COVERAGE FOR ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE! HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOU THE CONSUMER?

The President of our university recently mass e-mailed this Boston Globe article hailing Senator Harkin's efforts to advocate on behalf of CAM's (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) health practitioners. See link: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/07/24/senators_seek_coverage_for_alternative_therapies/ The article begins with:

WASHINGTON - Naturopathic doctors, herbal healers, mind-body specialists, and acupuncturists often have been scorned by the US medical establishment, but growing numbers of Americans are seeking such care, and now an influential group of US senators believes the time has come to embrace an array of alternative therapies.

YES! Great intro-with a power punch follow thru...

Senator Tom Harkin, an Iowa Democrat who is a longtime supporter of nontraditional medicine, is at the forefront of the effort to win insurance coverage for such providers as part of national healthcare legislation. “It’s time to end the discrimination against alternative healthcare practices,’’ Harkin said at a congressional hearing.

Read the article in its entirety along with the diversity of passion filled comments. There just as many cons as they are pros, so keep an open mind. So what does this potentially mean for you the consumer and for me a naturopathic doctor(ND)? 1. Coverage for Complementary Alternative and Integrative Medicine (CAIM) practitioners can provide better health care because the practitioners would have more access to state and federal funded residencies, hence more experienced doctors!

2. Access to CAIM may also pour in more $$ funds into researching the various alternative modalities, hence more evidence-based findings! PS: Did you know that the NIH has a entire center devoted to funding research clinicians http://nccam.nih.gov/. NCCAM is currently funding my three year post-doctoral research fellowship in CAIM and health disparities. More trained CAIM scientists and more research information available to you the consumers! 3. Better regulatory laws and quality control of supplements available on the consumer's market! 4. More community based advocacy hence better public education hence due to support from government initiatives! 5. Promising access to community health centers, immigrant community based organization, urban and reservation indian health center providing better opportunities for loan repayments= worthy and happier CAIM practitioners and consumers! The list keeps on going! Ultimately, coverage is of great benefit to you and I! Invest in your health and make it a healthy day! Dr. Thomas