The Affordable Care Act, or ObamaCare, makes access to natural healthcare possible. It amends Section 2706 of the Public Health Service Act and prevents health plans from discriminating against which providers can be covered. This will help with the burden of healthcare and the demand of patients for natural health choices. Five professions were included if they are acting within their scope of practice: chiropractors, naturopathic doctors, acupuncturists, massage therapists and midwives. This doesn’t mean that every practitioner will be included but that insurers can’t exclude the category from coverage in their plan. There will be much communication nationally among all these professions about uniform best practices and policies within states. Each profession has its challenges. Naturopathy has the challenge of integrating a national law while it is not licensed in all states.
The American Medical Association has increased its lobbying to condemn the amendment and has won some support since the amendment was accepted. Lobbying and communicating with House representatives is especially vital for patients and professionals who value natural healthcare options. The Integrative Healthcare Policy Consortium (IHPC) has taken on the role of coordinating a campaign for all disciplines. If you believe in access to licensed natural health providers under your insurance plan, please visit www.ihpc.org to take action and the Integrative Blog to stay updated.
