida State Massage Therapy Association (FSMTA) is the oldest professional massage therapy association, founded in 1939.  Furthermore, FSTMA is the only association that works exclusively for therapists who practice in the state of Florida.

This ALERT is posted on the Florida Board of Massage Therapy Website.

If this law affects you, please contact FSMTA at 877-376-8248 and let us know.

For more information, please visit the links provided below.

This new law is Florida Statute 456.0635 and contains references to the following laws:

Florida Statutes,  Chapter 409

Florida Statutes, Chapter 817

Florida Statutes, Chapter 893

United States Code, Chapter 13 (ss. 801-970) (455 KB pdf)

United States Code, Chapter 42 (ss. 1395-1396) (4.75 MB pdf)

You have several ways to provide us with your email address.  You can log in to your FSMTA profile to add or update your email, you can contact us online or by phone (877-FSMTA4U), or you can write it on your paper renewal form. 

If you don’t currently have an email address on file with FSMTA Central Office, then you are missing out!  We send out email newsletters with helpful information to keep you in touch.  Also, your Local Chapter probably sends out email reminders about their monthly meetings, where you can get free CEs!

We hope you’ll join us in our efforts to help the environment, keep you in touch, and keep membership dues low by ensuring we have a current email address.

Political advertisement by Paula Dockery for Governor, Republican

Follow this link to check it out:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=49303458825#

Listed below are the Board of Massage Therapy staff and their duties:

Kaye Howerton – Executive Director
Kaye Howerton also serves as the Executive Director for the Boards of Acupuncture, Osteopathic Medicine, Speech Language Pathology and Audiology and the Council on Midwifery. Ms. Howerton brings a wealth of knowledge in the regulatory field. She has over thirteen years experience in licensure and regulation formerly with the Department of Health and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. She has served on national federation committees for other boards including examination and education. Ms. Howerton’s responsibilities are administrative and include legislative, budget, and policy issues.

Paula Mask - New Program Operations Administrator
Paula came to the Board of Massage Therapy office in January 2009. Paula has 14 years experience as an administrator in other board offices and a number of years experience in the regulatory arena. She also serves as the Program Operations Administrator for the Board of Acupuncture. Her responsibilities to name a few include staff supervision, agenda and meeting preparation, policy issues and day to day operation for the profession.

Chelisa Kirkland - Regulatory Specialist II
• Massage Therapist History Applications (A-Z)
• Massage Establishment History Applications (A-Z)
• Colonic Applications (A-Z)
• Apprenticeship Applications (A-Z)
• Massage Therapy School Applications
• Continuing Education
• Reactivation of licenses

Jackie Clahar-Anderson - Regulatory Specialist I
• Massage Therapist Applications (A-F)
• Massage Establishment Applications (A-F)

Brandy Boehm - Regulatory Specialist I
• Massage Therapist Applications (G-O)
• Massage Establishment Applications (G-O)

Regina (Gina) Decker - Regulatory Specialist I
• Massage Therapist Applications (P-Z)
• Massage Establishment Applications (P-Z)

Erica Milam – Regulatory Specialist II
• Assists Executive Director and Program Operations Administrator with board projects

Governor Crist also appointed 4 new board members in February.

We would like to wish the board members the best of luck in their new positions.

Kaye Howerton – New Executive Director

Kaye Howerton also serves as the Executive Director for the Boards of Acupuncture, Osteopathic Medicine, Speech Language Pathology and Audiology and the Council on Midwifery. Ms. Howerton brings a wealth of knowledge in the regulatory field. She has over thirteen years experience in licensure and regulation formerly with the Department of Health and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. She has served on national federation committees for other boards including examination and education.

“I look forward to working with the Board of Massage Therapy and the massage profession. I have met some very passionate massage therapists who have lofty goals that will help protect the public and reach out to the entire licensee base.” – Kaye Howerton

Lynda Solien-Wolfe, LMT – New Board Chair

Lynda Solien-Wolfe, LMT, NCTMB is the President and founder of the Solwolfe Resource Group Inc., a business development consultancy specializing in the massage, spa and integrated healthcare markets. The Solwolfe Resource Group was founded to create networks, awareness, educational programs, strategy alliance and relationships to support and grow the massage therapy industry and the companies and entities that support the massage and wellness professions. Lynda is the massage and spa consultant for Hygenic/Performance Health products, the makers of BIOFREEZE. Lynda is also a freelance writer and has been published in the top massage therapy trade publications. She has been a member of the FSMTA and AMTA since massage school. Lynda is licensed as a massage therapist and has had a private practice in Merritt Island, Florida since 1994. Lynda was elected chair of the Florida Board of Massage Therapy at their January 2009 meeting. Lynda is serving her second term on the board which will expire in October 2009. Lynda can be reached at Lyndabomt [at] aol [dot] com.
“I am excited to serve as the new chair of the Florida Board of Massage Therapy and continue to protect the public and help steer the issues that come in front of the board with fairness and respect.” – Lynda Solien-Wolfe, LMT

Lorena Haynes, LMT - New Board Vice Chair

Lorena Haynes, BS Ed., LMT, has been a licensed massage therapist in Florida since 1993. She spent ten years working for chiropractors in Orlando and over the years has worked at many of the hotels and spas in the Disney area. With a Bachelor of Science in Career and Technical Education from the University of Central Florida, she has taught massage therapy for Orange County Public Schools since 2002. She has been a guest lecturer and instructor at several state and national conventions specializing in technology in the classroom and distance education curriculum development for massage therapy and other professions and is currently in the Master’s program at UCF for the same. Lorena is an ancillary author, reviewer and content expert for several massage textbooks.

In 2006 Governor Jeb Bush appointed her to the Florida Board of Massage Therapy, where she will serve until her term expires in October of 2009. She is the newly elected vice chair and sits on both the probable cause panel as well as the rules committee.

“I view being on the Board as an opportunity to contribute to the advancement of our profession, and am grateful to be able to serve in the capacity of vice chair.” - Lorena Haynes, LMT

Governor Charlie Crist announced the following appointments to the BOMT:

Bridget Burke-Wammack, 47, of Tallahassee, self-employed licensed massage therapist, succeeding David Quiring, appointed for a term beginning February 24, 2009, and ending October 31, 2012. Bridget is an FSMTA member and former Big Bend Chapter Officer.

Karen Ford, 42, of Punta Gorda, self-employed licensed massage therapist, succeeding Andrea Vala, appointed for a term beginning February 24, 2009, and ending October 31, 2011.

Robert Smallwood, 62, of Key West, self-employed licensed massage therapist, succeeding Jacqueline Kelly, appointed for a term beginning February 24, 2009, and ending October 31, 2011. Bob is an FSMTA member and former Keys Chapter Officer and former FSMTA Executive Director.

William Stoehs, 64, of Hudson, retired, succeeding Alfonza Hall, appointed for a term beginning February 24, 2009, and ending October 31, 2010.