The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is on the rise. People are becoming more aware of complementary therapies and alternatives to traditional treatments and medications. More than one-third of the population older than the age of 18 uses some form of CAM to help them relieve problems and promote wellness. Sometimes people turn to complementary and alternative medicine when they are unable to find relief from their problems using traditional treatments. Sometimes physicians and other healthcare practitioners use a combination of traditional and complementary treatments to provide the best care for their patients. This chapter will discuss complementary and alternative medicine and how, as a medical assistant, you will most likely encounter them.

Outline

• What Is CAM?
• Types of CAM
• Patients Seeking CAM Therapy
• Insurance and CAM
• Regulation of CAM Therapies
• Health Fraud

Learning Outcomes

After completing Chapter 44, you will be able to:

 44.1 Define CAM.
 44.2 Compare complementary and alternative medicine to conventional medicine.
 44.3 Discuss how CAM and conventional medicine are used together.
 44.4 Identify various types of complementary and alternative medicine.
 44.5 Describe how a medical assistant may use his or her knowledge of CAM.
 44.6 Explain why patients and healthcare practitioners are turning to complementary treatments.
 44.7 Discuss insurance and payment for CAM treatments.
 44.8 Explain how CAM is regulated.
 44.9 Describe health fraud.

Summary

Complementary and alternative medicine is therapy and products outside the scope of traditional or conventional medicine. Complementary medicine is used in conjunction with conventional medicine. Alternative medicine is typically used as a replacement for conventional medicine. A new type of medicine called integrative medicine has emerged when conventional medicine and scientifically proven CAM therapies are used together.

There are five classifications for CAM. They include alternative medical systems, mind-body interventions, biologically based therapies, manipulative and body-based methods, and energy therapies. Each of these classifications has various types of products and therapies associated with it. Patients seeking CAM may be looking for low-cost products and services that help to maintain health and prevent disease so they turn to CAM. Other patients are turning to CAM for additional options. Healthcare practitioners are using many types of complementary therapy as they become accepted and, in many cases, scientifically proven.

A basic understanding of CAM therapies, insurance reimbursement, and health fraud are important aspects of the medical assistant's role.

The NCCAM conducts and supports CAM research and provides CAM information to healthcare providers and the public. State and federal laws have been enacted to help regulate CAM and more laws and regulations are expected as research is conducted. Staying abreast of these laws and current health fraud information is mandatory in this changing healthcare environment.