<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<subtitle article="gho" title_number="6" subtitle_number="4" title_name="Massage Therapy" subtitle_name="Miscellaneous">
  <section article="gho" article_name="Health Occupations" number="6-401" title_number="6" title_name="Massage Therapy" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Miscellaneous">
    <level label="a">
      <text>The Board shall adopt regulations to:</text>
      <level label="1">
        <text>Establish standards for advertising or soliciting by licensed massage therapists or registered massage practitioners;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="2">
        <text>Define specific language and content prohibited under this section; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="3">
        <text>Establish procedures for reporting violations of this section by a licensed massage therapist, registered massage practitioner, or member of the public.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="b">
      <text>For purposes of this section, the mailing of notices to patients to inform them of times for periodic appointments is not advertising or soliciting.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="c">
      <text>If an advertisement for massage therapy services lists the name of a licensed massage therapist or a registered massage practitioner, the name displayed on the advertisement must be consistent with the name of the individual that is on the license or registration issued by the Board.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="d">
      <text>Subject to subsection (c) of this section, a licensed massage therapist or registered massage practitioner may use a trade name in connection with the practice of massage therapy provided that:</text>
      <level label="1">
        <text>The use of the trade name is not deceptive or misleading;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="2">
        <text>The advertisement in which the trade name appears includes the name of the licensed massage therapist or registered massage practitioner or the name of the business entity providing the massage therapy services being advertised, as long as the advertisement includes the name of a licensed massage therapist or registered massage practitioner;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="3">
        <text>The name of the licensed massage therapist or registered massage practitioner providing massage therapy services appears on the billing invoices, stationery, and any receipt given to a patient; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="4">
        <text>Treatment records are maintained that clearly identify the licensed massage therapist or registered massage practitioner who has performed the massage therapy service for the patient.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="e">
      <level label="1">
        <text>A licensed massage therapist, registered massage practitioner, or a third party acting on behalf of a licensed massage therapist or registered massage practitioner may not place, publish, or distribute, or cause to be placed, published, or distributed, an advertisement for massage therapy services:</text>
        <level label="i">
          <text>That states prostitution services, escort services, or sexual services are available;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="ii">
          <text>On a website known for advertising prostitution services, escort services, or sexual services; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="iii">
          <text>That indicates or implies, through language or other content, that sexual activity is part of the massage therapy service.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="2">
        <text>For an online advertisement, each day on which an advertisement that violates paragraph (1) of this subsection is visible to the public constitutes a separate violation of this section.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="3">
        <text>Failure to remove a physical sign or billboard placed in public view that violates paragraph (1) of this subsection constitutes a violation of this section.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </section>
  <section article="gho" article_name="Health Occupations" number="6-402" title_number="6" title_name="Massage Therapy" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Miscellaneous">
    <text>A health care provider who is licensed or certified under this article may not refer patients to an individual who is not a licensed massage therapist.</text>
  </section>
  <section article="gho" article_name="Health Occupations" number="6-404" title_number="6" title_name="Massage Therapy" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Miscellaneous">
    <level label="a">
      <text>In this section, “massage therapist and practitioner rehabilitation committee” means a committee that:</text>
      <level label="1">
        <text>Is a committee of the Board or a committee of an association that represents at least 250 licensed massage therapists in the State that:</text>
        <level label="i">
          <text>Is recognized by the Board; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="ii">
          <text>Includes massage therapists and massage practitioners; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="2">
        <text>Performs any of the functions listed in subsection (c) of this section.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="b">
      <text>A rehabilitation committee of the Board or recognized by the Board may function:</text>
      <level label="1">
        <text>Solely for the Board; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="2">
        <text>Jointly with a rehabilitation committee representing another board or boards.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="c">
      <text>A massage therapist and practitioner rehabilitation committee shall evaluate and provide assistance to any licensed massage therapist, registered massage practitioner, or other individual regulated by the Board in need of treatment and rehabilitation for alcoholism, drug abuse, chemical dependency, or other physical, emotional, or mental condition.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="d">
      <level label="1">
        <text>In this subsection, “civil action” does not include a proceeding before the Board or the judicial review of a proceeding before the Board.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="2">
        <text>Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the proceedings, records, and files of the massage therapist and practitioner rehabilitation committee are not discoverable and are not admissible in evidence in any civil action arising out of matters that are being or have been reviewed and evaluated by the massage therapist and practitioner rehabilitation committee.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="3">
        <text>Paragraph (2) of this subsection does not apply to any record or document that is considered by the massage therapist and practitioner rehabilitation committee and that otherwise would be subject to discovery or introduction into evidence in any arbitration or civil proceeding.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="e">
      <text>A person who acts in good faith and within the scope of the jurisdiction of a massage therapist and practitioner rehabilitation committee is not civilly liable for any action as a member of the massage therapist and practitioner rehabilitation committee or for giving information to, participating in, or contributing to the function of the massage therapist and practitioner rehabilitation committee.</text>
    </level>
  </section>
  <section article="gho" article_name="Health Occupations" number="6-405" title_number="6" title_name="Massage Therapy" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Miscellaneous">
    <level label="a">
      <text>After consultation with the Board, the county executive or any governing body of a county may adopt ordinances or regulations relating to massage establishments and verification, inspection, and display of licenses issued under this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="b">
      <text>Local health officers and local law enforcement have the authority to carry out the provisions of the ordinances or regulations adopted under subsection (a) of this section.</text>
    </level>
  </section>
</subtitle>