Sunday October 24, 2010, 4:07 pm


For my sweet friend Barb!!

Please sign Barb's petition!!!!

Sunday October 24, 2010, 4:08 pm
signed and noted, thanks Cher

Sunday October 24, 2010, 4:09 pm
noted...and signed

Sunday October 24, 2010, 4:10 pm
Good luck with this quest. If a doctor prescribes it we are covered for the services of a registered massage therapist here in British Columbia. It just makes sense. Petition signed and post noted.

Sunday October 24, 2010, 4:16 pm
Thank you my sweet Cher!! xx

Sunday October 24, 2010, 4:21 pm
And thank you everyone!! If we can get this changed think what it would mean to a multitude of people in our nation!! I'll forward!!

Sunday October 24, 2010, 4:24 pm
Signed ! Good luck with this petition Barb , hun xxx

Sunday October 24, 2010, 4:26 pm
Noted and gladly signed.

Sunday October 24, 2010, 4:31 pm
signed ty

Sunday October 24, 2010, 4:31 pm
noted, signed.

Sunday October 24, 2010, 4:39 pm
Noted and signed,, thanks (#13). Medicare/Medicaid and other insurances should pay for massages and acupuncture for everyone as it helps people stay healthy, relieves chronic pain, and alleviates the need for a lot of Rx drugs...and unnecessary, dangerous tests. My husband and I see our massage therapist/acupuncturist far more often than we see medical doctors.

Sunday October 24, 2010, 4:42 pm
Thank you for signing the petition "Medicare/Medicaid Should Pay For Massages For The Physically-Challenged"

Sunday October 24, 2010, 4:46 pm
Noted, signed and tweeted. Please don't get upset, because this is just my opinion. I have a good friend who is a minister and has MS and suffers greatly from the pain of spacisity (sp?). She is sooo lucky she is in a medical marijuana state and can use small amounts of the drug and it does wonders for her. I think massage is great to and can do just as much for you. I just wanted to mention how much of a wonder drug pot has been for her in the later stages of her illness. Thank you Barbcat and Thank you Cher!

Sunday October 24, 2010, 4:54 pm
Thanks for telling the world

Sunday October 24, 2010, 4:55 pm
aahhh... i'm getting the same stupid error message i've been getting for the past few days. i promise i'll keep trying to sign it.

Sunday October 24, 2010, 4:55 pm
signed !

Sunday October 24, 2010, 5:00 pm
Signed

Sunday October 24, 2010, 5:08 pm
Action taken!

Sunday October 24, 2010, 5:10 pm
Signed

Sunday October 24, 2010, 5:13 pm
Done!

Sunday October 24, 2010, 5:20 pm
Signer #26.

Sunday October 24, 2010, 5:24 pm
Absolutely signed, Sweetie. Never thought of it before, but what a difference it would make in your life and the lives of many other patients. Hope it gets passed around a lot and you win!

Sunday October 24, 2010, 5:28 pm
signed, thank-you Cher, and BarbCat

Sunday October 24, 2010, 5:29 pm
Thank you, Cher for this important petition. Good luck, Barb!!!

Sunday October 24, 2010, 6:00 pm
Good luck on the petition .I believe it should also be allowed for people with Fibromalgya , as I have a friend who experiences severe pain due to this condition .I can see how it hilps and II hope Obama and Medicaid/Medicaire Division does too.

Sunday October 24, 2010, 6:04 pm
thanx Cher for chering, God Bless!!

Sunday October 24, 2010, 6:05 pm
SIGNED #39 NOTED THANKS CHER

Sunday October 24, 2010, 6:08 pm
I have already signed for this of course I would. This stinking goverment doesn't want to help with any thing except them selves and there family. Even I can not afford to find out just right where my pain is comming from cost to much and no help for they say we make to much and are pentalized for being married. So I have to suffer for it. hope they do pass this. Hugs to Both Cher and Barb.n

Sunday October 24, 2010, 6:08 pm
signed

Sunday October 24, 2010, 6:22 pm
Signed. I think massages should be considered under medical, because it helps soothe muscles that make it easier for you to move around, especially people with bad backs.

