Massachusetts S168 (formerly, SD1840), is now a bill currently under consideration in Massachusetts that would severely restrict anyone not licensed as a bodywork therapist to practice any form of Qigong. The bill is now under consideration by the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

The following are bullet points affecting all Qigong practitioners:

• No representation for Qigong on the board of registration of massage therapy and bodyworks. Lines 4-13 describe the appointment of 7 members, 3 licensed massage therapists, 2 licensed bodywork therapists, 1 law enforcement representative and 1 a consumer who is familiar with massage or bodyworks therapy fields. 

Note: the board would dominated by massage therapists 3-2 over bodywork therapists. 

• Lines 38-40 state: “Bodywork”, “bodyworks” or “bodywork therapy”, as the practice of a person who uses touch, words or directed movement to deepen awareness of patterns of movement in the body, or the affectation of the human energy system or acupoints or Qi meridians of the human body.

-This states: a person who uses "words" to move qi – This might include guided meditation.

-This also states: a person who uses "directed movement" to move qi – This might include dynamic qigong.

• On line 47 specifically mentions Qigong as a bodywork modality.
• Section 5 would require the Qigong practitioner to refer to their establishment as a “licensed bodywork school”
• Even with a license, a person could not use the word "qigong"in advertising, including on his office sign.  He could call himself only a "bodyworker", "bodywork therapist", etc. [Section 14(b) of the bill, 2nd paragraph, (iv)].
• Indeed, if you look at the definition in Section 4 of the bill, it would require a license in order to instruct a qigong class at the YMCA.
• Massachusetts S168 would repeal the current Section 228 and would require a "bodyworker" license in order to practice clinical qigong.