Cam Healthcare Management Issues: Complementary and Alternative

CAM

Healthcare Management Issues: Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)

The objective of this work is to provide a written summary on information related to Complementary and Alternative Medicine (DAM) and to answer the question that asks how CAM products and providers are regulated. This work will additionally answer the question of what impact the proliferation of CAM has had on consumer spending for health-related care and products and the question of whether there should be more widespread third-party coverage of CAM.

The National Cancer Institute reports that Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is "the term for medical products and practices that are not part of the standard medical care. Complementary medicine refers to the treatments that are used with standard treatment." (National Cancer Institute, 2011) Alternative medicine is treatments that are utilized rather than using standard type treatments. Standard treatments are such that are "based on scientific evidence from research studies." (National Cancer Institute, 2011)

I. Regulation of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)

According to the "White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy" the public interest over the past three decades in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) "systems, approaches, and products has risen steadily in the United States. Depending on the definition of CAM, "an estimated 6.5% to as much as 43% of the U.S. population has used some form of CAM." (2011) It is reported that the main response of "Federal, state and local health care regulatory agencies…was to restrict access to and delivery of CAM services to protect the public from unproven and potentially dangerous treatments." (White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy, 2011) Scientific evidence is reported to have "since the early 1990s…begun to emerge suggesting that some CAM approaches and products, when used appropriately, can be beneficial for treating illness and promotion health." (White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy, 2011) It is reported that the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy (WHCCAMP) "was established in March 2000 to address issues related to access and delivery of CAM, priorities for research, and the need for better education of consumers and health care professionals about CAM." (White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy, 2011) The Commission's primary mission is reported as follows: (1) addressing education and training of health care practitioners in CAM; (2) coordination of research to increase knowledge about CAM products; (3) provision of reliable and useful information on CAM to health care professions; and (4) provision of guidance on the appropriate access to and delivery of CAM. (White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy, 2011) There are four primary areas of focus for the Commission including: (1) research and development coordinated for the purpose of increasing knowledge of CAM practices and interventions; (2) CAM access, delivery and reimbursement; (4) making reliable and useful information on CAM available to health care practitioners and the public. (White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy, 2011)

II. Impact of CAM on Consumer Health Care and Spending

According to the report entitled "Health Consumers Spend More Out-Of-Pocket than the Federal Government Counts" reports that consumers are "continuing to spend discretionary income on non-traditional health services such as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) providers and products, along with vitamins/minerals/supplements and weight loss regimes." (Health Populi, 2011) In fact, the report states that it has been estimated by Deliotte that "consumers are spending nearly 15% more on health goods and services that the Federal government accounts for." (Health Populi, 2011) The Associated Press reported in 2009 that Americans were spending approximately "$34 billion annually on alternative medicine." (Associated Press, 2009) Cited as the primary reason that people tried alternative and complementary treatment was that of 'pain'. Treatments are reported to be sought for such as massage, chiropractic care, and other CAM therapies. Alternative medicine is stated to presently account for "more than 11% of out-of-pocket spending on health care in the United States.