Sunday October 24, 2010, 6:25 pm
Signed and noted. Being in the nursing profession for over 17 yrs. now, I know how important hands on therapy and massage can be both physically and mentally. I hope this passes. And thank you, Cher for sending this to me.

Sunday October 24, 2010, 7:52 pm
Signed,emailed to address book.

Sunday October 24, 2010, 7:55 pm
Signed!! Big thanks Cher!!!!

Sunday October 24, 2010, 8:09 pm
Thank you for the forward Cher!! BarbCat, this is a necessary issue and should be paid by medical insurance!!!

Sunday October 24, 2010, 8:14 pm
#51 signed on Change.Org (Your Petition) forwarded to both change and care2 people!!

Cher Again thanks for the forward!!!

Sunday October 24, 2010, 8:27 pm
Thanks for this petition. I hope it happens but in this economy, it is not likely.

Sunday October 24, 2010, 8:39 pm
signed and noted... pray something good willhappen..

Sunday October 24, 2010, 8:44 pm
# 56, thank you Barb and Cher, I agree completely with this petition.

Sunday October 24, 2010, 8:46 pm
If Western Doctors would get it through their thick skulls that preventative measures and maintenance is so much better than until things are critical...Good luck and Thank you Cher!

Sunday October 24, 2010, 8:55 pm
Hope it helps. If medically needed, this should be done.

Thank you for signing the petition "Medicare/Medicaid Should Pay For Massages For The Physically-Challenged"

Sunday October 24, 2010, 9:30 pm
Noted and signed. I too am somewhat physically challenged so I know all too well first hand. Bernell

Sunday October 24, 2010, 9:50 pm
We spend billions and billions on killing people but there is no money for helping and caring for our own citizens. What a crock! This government should be torn down.

Thomas Jefferson:

"God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion.
The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is
wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts
they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions,
it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. ...
And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not
warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of
resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as
to the facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost
in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from
time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
It is its natural manure."

Sunday October 24, 2010, 10:12 pm
Signature # 64. Thanks Cher

Sunday October 24, 2010, 11:01 pm
Signed & NOTED for a WORTHY CAUSE

Sunday October 24, 2010, 11:16 pm
Noted and signed Yet another piece of discrimiantion to exclude such treatment from those who need it!

Sunday October 24, 2010, 11:32 pm
Ít's so sad that people at a desk deside that massages are a luxury. For them maybe. But there are others in this world.

Sunday October 24, 2010, 11:34 pm
Gladly signed, noted with thanks!

Monday October 25, 2010, 12:13 am
Noted and Signed. It is so difficult to get healthcare for important issues as this and so many others that the insurance companies/medicare do not see as necessary. Now, we must all go to the polls to VOTE for legislators who will work with President Obama to make good healthcare and not be obstinate for the sake of their own political posturing for their careers.

Monday October 25, 2010, 12:16 am
Signed and noted. Thanks for sharing.

Monday October 25, 2010, 12:33 am
Signed and noted. Why would the powers that be withhold such essential treatment from any group unless of course they consider them second class citizens not worthy of consideration! Now is that not what my parents generation fought the Nazis for in WW2! Discrimination is such an immoral concept beloved of extremists and the selfish!

Monday October 25, 2010, 12:41 am
Signed and noted, pray it is successful......

Monday October 25, 2010, 12:44 am
Gladly done!
ty

Monday October 25, 2010, 1:23 am
#84 signed, TY Cher.

Monday October 25, 2010, 3:19 am
SIGNED and Noted!! Thanks!! Ciao!! Michela

Monday October 25, 2010, 3:23 am
signed¬ed, good luck Barb

Monday October 25, 2010, 3:35 am
#91
Blessings

Monday October 25, 2010, 3:46 am
Signed, best of luck to you!

Monday October 25, 2010, 4:42 am
Gladly signed the petition. Noted!

Monday October 25, 2010, 4:43 am
Massage therapy is covered by Medicaid sometimes (state plans vary) as well as by other insurance plans if it's performed by a licensed physical therapist under the prescription of a physician. I used to work in the physical therapy department at HealthSouth and quite a bit of massage therapy was done there which was covered by insurance plans.

Monday October 25, 2010, 4:57 am
Signed, hope it helps.

