With the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act on Jan.1, 2014, some are predicting that it could open up significant opportunities for complementary and alternative medicine practitioners. That hope centers around one part of the legislation, Section 2706 entitled “Non-discrimination in Health Care.” Here’s the text so you can see it yourself:
SEC. 2706. NON-DISCRIMINATION IN HEALTH CARE.
(a) Providers- A group health plan and a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage shall not discriminate with respect to participation under the plan or coverage against any health care provider who is acting within the scope of that provider's license or certification under applicable State law. This section shall not require that a group health plan or health insurance issuer contract with any health care provider willing to abide by the terms and conditions for participation established by the plan or issuer. Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing a group health plan, a health insurance issuer, or the Secretary from establishing varying reimbursement rates based on quality or performance measures.
(b) Individuals- The provisions of section 1558 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (relating to non-discrimination) shall apply with respect to a group health plan or health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage.
So what does that mean for CAM practitioners and their clients? The wording is a bit confusing, but the breakthrough for CAM in the post Affordable Care Act world could be with that one section. According to some interpretations, insurance plans covering the services of a medical doctor will also be required to cover the same services if they are provided by another person whose license allows them to offer said service. During the last 30 years states have expanded their licensing programs to allow for licensed practitioners of all sorts of CAM professions. Now with the Care Act, insurance providers could not technically discriminate against a patient choosing to undergo their procedure with a CAM practitioners instead of a medical doctor if they offer the same thing with a valid diagnosis. Of course the definition of discrimination in this context is a bit vague and is likely to be hammered out in the months after the law goes into effect.
There are also the challenges to consider from supporters of allopathic medicine who have long questioned the effectiveness of CAM procedures. Some of those in the allopathic community forecast that allowing CAM providers to be covered by health insurance equal to medical doctors will hurt those individuals and employers paying for health insurance. They argue that paying for what they call “ineffective treatments” will ultimately hurt businesses’ bottom lines.
Looking ahead to Jan. 1, 2014 The new approach to American health with Care Act marks a shift, some would say, away from just treating illness to taking preventative measures to prevent that illness from ever occurring in the first place. Like it or not for many Americans that will mean exploring options for preventative care in the realm of alternative medicine. Now with fewer financial barriers to accessing that type of care, perhaps CAM is set to make a bigger push into the mainstream. The Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine envisions a “comprehensive and compassionate health care system offering seamless integration of effective complementary and conventional approaches to promote healing and health in every individual and community,” according to their website.
Maybe the Affordable Care Act by including a provision like Section 2706 will get us closer to that goal? Only time will tell.
Michael Cahill, Editor of the Vista Health Solutions blog. Michael has a degree in Journalism from SUNY New Paltz. Previously he worked as a reporter for the Poughkeepsie Journal and as an editor for the Rockland County Times.
photo: Andreatl
Wonderful article! We will be linking to this great post
on our website. Keep up the great writing.
You have made some really good points there. I checked on the web to learn more about
the issue and found most people will go along with your views
on this web site.
This is a topic that is near to my heart… Thank you!
Exactly where are your contact details though?
Thanks for sharing this info. I can definitely see Sue’s point of view. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
It will certainly be interesting to see how it unfolds. Thanks for sharing the current status and keeping us informed. I look forward to having you as a point of reference in the days ahead. THANK YOU, Katherine.
I guess we will see how it all unfolds. My background is in clinical social work and I have never wanted to be involved with insurance companies–talk about an enormous headache. I do hope more people begin to focus on a more holistic approach to healthcare, though, instead of simply masking symptoms with an array of drugs.
Interesting to hear what is happening – I wonder if similar applies here in Australia?
Wish you luck. From what I read and hear this is like riding in the canoe heading for
the great falls ahead with no paddle.
It will be very interesting to see what happens in the months 1/14. I’m sure the insurance companies are already all geared up to protect and fight… and not for the insured. Fingers crossed that you’re right though.
As a nutrition professional it’s wonderful to hear that “perhaps CAM is set to make a bigger push into the mainstream” but I’m with Sue on wanting to stay away from insurance and the added paperwork
Formerly being an alternative practitioner myself, I doubt it. In fact some of the ancillary services such as mental health and PT could find themselves quarantined as “not mainstream” as more and more specialties fight for fewer and fewer dollars. Frankly, as an alternative practitioner I would have wanted NOTHING to do with being included in health care. The paperwork alone would have doubled my prices.
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I think this is a great inclusion in the act, but with crazies like Michele Bachmann imploring her consittuents to pray to god to intercede and provide a miracle that will force the repeal of the act, and with the many other congressmen who are not crazy but greedy, doing their best to repay the fat monetary encouragement from the insurance lobbyists, I hope they don’t use this to scare their colleagues and constituents that the act is the work of the devil.
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