COVID-19 Support
For Holistic and Energy Practitioners
Please take a collective, quiet moment to visualize a smooth exit transition for the virus, as well as any complications it may be causing, and send love, healing, and protective energies to all those who are being affected at this time.
To help support our members in this time of uncertainty, we have developed an assortment of resources for the holistic and energy practice. As risk managers, we are committed to supporting you in ethical, safe practice. We provide general risk guidance based on current knowledge and conditions.  If you have specific questions about your individual situation, your insurance coverage, please feel free to contact us at EMPA. Of course, we are unable to provide medical advice.

We are aware that many of you are experiencing a wide variety of potential personal issues regarding your health, your business, and your loved ones. Our goal is to present simple, factual and useful information to help you navigate the challenges we are all facing. 
  
Here at EMPA, we remain focused on supporting you during these unprecedented times. We are committed to you, and we are committed to getting through this together.

This situation is changing hourly and we will continue to update this site with information so please visit again.
DOWNLOAD this new Energy and Holistic Practitioners Guidelines for Reopening Your Practice. 
This report is a very thorough guideline for the challenges and issues you may face when you resume your in-person practice amid COVID-19. 

Below You Can Find
 Covid-19 Support Registry
COVID-19 support registry developed for integrative Practitioners
Integrative and complementary medicine practitioners are among those providing supportive care during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. To help track these efforts, the National University of Natural Medicine with leadership from its Helfgott Research Institute in Portland, Oregon, established a Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Health and Medicine COVID-19 Support Registry.

The purpose of the registry is to gather information on integrative and complementary health practices, contributions to public health and patient care, and case outcomes, recording critical case details in a single data bank. The findings gathered will help highlight integrative approaches to COVID-19 management and risk reduction and in the future have the potential to provide data for promising treatment protocols, as well as to identify less effective or even potentially harmful protocols. The organization may also use information to bolster advocacy efforts for the naturopathic profession.
 Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see clients? 
If your practice can not be performed without social distancing it is recommend that you suspend your practice until your local municipalities and states will allow you to resume your practice. 

If you are able to perform your practice virtually then you can continue to support your clients with sessions. 
Can I see clients in my home office?
Please follow your local and federal authorities recommendations on allowing individuals to visit your home office. You can see State Updates and Executive Orders  on this website web.csg.org/covid19/executive-orders or google your State or City Updates Regarding COVID-19.

If you are in a state that calling for nonessential business shutdowns in order to curb the spread of COVID-19, please pause your in-person practice. We recommend you continue to communicate with your clients via email and social media.
Will seeing clients in person violate the terms of my insurance or void my policy during the stay at home orders?
If you are seeing clients in person in your home or office and your state or city mandate prohibits this then this would be an illegal action. Your insurance policy will not cover your liability resulting from Illegal actions. Also fines that result from illegal actions would be considered punitive damages and would not be covered. As long as you are in compliance with your state and local regulations, your liability insurance is valid.
Are virtual sessions included in my liability insurance policy?
As long as you are in the U.S. while performing distance work, you will have coverage, no matter where the client is. The practitioner must work within scope of practice.
Does my policy cover me for being out of work (business interruption)?
Your liability insurance policy does not cover business interruption. The “Loss of Earnings” clause in the policy specifically pertains to a member being reimbursed if they are required to take time away from their practice because of a lawsuit against them that is covered under the policy.
Does my policy cover me if I infect a client with coronavirus?
No your policy does not cover infectious disease. In recent years, particularly in the aftermath of the SARS epidemic, many insurers added specific exclusions for bacterial or viral infections to their coverage. Many policyholders face a risk of liability for failing to protect others from exposure to infection on their premises. It is vitally important that you protect yourself as well as your clients from exposure to coronavirus while under your care.
Are there any financial relief options for Practitioners?
Yes, we believe the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) issued March 27, 2020, allows energy and holistic practitioners to file for unemployment benefits. Under the CARES Act, unemployment insurance benefits will temporarily be available to “an eligible self-employed individual” . . . “an individual who regularly carries on any trade or business.” It appears that this expanded eligibility applies to individuals who work “part-time,” a government definition that would cover a large proportion of massage therapists, estheticians, hair stylists, and nail professionals. You have to take the initiative to apply for unemployment insurance. 