Monday October 25, 2010, 5:05 am
Noted and signed.

Monday October 25, 2010, 6:16 am
Signed in memory to my mother, who suffered with severe pain, and in honor to all those who desperately need alternative medical services such as this.

Monday October 25, 2010, 6:24 am
Signed and noted, thanks Cher and Barb.

Monday October 25, 2010, 6:38 am
noted and signed, thank you

Monday October 25, 2010, 6:44 am
Good medical care and any treatment that makes a body happy and comfortable must be a given right! What gives anyone the right to deny comfort to a person in need?!

Monday October 25, 2010, 7:08 am
Noted,signed. Thanks

Monday October 25, 2010, 7:44 am
besides anything else it can be a preventative which can save the cost of more intensive treatment by making that unecessary-It even makes economic sense

Monday October 25, 2010, 8:27 am
Expect many more medical services that Medicare won't pay for in the future. This is guaranteed by the Health Care bill. The "savings" came from cutting Medicare. There will be a lot of treatments that will be eliminated as the government reviews their "necessity".

Monday October 25, 2010, 8:32 am
Note, signed and shared!

Monday October 25, 2010, 8:34 am
signed and noted of course

Monday October 25, 2010, 8:38 am
I gladly signed!

Not all insurance plans cover physical therapy, or accupuncture, or chiropractics. Heck! I actually had insurance once that I learned didn't even cover prenatal care and delivery (and it was a common, major company!!!!!) One must realize that coverage was designed many years ago, before massage was widely recognized as anything more than a treat. Rather than some accusing the government of hateful things, how about working to reorganize things in a constructive manner? The US governmetn is actually a pretty good system. Unfortunately, humans are involved. If you haven't noticed, it's human nature to mess things up.

There's a lot of change happening. It's slow, but it's happening.

Monday October 25, 2010, 8:42 am
Thank you.Signed and noted.Maru.

Monday October 25, 2010, 9:06 am
Signed. Thanks

Monday October 25, 2010, 9:50 am
Thankyou barb&cher Two very awsome ladies a thousand stars to you both! signed noted&shared

Monday October 25, 2010, 10:23 am
ALREADY SIGNED AND SENT IT OVER TO FACEBOOK THE OTHER DAY..NOTED THANK YOU CHER. :)

Monday October 25, 2010, 10:31 am
Massage is health care.

Monday October 25, 2010, 10:36 am
Signed and noted.Thanks Cher and Barb.

Monday October 25, 2010, 11:05 am
signed, thank you

Monday October 25, 2010, 11:54 am
Signed and noted, thanks

Monday October 25, 2010, 12:04 pm
Noted and gladly signed. Good luck with this petition Barb!

Monday October 25, 2010, 12:11 pm
Signed gladly. I hope that more people will sign this petition. Together we can make a difference.

Monday October 25, 2010, 12:49 pm
Sounds like a plan!

Monday October 25, 2010, 1:06 pm
Noted and signed!

Monday October 25, 2010, 1:09 pm
Thank you for signing the petition "Medicare/Medicaid Should Pay For Massages For The Physically-Challenged

Monday October 25, 2010, 1:11 pm
Thank you dear friend, signed and noted. Love and Blessings.

Monday October 25, 2010, 1:15 pm
signed and god bless them

Monday October 25, 2010, 1:18 pm
Signed #176 - thanks Cher!

Monday October 25, 2010, 1:23 pm
Signed and noted. Thanks.

Monday October 25, 2010, 1:34 pm
Noted and Signed Tks Cher

Monday October 25, 2010, 1:51 pm
Signed!

Monday October 25, 2010, 1:52 pm
I totally agree that massages are definitely helpful and should be paid for by Medicare/Medicaid. Hopefully changes will come.

Monday October 25, 2010, 2:22 pm
Noted and signed.

Monday October 25, 2010, 2:32 pm
Signed! Noted :)

Monday October 25, 2010, 2:51 pm
Signed. Thank you for posting.

Monday October 25, 2010, 2:56 pm
Yes, massage is a very helpful therapy for those who cannot move their limbs themselves, either in an advanced stage or through milder problems of mobility. There is nothing as wonderful as helping someone who has these problems. I have seen the results from my work- it's such a blessing.

