Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), some conventional medical practitioners refer to these as unconventional therapies. WHO defines it as a therapy or a treatment that is not a part of the country’s own tradition or not an integrated part of their health care system. CAM is becoming more available, more used and more socially acceptable in the United States. CAM products and providers are regulated by NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine), an agency for scientific research affiliated with Federal Government.
In today’s world, more than one third of American population receives some form of alternative therapy. With the widespread of CAM therapies, Food and Drug Administration is not able to decide if these therapies are to be regulated under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (the act) or the Public Health Safety Act (PHS Act). NCCAM categorizes CAM therapies in four domains: biological based therapies, energy therapies, manipulative and body based methods and mind-body medicine.
Biological based products are covered under PHS act, whereas cosmetics, dietary supplements, food, food additives etc are covered under (the act). Some categories cover products under both acts. Energy therapies are covered under “the act” because these are alternative to the diagnostic services in the conventional medicine. An example of that would be acupuncture needles. The Manipulative and Body based methods such as massage therapy and reflexology are not regulated under any of two domains of the regulations if no equipment is used in the treatment.
However if an equipment such as a massage chair is used during the treatment, it will be covered under “the act. ” Mind body medicine deals with interactions among brain, mind, behavior and body include strategies such as meditation, yoga and hypnosis. These practices are not regulated under any act. However once again, if any equipment for example, biofeedback machine is used, then the therapy is subject to FDA regulations. The proliferation of Complementary and Alternative Medicine definitely has an impact on consumer spending of health related care and products.
The consumers are drifting away from the invasive procedures and medications with so many known side effects. For example, instead of taking Lipitor, consumers will buy Garlique for the treatment of any cholesterol problem, because Garlique is made of powder of garlic bulbs and no starch, sugar, yeast or preservatives added, whereas Lipitor contains statins, lactose, wax etc. People are interested in buying supplements more than the prescription medications due to lesser side effects experienced.
Consumers are choosing dietary supplements for weight loss rather than prescription medication that can bring other side effects with it. In services area, consumers prefer to go for a massage therapy or yoga session rather than taking codeine or morphine for their pain management. Rather than spending on antipsychotic drugs, people have been going for meditation sessions to relax their mind. These practices may not be approved by FDA; however, these have been in practice successfully for many years in other parts of the world.
I personally choose Ayurvedic medication over orthodox or contemporary medication. CAM are not bought or used just by low economic status consumers, but those who can afford any kind of medication as well. In fact, the yoga and meditation sessions are expensive and mostly high economic profile consumers are seen in those studios. So the shift from spending over contemporary medication to the alternative therapies or services is quite evident. Yes, I definitely feel that there should be more third party insurance coverage for Complementary and Alternative Medicine therapies or services.
More and more consumers are opting for Yoga, Meditation, Chiropractic or Acupuncture services for their health care needs. These services may not be recognized completely in the United States; however these have been part of many other cultures for many years. Kaiser health care insurance programs cover some of these services at some facilities; therefore I feel that other insurance providers should also opt for it. With the increasing co-pays for conventional medications, increasing doctor visit fee and long term treatments, many consumers are turning towards Cam therapies and services.
Some of these services are regulated under “the act” and “PHS act”; therefore these services should be covered by all third party insurance providers. During a study in Western Washington State, 600,000 consumers from age group 18-64 enrolled in three different health care plans. The study was to analyze that how many consumers utilize CAM services. 13. 7% claims were related to Cam therapies and services. This figure shows the extensive utilization of Cam therapies. In comparison to conventional medicine, CAM therapy cost to the insurance providers was $39 vs. $75 for conventional medicine.
Therefore it is evident that these Cam therapies are economically beneficial to the insurance providers too, and more providers should opt in to cover these therapies and services. REFERENCES Feather, K. CAM Therapies as Covered Benefits. Acupuncture Today. October 2006, Vol. 07, Issue 10. Information retrieved on October 5, 2008 from http://www. acupuncturetoday. com/mpacms/at/article. php? id=30445 NCAMM (2007). The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Information Retrieved on October 5, 2008 from http://nccam. nih. gov/news/camsurvey_fs1. htm#use.