Early April Update
during the COVID-19 Emergency
Thursday, April 9, 2020

Hi Everyone,

As we all realize we are well into April and the COVID-19 cases and deaths are continuing to rise in Maryland and Nationally, a few questions have come in that we wanted to address.

Read on for what we know today about CARES Act, SBA, Unemployment, and State Loan and Grant Programs.

We have also heard from a number of members who want to better understand why massage is not considered essential. Details are below.

Beyond that, we don't know when we will be able to get back to work, staying home and social distancing is simply the most important choice right now.

All the info and links that we have been sharing will also be found at the end of this email. We hope you are doing well and finding your way through this crisis.

Take care,

Amelia
Board Member and Government Relations Chair
for
Sabrina, David, Lee, and Mark
Your AMTA-Maryland Chapter Board
What is Happening With The Aid?
Unfortunately, we don't have any real news on this front and want to assure you that we are all in the same boat right now.

We have shared the programs from the State of Maryland and the CARES Act that are important to apply for. We know many business owners have applied to all the SBA, Maryland, and CARES Act Programs such as the Payroll Protection Program, however beyond notifications that applications have been received, we have no other news.

Speaking with other MTs, they are also in the waiting game, whether it is for loans, grants, or even to get their debit card for Unemployment.

As of this moment, we have not heard when applications for Unemployment for sole proprietors or independent contractors will open.
Why isn't Massage Essential?
Next - we are getting a number of inquiries that go something like this:
Why isn't Massage Essential? I do therapeutic work, work with chronic pain clients etc. shouldn't I be considered essential?

This is a unique and challenging situation unlike any we have ever seen before.

The truth is, during the COVID-19 emergency we are not essential. The Maryland Secretary of Health Robert Neall has provided direct guidance that actually phrases it that only "critical" health care workers should be working.

The Maryland Board of Massage Therapy Examiners - MBMTE page is updated as needed. Read the center of the page for the guidance from the Maryland Secretary of Health, Robert Neall, it is pretty clear:

"all providers of health care licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized under the Health Occupations Article shall perform only medical procedures that are critically necessary for the maintenance of health for a patient. All elective and non-urgent medical procedures and appointments shall cease effective at 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 24, 2020 and shall not be performed for the duration of the catastrophic health emergency."

A straightforward read of this says there is no way to justify that we are critical care workers. Yes, our clients may think so, that is not enough.

Beyond that there are three other considerations to consider:

  • There is sufficient science to show us that asymptomatic people can spread the coronavirus, that could be you or your client. We can never place our clients at risk of harm, nor should we ever be risking our health and safety for non-critical care.

  • Can you actually make your environment safe for you and your clients? Do you have access to the Personal Protective Equipment- PPEs that are needed? Because being within 6 feet of someone is the biggest concern for spreading the virus, and that closeness is a given for massage. For PPEs more than a mask and gloves is necessary, and a level of sanitization that is beyond standard procedures in massage offices would be required. Also to note, there are major shortages of PPEs. Any PPEs need to be available for use by health care workers providing critical care, not rerouted to non-essential, non-critical care.

  • Insurance. Do you have a written guarantee that you have liability coverage to work with clients during the pandemic when the state has told you not to?

It is very tempting to want to get back to work right now, it might seem odd that we as health care providers cannot work, while CNAs, store clerks, and delivery people are working and at risk. It is by taking a look to the higher good that we find our responsibility to not work right now.

AMTA-MD has been fully involved with the creation of our own board MBMTE in 2016 and other legislation. We have worked to very hard to elevate our profession in Maryland as AMTA does nationally. LMTs in Maryland are health care providers, that is important and meaningful. Yet it does not mean we are critical health care workers in a pandemic.

The nature of this emergency is requiring everyone to respond differently. If this was a natural disaster, there would be a place for teams of MTs to provide supportive care to front line workers. We would be helping, not risking our clients.

COVID-19 is requiring us all to manage differently and that will have to continue until the State Department of Health tells us otherwise.


Applying for Unemployment Benefits
A lot of people are now trying to apply for unemployment insurance since the CARES Act passed on Friday.

IMPORTANT - The Division of Unemployment Insurance provided a lot of new information and guidance today.

Highlights:
DO NOT APPLY YET if you are a SOLE PRACTITIONER/INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR you must wait until they announce the website is ready for those applications.

Employees who have been laid off or fired due to the COVID-19 pandemic can apply now - there are specific days of the week - read the above link for more info

Everyone should visit the above page to sign up for email updates.

Finally, we also heard from State Senator Sarah Elfreth's office, she is one of the legislators that we contacted for more guidance:
  • "Our MD Department of Labor system is currently not set up to take those applications - they are working quickly to resolve it to be able to accept those who fall under the new CARES Act provisions. They should not apply as it may affect their ability to apply in the correct portal. 
  • "Please make sure everyone is following the guidance at this site and below. I also encourage everyone to go here http://www.labor.maryland.gov/employment/unemployment.shtml and sign up for email updates on their site to know exactly when new resources or the application portal is live."

As always, we are here to assist and answer questions.
SBA COVID-19 ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS AND SOLE PRACTITIONERS
Another update from the CARES Act:

Small Business Owners may now be eligible for up to a $10,000 Advance on an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) this advance appears to work as a grant as it will be forgiven in most circumstances.


NEW ELIGIBILITY:
Sole proprietorship, with or without employees, or an independent contractor is now eligible to apply for the SBA loan and the Advance.
MD LICENSE RENEWAL AND CE REQUIREMENTS
As we have shared, AMTA-MD has asked the Maryland Board of Massage Therapy Examiners to formally extend the renewal deadline for a year and to reduce or eliminate CE and CPR requirements.

While everyone has bigger concerns, we know that this is an anxiety point for many of us. CEs and license renewal costs a lot of money, it takes time to earn CEs and we are all out of business right now. While Governor Hogan has extended all renewals to 30 days after the state of emergency is over, that timing is a big unknown, and could leave many of us scrambling.

On Wednesday the Maryland Board of Massage Therapy Examiners had their monthly meeting via teleconference. AMTA-Maryland is very grateful that our letter and concerns were addressed by the board and have been added to their continuing focus.

As of Wednesday, no changes in relation to our requests have been made by the board. They agreed that these are important considerations and will continue to monitor the situation. There is also a question as to whether the board has the authority to make these changes.

AMTA-MD has also reached out to some of our allies in the Maryland Legislature to ask for their guidance and support. If such changes need to be made by the Governor or legislature, we have initiated that process.

MARYLAND GRANT AND LOAN PROGRAMS
Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grant Fund
Will provide grants of up to $10,000 to small businesses with fewer than 50 employees to provide working capital. Grants are not loans and do not need to be repaid. They can be used for overhead, rent, payroll, etc.

Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Relief Loan Fund
Another loan program for small businesses with fewer than 50 employees to provide working capital. These loans would be 0% interest for the first year. They can be used for overhead, rent, payroll, etc.
RESOURCES AND INFORMATION


  • Maryland Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information for Business a very detailed page of information for businesses including closures, resources for business closures, taxes, licensing, and resources for employees. Yes, this page does note that our licenses will not renew until the 30th day after the state of emergency is lifted, we are asking for something more concrete from the board itself.