Monday October 25, 2010, 3:31 pm
Signed! Thanks Barb and Cher!

Monday October 25, 2010, 3:56 pm
Gladly Signed and Noted. Thanks For posting Cher.

Monday October 25, 2010, 4:07 pm
signed and noted,thanx

Monday October 25, 2010, 5:31 pm
signed Until someone in power has CP or a family member has it and needs this treatment it won't be forthcoming anytime soon. Hopefully all the petitions wil help. Without petitions and people watching what is going on the right thing won't be done if it costs money. Hope this helps.

Monday October 25, 2010, 5:46 pm
Noted and signed

Monday October 25, 2010, 6:29 pm
Noted, signed & shared on Facebook!~

Monday October 25, 2010, 6:32 pm
signed

Monday October 25, 2010, 7:04 pm
Medicare & MediCaid already pay for medically necessary massage under Physical Therapy

Monday October 25, 2010, 7:07 pm
Thank you for signing the petition "Medicare/Medicaid Should Pay For Massages For The Physically-Challenged"
Thanks Cher

Monday October 25, 2010, 7:36 pm
Signed. We who are not in pain just take it for granted. it is only when you are in pain that you realize what a blessing it is not to be in pain.

Monday October 25, 2010, 7:55 pm
Absolutely! I received therapeutic massage as part of my physical therapy for chronic neck and shoulder pain. After medication failed to help, the massage, moist heat, and electrical stimulation finally freed me from the unrelenting agony I suffered for 2 yrs.

Monday October 25, 2010, 9:36 pm
thanks

Monday October 25, 2010, 9:47 pm
A former friend, years ago, had MS and husband was a licensed masseuse and it made such a difference for her.

Monday October 25, 2010, 10:00 pm
Done and done and thank you

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 12:24 am
N and S. Thank you Cher.

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 1:06 am
I worked with people with various disabilities, such as CP for many years and I really know how beneficial massage can be. If people who make the decisions for what can and what cannot be subsidized by Medicare, could spend ONE day in the body of someone racked with the aching and muscle cramps and tightness that comes with many of the disabling diseases, they would not hesitate to put this issue as top priority and it would be in action SO FAST! I Do hope and pray that they will respond to this, so that thousands of people can get the relief from pain that is their right. Anything that cuts down on the use of drugs for the pain, is a wonderful thing! ( yes! Rebecca..S... why on earth medical use of Marijuana is not legal world-wide, is past my comprehension! The medical profession have known o it's pain killing qualities for YEARS! To me, not allowing the use of it as a pain killer, is abusive!!!)

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 1:28 am
done

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 1:45 am
This idea kicks butt!! However, as a person on Medicaid with a spinal cord injury, I wouldn't hold my breath 'till this happens. When you're disabled, your doctor can order a treatment but the state usually denies it. They only pay for pysical therapy that would hlelp you to require less home health care. They don't give a hoot about quality of llife. Massage is expensive, too, certainly out of the question if one is on SSI. My state like most is squeezing the hell out of Medicaid to reduce any services they can. My home health care was just cut by 1/2 an hour per day to save money. Signed anyway. Thanks Cher.

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 1:56 am
Noted & signed. @ Nicky Melville...well said hun, my doctor said he would much rather give me cannabis than morphine, diazipam & other drugs for my painful cramps etc. You have to have walked a mile in a persons shoes to be able to feel their pain...perhaps these numb skulls at Medicare etc. should walk it, Oh an i bet it would be different if many of their family's were in agony.
Where the hell are all these TROLLS coming from...flagged & reported...AGAIN

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 2:08 am
Noted and Signed my friend

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 3:07 am
Noted. Tried to sign but couldn't for some reason find a submit button. Sorry ! Good luck !

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 3:26 am
Thank you for signing the petition "Medicare/Medicaid Should Pay For Massages For The Physically-Challenged" Good luck. I really hope this petition is successful Barb.

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 4:00 am
signed thanks for ths
love jade
xxxxxxxxxx

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 4:42 am
Petition signed.

