Health care law and CAM providers

This post is more geared toward complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) providers, though the general public is welcome to read this, too. In my previous two blog posts about the health care law (July 2, 2012), I said it could increase spending on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) while decreasing costs.

Today I’ll discuss a concern about one word from the law, the word “licensed.” But before I discuss my concern over this single word, let’s do some defining of terms.

The law talked about “licensed” complementary and alternative medicine providers. Some CAM providers are licensed, and some are certified. What’s the difference? A license means that the government is involved in granting licenses in that profession. One interesting exception is with massage therapists. In most states, they are licensed. But in a few, such as California, the State is (somewhat) involved in massage certification rather than massage licensure.

But in general, a license means that the State is involved in setting professional standards, and usually certification means that the profession is self-regulated.

For example, in California, the State has an Acupuncture Board responsible for licensing acupuncturists. If an acupuncturist from elsewhere wants to practice in California, they must pass a California exam to get a California license.

On the other hand, in California, the State grants a license to hypnotherapy schools. The State lets hypnotherapy regulate itself. In California, and most other states, a hypnotherapist is certified by an industry organization. In some states, you’re called a hypnotist rather than a hypnotherapist. Ah the joys of differing state laws.

In my opinion, it would be more efficient and require less work for everyone if each profession had its own national standard.

But many states differ on which profession gets a license and which profession remains self-regulated. Efficiency is not a primary driver of every human being. 🙂

Now back to my concern about the word “licensed” as it relates to CAM providers. That word can be interpreted in two ways.

Interpretation #1

The person who wrote those sections understands the world of licensed and certified CAM providers, and they specifically wanted to use the word “licensed” to exclude the certified providers. If true, then certified providers (e.g., hypnotherapists, some massage therapists) may not benefit as much from the new law as the licensed providers (e.g., acupuncturists and chiropractors).

Interpretation #2

The person who wrote those sections doesn’t understand the distinction between licensed and certified CAM providers, and perhaps the law will simply be amended to include the term “certified” if enough people demand the change. Though knowing Washington, maybe a simple text change isn’t so simple.

Bottom line
At first I was concerned about that single word. But as I thought it through, I realized that perhaps it doesn’t matter as much as I thought. Regardless of the writer’s intent, I came to the same conclusion. We as certified CAM providers can do more to educate the public. With enough people asking for what we offer, then health care providers will prescribe our services, even if they’re not required to do so by law. And at that point it would be easier to change the law if needed.

We as certified practitioners can create this reality. Our private organizations can do the hard work in the political arena, but we as individuals need to also contribute. Let’s look at this period of uncertainty as an opportunity to get out there, to be vocal, to be visible! When there’s great change in society, there’s also great opportunity.

I’ve been more active in doing presentations and working toward getting a TV show on hypnosis, because I want to see positive change. If you’re a certified provider reading this, I encourage you to reach out to the public and share what you do. If each individual provider does a little bit, the effect will be huge.

Sometimes certified CAM providers feel it’ll take forever to be accepted into the mainstream health care world. We look at acupuncturists and chiropractors as trailblazers, professions that have made it into the mainstream world of insurance and increased public acceptance. I don’t believe it has to take so long for hypnotherapy and other certified professions to become mainstream.

In my dream, I see our country accepting all sorts of CAM practices into the mainstream sooner than we hoped, health care spending dropping, and our country becoming a healthier place. How will this dream be realized? Through action. Through us. Through us taking action.

Let’s get out of our comfort zone of simply helping our own clients. Let’s get out there, and be seen and heard. We’re not part of the health care mainstream, yet, but with enough action, we will be. It needn’t take forever. Instead of waiting for the future, let’s make the future happen.

Leave a Comment