April 10, 2010

New Health Care Law May Promote Public Health and Supplementation

A couple of weeks have passed since President Obama signed the historic health care reform bill, and its impact on the Natural Health industry is still unclear. Does the new law help or hinder the inclusion of dietary supplements as core components of good health?

What we do know is that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is included in the bill. Title Four specifically addresses the prevention of chronic disease as a main goal for improving public health. This is a positive move in that CAM and the philosophy behind it is finally being recognized for the role it can play in the prevention of chronic disease.

Although supplementation is typically recommended by CAM practitioners, the bill does not specifically address the central role supplementation can play in preventing chronic disease. The health benefits of vitamins and micronutrients in promoting wellness have a long established history. At least 9 Nobel Prizes have been awarded for discoveries and research on vitamins, but the practical application of this knowledge has been suppressed by the pharmaceutical, patent-based drug business.

For the last two decades leading researchers in the science behind supplementation and health, such as Dr. Rath and his research team in California, have been advancing research in natural health through scientific discoveries and the development of science-based natural programs. Their effectiveness has been documented in numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals, and communicated on national and international conferences and symposium. So, although the bill was a big step in the right direction, there is still much that can be done to fully take advantage of the breakthrough in natural health and proven health benefits of supplementation.

For example, the healthcare bill allows for the inclusion of supplements whose claims have been approved by the FDA (Vitamin D, Calcium, Folic Acid, Soy Protein, and Fiber) in pilot program wellness plans. Section 4206 includes grants for up to 10 community health centers to implement these plans, and the results could help to fully integrate supplements into the wellness programs.

Also, the inclusion of CAM practitioners in the bill may serve to further legitimize the link between supplementation and good health through prescription. If a CAM practitioner – such as a naturopath – were to prescribe a supplement to a patient, insurance may be compelled to cover the cost. The details still have yet to be worked out, but it is possible that a CAM practitioner could write a prescription for a dietary supplement, and the patient could go to their local health food store, purchase the product, and bill the insurance company.Two years ago, Dr. Rath spearheaded an initiative in the state of California that would have accomplished a similar result, allowing the purchase of supplements to be tax deductible. Should such an initiative be finally signed into law, individuals would actually be encouraged and rewarded for investing in their health through the consumption of research proven dietary supplements.

Overall, the new law is a big step in the right direction. Not only does it expand coverage for millions of Americans, but it also places some long overdue focus on the role of natural health products and the elevation of public health through the prevention of chronic disease. Dr. Rath started this fight over 20 years ago – publicly fighting for a natural approach to health care that is oriented around patients, not profit. This new law is a blow to the monopoly the pharmaceutical industry has had in its business with disease, and indicates a new, natural approach to health care is on the horizon.