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 5:37 am
Noted and signed.Forwarded.Posted on Facebook and Twitter

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 5:58 am
signed #333

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 6:06 am
I am a massage therapist and I couldn't agree with this article more. A lot of times, the medicinal benefits of massage therapy are ignored especially because of its bad reputation but there are those of us out there who are very educated and could really help someone in need. I have my Associate degree in massage so I know many therapeutic ways of helping people through massage. Thanks for posting and action taken.

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 7:13 am
Signed & Shared on Facebook! :)

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 7:31 am
signed!

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 7:53 am
Amen to that. As someone with two disorders (both neuromuscular) I know the benefit of therapeutic massage! Unfortunately the friend I had who used to provide the service gratis moved so I can no longer afford it.

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 8:14 am
Signed and noted. Big thanks!

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 9:13 am
signed and noted thankyou....

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 9:43 am
Done. Thank you for posting!

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 9:43 am
signed. Thanks cheri

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 10:07 am
Thank you Rebecca S. & Nicky Melville- both of them have a truly beneficial understanding of the problem. When I was working, I was in and out of physical therapy almost like clockwork - knee, neck, back both shoulders, spine, ankle, etc. (tough job with lots of opportunity to get banged up). So there aren't many of my body parts that haven't benefited from massage therapy. But the traditional medicines and their side affects tore up my system and kept me constantly sick. Now that I am no longer working, physical therapy is out of the question and meds (even if I was willing to tolerate the side affects) aren't affordable.
Why physical therapy is not covered is something I cannot understand. It is non-invasive in nature, has an extraordinary number of benefits, is much less costly than most medical procedures and returns people to productive life much more quickly than other healing procedures. This is something well worth fighting for....

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 12:07 pm
signed

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 12:23 pm
Noted/Signed shared on FB Massage is very therapeutic especially for those whose limbs are not used essentially each and every day in the normal manner - stops attrofying - and can do much for those parts of the body that require massage. TY Cher for the post. Love & Light

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 12:46 pm
Signed Thank you Cher

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 4:13 pm
Action taken!!

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 5:28 pm
We are all behind you Barb, thanks for sharing this Cher!

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 8:04 pm
How long do you think Medicare will last?

Long live Medicare!

Tuesday October 26, 2010, 9:30 pm
signed and noted for all the Barbs...

Wednesday October 27, 2010, 3:56 am
Our priorities as a nation are skewed. With so many neurological and muscular disorders, it is cruel to deny coverage of a THERAPY that provides NON-CHEMICAL relief. I have MS and have many invisible symptoms. I decided to apply for SSDI, Medicaid and Food Stamps. I was assessed as "ineligible" for medicaid because I am still ambulatory. I've decided to educate my case worker about MS. I will be persuasive, but never aggressive. She needs to understand that yes I do need Medicaid. They don;t have a "box" to pigeon-hole me, so it's thumbs down.

Wednesday October 27, 2010, 11:19 am
Signed & noted, thanks.

Thursday October 28, 2010, 3:29 am
take action !!!

Thursday October 28, 2010, 7:11 am
Those making these decisions, in the way Medicare and Medicaid is run, should be re-assessed as to their competence in continuing in their positions.

Thursday October 28, 2010, 6:14 pm
I have a condition something like fibromyalgia, and was also in a serious car accident requiring surgery last year that left me in pain when I do very little. No more strenuous sports for me--I tire too easily now, and get very stiff. Between my own health insurance, my own car insurance, and the car insurance of the person who hit me, nobody wants to pay for me to continue to receive massage therapy, which is one of the few things that makes me feel a little better. There are plenty of people for whom massage therapy and other hands-on therapies (water exercise, physical therapy) should be considered "medically necessary," long-term, so that we can get through the day and get around. I used to be a licensed massage therapist, myself, and know how valuable it can be for some conditions; but I can probably can never practice again. Our health insurance system has to change.

Thursday October 28, 2010, 9:22 pm
Signed - hope the petition will succeed - as soon as possible!

Thursday October 28, 2010, 10:32 pm
N'd, and Signed, Thank You Cher and Barb. I really believe this could be so good for so many, this really needs to be included!

