The politics of health care - Commentary

New Life Journal, April-May, 2003 by Cheryl Burney

A few years ago, I was loath to get involved in politics, as if it were a dirty word! Well, that was then. This izs now. Today, there are many issues that capture my attention, and I am becoming more politically savvy. What got me interested? Health care!

Health care is a hot topic these days. Pharmaceutical companies and the medical community zealously vie for our consumer dollars. Why this elaborate courting ritual? People's interest in how complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) can help them create and maintain their health has grown rapidly over the last ten years. According to the National Institute of Health, between 1990 and 1997 the number of adults reporting use of CAM increased from 60 to 83 million while the use of traditional medicines remained stationary. CAM includes, but is not limited to, homeopathy, hypnosis, herbal therapies, exercise/movement, vitamins, relaxation methods, lifestyle, diet, imagery, energy healing, biofeedback and folk remedies. CAM may be used with allopathic medical care or used as an alternative, such as massage instead of a sleeping pill, hypnotherapy instead of a nicotine patch, or homeopathy instead of antihistamines. In short, there is money to be made.

CAM practitioners and the medical community could work together in a spirit of respectful cooperation and collaboration for the benefit of all. In fact, four states have already enacted "Freedom of Access" legislation that allows individuals to use either traditional medicine or CAM. Wouldn't it be great if Georgia were in the forefront of this groundbreaking legislation that shows such far-sighted thinking! The alternative is to waste taxpayer dollars revisiting this issue every year in the form of "tuff war" bills in an on-going effort to eliminate and/or regulate this fast-growing, money-making CAM industry. The following are a few of the bills proposed this year alone.

Senate Bill 162, Health Care Protection Act of 2003. This bill would change the penalty for the unlicensed practice of dental hygiene, dietetics, athletic trainers, professional counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists, physical therapists and others from a misdemeanor to a felony. Under the current law, most CAM practitioners can be found to be in technical violation of the law because state-licensing boards might consider their activities to be the "practice of medicine" and, thus, may use the full force of the state's police power to suppress these health care practices.

House Bill 368, Massage Licensure Bill, and companion HB 628. These two pronounce the practice of massage potentially dangerous to the public and regulations are necessary to protect the public from unqualified practitioners by regulation. Research shows evidence to the contrary. Neither is this the answer to prostitutes pretending to be massage therapists. Prostitution is already addressed in the Georgia Code. HB 628 changes the guidelines to accommodate passage of HB 368 by removing some of the previous tools used to evaluate the necessity and wisdom of licensure.

HB 347, Veterinarian Restriction. Restricts certain types of alternative medicine to practice by veterinarians only. This would restrict pet owners from taking their pets to a CAM practitioner.

At a time when more people than ever are seeking preventive, natural, non-toxic, non-invasive health care, this kind of legislation threatens the very freedom which should be guaranteed. Benjamin Rush, M.D., signer of the Declaration of Independence and physician to George Washington, said, "Unless we put medical freedom into the Constitution, the time will come when medicine will organize into an undercover dictatorship. To restrict the art of healing to one class of men and deny equal privileges to others will constitute the Bastille of medical science. All such laws are un-American and despotic and have no place in a republic ... the Constitution of this republic should make privilege for medical freedom as well as religious freedom." In other words, we, the people, should have the right to govern our health care.

What can we do? Become part of the fast growing movement that seeks the freedom to choose one's own health path.

Join CAMA, the Complementary Alternative Medical Association, and its sister organization, CAMAction. CAMA's mission is to (1) educate the policy makers, the practitioners, and the public about CAM with an emphasis on natural healing and health; (2) motivate consumers to take charge of their health; and (3) advance the practice of CAM. CAMAction advocates freedom in health care choices. CAMA has a wonderful web site that has all kinds of information and classes on CAM and legislation. Call CAMA at 404.284.7592. Visit the web site at www.camaweb.org. Write to CAMA, P.O. Box 373478, Decatur, GA 30037. Call or write your Georgia State Senator and Representative(s) and introduce yourself as one of their constituents. Be honest and tell them if you have not been politically active. Let them know that you are now and then follow up by visiting them in their office either in their district or at the Capitol. Call, write, fax, and/or email your legislators about your concerns. CAMA has sample letters on the website for those issues regarding health care.