CAMLAW : Complementary And Alternative Medicine Law Blog

One of the most important legal concerns when setting up a medical spa or integrative medicine – or even a multidisciplinary health care center or group practice that involves multidisciplinary teams of allied health providers, such as psychologists and nurses, involves self-referral, anti-kickback and fee-splitting.

Legal issues involving self-referral, kickbacks and fee-splitting need to be addressed in structuring a medical spa or integrative medicine care center – or even a multidisciplinary clinical health care center or group practice that involves multidisciplinary teams of allied health providers, such as psychologists and nurses.

Marc Micozzi, MD, PhD, my co-author on "The Practice of Integrative Medicine: A Legal and Operational Guide," is offering a course on spa business issues.

The California medical board has made an interesting statement about a physician serving as medical director of a spa.

Medical spas are exploding in popularity, and owners/entrepreneurs need to carefully address legal issues.

For those interested in how the FDA regulates steam baths and hot tubs that are intended to be used for medical purposes, these links may be helpful.

The federal Food Drug & Cosmetic Act distinguishes medical devices from cosmetics, though I've come across a letter debating the FDA's warning that a certain cosmetic could constitute a "medical device."

I've come across a book enitled "Legal & Liability Issues of a Medical Spa," though it's a bit pricey.

States are considering taxing plastic surgery and cosmetic (retail) medicine.

In 'Wellness Spas: Separating the Quality From the Quackery,' the Washington Post featured key health care law and policy issues surrounding the increasing popularity of spa care.

A new Florida law for cosmetic laser and light technology is challenging for spa owners, reports TampaBays.com.

A spa clinic's bid to open in Burlingame, California was rejected by a local planning commission on the ground that nurses must legally be present during Botox injections, converting the spa into a "medical office."

Spa treatments such as Botox and Restalyne have been criticized by NYT reporter Alex Kuczynski's in her new book, Beauty Junkies.

Physician supervision requirements can make delivery of medical spa therapies expensive.

One massage therapy institution has found itself under attack from massage establishment laws in a local town.

Not all medical spas provide outstanding care and treatment.

I'm starting to keep a running list of new medical spas ... the fields keeps booming. The blog covers medical spa legal issues elsewhere.

Retail clinics in the backs of pharmacies and other stores are moving in on the diganostic territory traditionally held by MD's.

Jet Blue now offers a "health and wellness" sky service.

Medical Spa Financing offers financing services for medical spas.

Medical spas may require additional thinking about liability insurance and other coverage, since they add medical complexity to the regular spa approach.

Spas and integrative medicine clinics increasingly offer the same complementary therapies (from massage therapy to acupuncture) and share the same healing goals. They also may share the same legal concerns, as well as risk management issues and opportunities.