Thank you for signing the petition "Medicare/Medicaid Should Pay For Massages For The Physically-Challenged"

Saturday October 30, 2010, 3:52 pm
Signed

Saturday October 30, 2010, 7:14 pm
noted, signed, shared on facebook.
good luck barb ! thanks cher !

Sunday October 31, 2010, 3:56 am
Signed and noted. Good luck Cher!!

Sunday October 31, 2010, 10:05 pm
All humans should be treated with respect.

Monday November 1, 2010, 12:37 am
I signed! Thanks.

Monday November 1, 2010, 2:59 am
Thank you for signing the petition "Medicare/Medicaid Should Pay For Massages For The Physically-Challenged----------------------------------------

Signed Barb, sorry i was so late!

Thursday November 4, 2010, 10:27 pm
TY Cher. I JUST CANNOT BELIEVE...all these days later there are only 463 votes. Thank you Barbcat.

Tuesday November 9, 2010, 12:12 am
Noted and Signed Thank you Cher

Wednesday November 10, 2010, 11:49 am
Wonderful post Cher, my sister in spirit! I have noted and taken action!

Wednesday November 10, 2010, 12:08 pm
What I miss most about not being able to work as a massage therapist is seeing and feeling the difference in people who have disabilities. These people find such comfort and physical difference after a massage. You can see veins change color after a massage, limbs limber and sometimes regain movement and notice the person's whole demeanor change because they feel relief. Masseuses are trained to work with all sorts of physical ailments. The treatment, if done correctly, can change a life, sometimes for a short amount of time and sometimes for longer periods. This is such an important treatment. I've signed and hope my signature will make a difference.

Saturday November 20, 2010, 1:57 am
Thanks, Cher, and thank you to Barb for making this important petition!!! I have a bad back so I can somewhat relate, but I can imagine how much worse it would be for so many others with truly serious muscle pain problems as you described. I hope your work is rewarded with some well-deserved CHANGE!

485 SIGNATURES GOAL: 1,000
49%
You signed this petition on 11/19/10.

Saturday November 20, 2010, 10:10 am
Gladly signed and good luck Barb, I hope that out President will listen ....

Monday December 6, 2010, 10:25 pm
Already signed. Thanks

Monday December 20, 2010, 2:13 am
This is a Globe concern. Noted

Monday December 20, 2010, 9:47 pm
signed and noted, thanks

Thursday December 23, 2010, 7:40 am
signed! thanks!

Friday December 24, 2010, 9:43 am
Signed

Friday December 24, 2010, 12:35 pm
I can attest to the benefits of massage, having been a labourer with massage therapy as part of our benefits package. Signed, and good luck!

Friday December 24, 2010, 12:41 pm
ps: Barb looks very pretty there!

Saturday December 25, 2010, 2:33 am
noted and signed. as a disabled person, yes, massages would really help, but they won't pay. unfortunately those who are making the health care decisions in this country are owned by the insurers who control every health care decision and since these politicians and their families have the best health care available, they have no concept what the rest of us go through. i hope it does pass, but i saw the disaster of the medicare prescription coverage...thanks but no thanks...it's a bigger ripoff than when they didn't cover meds....if we get this system, i'd like it to really work for the benefit of the disabled.

Tuesday December 28, 2010, 3:20 pm
I've signed. Sounds like a reasonable request to me. Massage is a form of physical therapy and those in need should not be denied it.

Tuesday December 28, 2010, 4:35 pm
Done

Thursday January 6, 2011, 2:28 am
Noted and signed.

Thursday January 6, 2011, 2:32 am
None should be allowed to suffer any pain!!! Noted with thanks Cher.

Thursday January 6, 2011, 2:44 am
Noted and signed. Thank you, Cher.

Thursday January 6, 2011, 4:28 am
Signed. Hope this will get approtpriate attention.

Thursday January 6, 2011, 7:22 am
done #554

Thursday January 6, 2011, 8:39 am
Noted,signed and of course Tweeted! This is for my friend Dian,here you are sweetie!"RJM"

Thursday January 6, 2011, 10:37 am
Signed and noted. Surprised that the number of signatures is so small. Have there been other ones completed?
Seems I have seen this issue a while back.
Thank you nonetheless. Glad to sign. This is reasonable. Massage can make all the difference as my friend with muscular dystrophy, a social worker, has told me.

