Alternative therapy at state expense: Study looks at Medicaid coverage of nonconventional care fo...( ernative therapy each year including a...),Health

Alternative medicine is usually defined as care not generally taught at American medical schools nor provided at U.S. hospitals. It spans the spectrum from vitamins and herbal supplements to acupuncture and hypnosis.

State and federal agencies have regulated some alternative treatments, such as chiropractic, for many years, though licensing and other government oversight does not examine the effectiveness of the therapy.

As more states begin to license alternative providers such as naturopaths and acupuncturists, Medicaid plans surveyed by Steyer said they planned to consider adding additional coverage for alternative therapies in the next three years.

"We found that although the general public is turning to these approaches more and more at their own expense, state Medicaid programs do not routinely reimburse parents for their children's alternative care other than chiropractic," Steyer explains. "Still, this is a trend that warrants observing and further examination over time."

He especially hopes to continue his research by looking at which patients choose alternative providers for primary care, and by examining the quality and outcome of their care.

'"/>

Contact: Kara Gavin
kegavin@umich.edu
734-764-2220
University of Michigan Health System
12-May-2000