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has loans available and the recent CARES Act has created additional considerations regarding these loans. Self-employed/independent contractors can also apply for these loans to help pay for mortgage, rent, utilities, business costs and payroll. The SBA has information about applying, eligibility requirements and more at https://covid19relief.sba.gov/. 
Have other questions? We are here for you. 
Please see our contact form to send an email or call at 210-960-8807 Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5 pm Central. 
 Financial Relief Efforts for Practitioners

Updated May 5, 2020

Provided below is a list of resources and information for practitioners that are seeking financial assistance. 

This is the best information we have as of May 5, 2020, to help you make decisions, but please know that this information can quickly change. We will continue to provide updates as we receive them.

CARES ACT:
The CARES Act Provides Assistance to Small Businesses. The Paycheck Protection Program is providing small businesses with the resources they need to maintain their payroll, hire back employees who may have been laid off, and cover applicable overhead. 

Here are three main federal financial options for you. In addition to these options, there may be financial assistance coming from your state in the form of other small business loans or assistance with utilities. 
  • Paycheck Protection Program: The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan program that originated from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This is a nearly $350-billion program intended to provide American small businesses with eight weeks of cash-flow assistance through 100 percent federally guaranteed loans. The loans are backed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) You can read the bill in its entirety here.
  • All small businesses qualify for the Payment Protection Program including Sole proprietors who report income and pay taxes on a Schedule C in your personal tax return. and independent contractors who collect 1099-MISC forms (but for the PPP, you’ll need to submit a Schedule C, not your 1099s). See this simple guide for more details. 
  • Expanded Unemployment Benefits:  The CARES Act signed into law by President Trump on March 27, 2020, gives states the option of extending unemployment compensation to independent contractors and other workers who are ordinarily ineligible for unemployment benefits. Please contact your state’s unemployment insurance office at the website or phone number provided on the US Department of Labor Website to learn more about the availability of these benefits where you live.
  • You can also visit Career One Stop Worker Re-Employment website to find out if you might qualify for unemployment benefits in your state.
  • Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Advance:  An Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) is also available from the SBA. In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, small business owners in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories were able to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance of up to $10,000. This advance is designed to provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. This loan advance will not have to be repaid.
 Boosting Immunity
Anthony William the Medical Medium created a Virus Protection Report that you can download for free. This offers suggestions for how you can help build up your immune system so you can fight off anything you might be exposed to. He also gives you healing information and tools, such as antiviral foods, antiviral herbs and supplements, and antiviral practices, that can help you recover more quickly and effectively from anything you might contract.
ood Matters shared an article COVID-19: How to Prepare Your System For a New Virus Never Seen Before
By Jodi Chapman, naturopath, to share her advice and protocol for prevention and treatment, using natural herbs and essential micronutrients. 
 Self Care & Thought Provoking Resources
Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine COVID19 website shares with you integrative perspectives on the coronavirus. This is intended to augment (not replace) public health measures of handwashing, physical distancing, and seeking testing/medical care should you become sick. This site focus on the value of healthy lifestyle—including sleep, stress management, dietary approaches, and supplements to support your immune system.
Lissa Rankin, MD shares her 17 Things We Don't Know - And Shouldn't Pretend to Know - About COVID-19 article. In this time of uncertainty its important that we feel free to ask questions, without feeling unpatriotic or fearful of backlash. Scientific inquiry is about open questioning, not about taking sides. It is about supporting our leaders to be successful and holding them accountable. The key is how we engage in questioning as a collective, so not to create fear, doubt, or anger, but to seek truth and effective solutions.
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