Thursday January 6, 2011, 10:44 am
Noted and signed, thanks Henriette. All physically challenged people should receive this care.

Thursday January 6, 2011, 10:57 am
Had already signed but was able to add my husband's signature to this as #561. Massages add to the quality and length of life for those who are disabled and is NOT a luxury... it is a necessity.

Thursday January 6, 2011, 11:06 am
Noted and signed. These massages are not a luxury, is one need for alleviate their pain and deserve our help as possible. Thank you

Thursday January 6, 2011, 2:03 pm
signed, forwarded in change.org ty Cher

Thursday January 6, 2011, 2:25 pm
Yes, the government should pay; this is NOT a luxury for the disabled. and her friends should all have signed. ty Cher.

Thursday January 6, 2011, 2:42 pm
You signed this petition on 10/27/10.

Thursday January 6, 2011, 3:29 pm
Signed! Massage therapy is a tremendous help for me, but as noted, it's very difficult to get it approved as a "covered" treatment. It's crazy, it's cheaper and safer than many other options and hopefully, those responsible will include it in the various protocols,

Thursday January 6, 2011, 4:02 pm
Sorry, I w away from Care2 for a long time. Thank you to Sophia P who sent out a message about this petition.

Of course I've signed it Barbcat.

==========================================================

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Medicare/Medicaid Should Pay For Massages For The Physically-Challenged
430 signatures needed!

Thursday January 6, 2011, 6:31 pm
signed

Thursday January 6, 2011, 7:19 pm
Signed. Absolutely. Noted. Thank you

Thursday January 6, 2011, 7:38 pm
I could not sign again, but I retweeted this to get it the attention it deserves! I can't imagine watching my friend writhe in pain with the spasms she has, she is very lucky a little medical pot will stop it for her MS, but that is not available or acceptable to everyone so massage is NOT a luxury, it is a necessity to keep from having VERY painful spasms that keep you from functioning. It is just one of many things, including vision, dental and real mental health that I wish Medicare covered. How ashamed we should be to leave people in pain with no way out! Thank you Cher and Barb ( and Nicky and Jeannette and Julie)!

Thursday January 6, 2011, 7:50 pm
Signed and noted Cher. This is so upsetting. It is alway's the Animals/Vulnerable/Elderly/Children who suffer. Massage therapy does so much to someone with fibr/Me/CFS/Multiple scerosis e.c.t.
These people need all the help/support they can get and it does make a huge difference on their well being and health. I hope everyone signs this. Good luck to the lady who started the petition, please keep the faith, I'm sure everyone will help out here.

Thursday January 6, 2011, 8:01 pm
signed. Cant imagine what the pain must be like. What is needed is some celeb or congress person who has personally a family member with the disease to champion this particular therapy. Then maybe it will be covered. Till then, add me to the petition!!

Thursday January 6, 2011, 8:09 pm
Noted and signed. I am a massage therapist and please believe me when I say that even people who GET massage don't realize how INCREDIBLE and THERAPEUTIC it CAN BE! Not everyone in the government is purely out to either discriminate or hold back helpful therapies for people in need. I deal with people all the time who "appreciate" massage...but don't even REALIZE just how POWERFUL massage can be. And for those who don't have disabilities...most of them don't even realize just HOW effective massage COULD be for people WITH disabilities! Not b/c they are TRYING to be 'thoughtless' or save "money'...BUT b/c they just don't KNOW any better! I'm not necessarily trying to "protect" anyone...I just saw a LOT of 'negative' comments on here. And it's not necessarily b/c people ARE "BEING" negative! ignorance is MORE likely the culprit! I just pray that positive changes will happen...like Care2 petitions FOR Massages for Medicare/Medicaid AND I pray for those in charge of making the decisions...that they will come to the understanding that it IS necessary! I've seen a lot of extraordinary things in my 14 years as a massage therapist and I believe that it will continue...especially with the good people on here helping! And to let you know..."I" myself have Fibromyalgia and an Autoimmune illness...but i still practice massage and see the amazing results from it! It is absolutely wonderful! : )

Thursday January 6, 2011, 11:06 pm
The modern day illness is STRESS and a good massage relieves you from it and less medication and the health care will save money.

