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Naturopathic medicine is greatly needed here in Florida. The FNPA has positioned itself to enter legislation once again in 2008. We are growing rapidly and invite you to watch us become a highly influential group of health care consumers and providers over the next year. Please use us as a resource at any time. Education is an important part of our mission and we will always be available for articles, comments, press releases and press conferences.

FNPA President - Michelle E. Clark, ND

 

Naturopathic Cost-Benefit Analysis

Naturopathic medicine is a form of non-invasive primary care that is used in conjunction with conventional medical care to address the sources of illness and promote the body’s own natural healing abilities. When practiced by licensed naturopathic physicians, naturopathic medicine is a safe and inexpensive way to maintain good health and support conventional medical care during the healing process. Unfortunately, in states that do not license providers of naturopathic physicians, regulated naturopathic primary care is unavailable, and often the uneducated and incompetent are able to deceptively practice under the title of “naturopathic physician”.

As an NIH study from May of 2004 found, 36% of Americans over the age of 18 use some form of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM), and 1/3^rd of CAM users do so because conventional medical care is too expensive. With today’s rising health care costs and the current shortage of nurses and MD’s in the country, it is important to take every measure that increases the availability and lowers the cost of effective primary health care. Licensure of naturopathic physicians does both simultaneously.

As the examples below show, when subject to licensure and properly regulated, naturopathic medicine is both cost-effective and highly successful at restoring and maintaining good health.

 

Homeopathy More Effective than Antibiotics in Treating Ear Infections

In an experiment published in the journal, Homeopathy, in 2005, Dr. Melanie Trichard treated 499 children suffering from recurrent throat infections with either antibiotics or homeopathy.

The experiment showed that in response to homeopathy:

· Children experienced 30% fewer episodes of infection

· Children experienced 35% fewer complications from their treatment

· Cost of care was 10% cheaper

· Only 10% of parents had to miss work to care for their children, as opposed to 32% of parents whose children were taking antibiotics

In a survey given to 135 patients from 5 different ND clinics:

· 49% reported lowered or discontinued use of conventional medical treatment

· 96% rated self-care education as excellent or good

· 92% rated effect on lifestyle as excellent or good

· 68% rated treatment as successful

· 53% stated that problems other than their chief complaint had improved as a “side-effect” of the therapy

In a survey given by Medalia Healthcare to primary care physicians in a 45-clinic network in 1997:

· 30% said appropriate use of CAM could provide more cost-effective care

· 69% said appropriate use of CAM could lead to savings under capitated contracts

 

 

 

Access to Naturopathic Medicine Saves Company $1.5 Million in Health Care Costs

In a program conducted by Green Mountain Wellness Solutions for the Vermont Automobile Dealers Association in 2005-2006, 848 employees were examined and advised by naturopathic physicians for one year. For those employees who participated:

· incidence of high blood pressure dropped 36%

· incidence of diabetes dropped 13%

· risk for cardiovascular disease dropped 35%

· obesity fell by 15%

· physical inactivity fell 21%

· high cholesterol fell 17%

· smoking fell by 17%

· high risk stress fell 24%

For those employees who also participated in a supplementary pedometer program:

· high blood pressure dropped by 47%

· diabetes fell by 20%

· risks for cardiovascular disease fell 43%

These figures do not only describe an improvement in the health of the employees. Since many of these conditions can be quite costly to treat through conventional care, the data also show a great reduction in the cost of healthcare for the employer. By using complimentary and alternative medical care the Vermont Automobile Dealers Association saved:

· $315,000 in direct health care costs

· $1,145,000 in indirect health care costs (absenteeism, low-productivity, etc.)

· Almost $1,500,000 in total health care costs.

The use of regulated naturopathic medical care is physically and economically beneficial to employers and employees alike. The care that naturopathic physicians provide is often less dangerous and uncomfortable then some more conventional medical treatments. Naturopathic care can also be less expensive than conventional medicine, making health care more available to those who otherwise could not afford it. Licensure minimizes the potential for malpractice of naturopathic medicine and maximizes the medical options available to residents of licensed states.