Friday January 7, 2011, 2:17 am
thx again Cher, best of luck and success to Barb! I had already signed before and agree with all comments here.

Friday January 7, 2011, 10:58 am
Noted and Signed, thanks :)

Be Blessed! Stay Blessed!
Peace, Love and Light ;-)

Friday January 7, 2011, 12:30 pm
Signed and Noted

Saturday January 8, 2011, 12:35 am
Signed and posted on my Twitter page with my appreciation to you Cher and with prayers rising for especially for Barb our dear cyber sis who i know is in pain and needs all the tlc possible including massage therapy.

Sunday January 9, 2011, 12:31 pm
nOTED, SIGNED, FORWARDED AND POSTED ON FACEBOOK.

Message Therapy is only a Luxury if you don't have a Medical Condition. For those of us that do have, it's a vital necessity to everyday living for the ability of movement and freedom of pain and it also keeps the muscles from Atrophying and developing Parathesis in the limbs due to lack of blood flow to the extremities that carry oxygen to the limbs and tissue. It should be recognized as a Medical Neccessity and could be easily varifyied thru a Doctor or a prescription. Medicare/Medicaid pay for Physical Therapy and this is nothing more than another form of that and is much needed.

Tuesday January 11, 2011, 8:45 am
Signed and noted!

Wednesday January 12, 2011, 12:07 am
Signed on 11-2-10.

Thursday January 13, 2011, 3:19 pm
Signed and noted.

Saturday January 22, 2011, 6:30 pm
Noted, and gladly signed...

Monday January 31, 2011, 5:45 pm
signed already. thanks.

Monday January 31, 2011, 6:49 pm
signed, thanks

Monday January 31, 2011, 8:56 pm
Noted and already signed!! I hope this helps!! Thanks Barb and to Cher!!

Tuesday February 1, 2011, 5:51 pm
God bless whomever came up with this petition. I have been disabled for 7 years now. One of my major problems is the pain and muscle spasms etc. It would truly help us if this was included. I believe that there would be alot less medication taken.

Wednesday February 9, 2011, 8:47 am
Already signed, but previously not noted....Noted!

Wednesday February 9, 2011, 9:09 am
Having been through 9 different rehab sessions, I can tell you that the only reason I am up and walking is because massage was an integral part of the therapy. It can make the difference between a functioning, productive human being and one who is a slave to pain and their disability.

Wednesday February 9, 2011, 9:52 am
I have not seen this petition before otherwise I would have signed it before today.

Wednesday February 9, 2011, 11:01 am
noted....and the real issue is that many of the individuals don't really care....i know that seems harsh, but accurate...i spoke with a state medicaid worker from WA state one time trying to get medicaid to pay for transitions lenses that a client needed...the worker stated that they did pay for them and didn't care about the patient and as far as they were concerned...if she drove and had a violent accident because of the lights and such....it would be better for them as that would mean one less medicaid patient...i have never forgotten this one individual....whose arrogance and insensitivity so poorly represented this program...but this was not a unique attitude, unfortunately!

Thursday February 10, 2011, 12:51 am
I have signed again

Friday February 11, 2011, 10:08 am
signed and noted, hope this helps out for the ones in need.

Tuesday February 15, 2011, 8:11 am
Petition signed.

Friday February 18, 2011, 11:02 pm
Signed and forwarded>

Saturday February 26, 2011, 3:01 pm
signed and noted

Sunday February 27, 2011, 11:46 am
poor thing awww and of course i have signed it

Tuesday March 1, 2011, 12:34 pm
Signed and Noted. Thank you.

Tuesday March 8, 2011, 3:05 pm
Noted and signed,thanks.

Saturday July 16, 2011, 12:54 am
i benefit with my chronic pain so much from massage, but it's too costly to do it as much as I need it. if medicaid paid for this, i would be so much better off physically, but politicians will never go for it. they have the money to get all the massages they needed if they were in pain or some other physical ailment.

Saturday September 3, 2011, 1:35 pm
noted, signed last Nov

Wednesday September 21, 2011, 4:30 pm
Sorry too late to sign petition is now closed :(