Obamacare to cover Chiropractic?

Obamacare to cover acupuncture, alternative medicine

Updated: Mar 29, 2013 8:01 PM CDT

By Allison Scott - emai

(RNN) - Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as "Obamacare," what is now called alternative medicine may become as accessible and widely accepted as conventional care.

The controversial act specifically mentions complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and integrative healthcare in seven different sections throughout the law. This is thanks in part to the efforts of the Integrative Healthcare Policy Consortium, a coalition of major organizations started at the request of legislators in Washington devoted to the promotion of CAM and integrative healthcare in the U.S.

There have been debates about the efficacy of some of these practices, which include acupuncture, and it has been a long road for proponents to get them recognized in the ACA.

"Everybody has been holding their breath. So the implementation phase of the ACA has only just started becoming formulated now that we know that it's actually going to be here," said Dr. Len Wisneski, clinical professor of medicine at George Washington University Medical Center and chairman of the IHPC board of directors.

Within the seven sections that specifically mention CAM and integrative healthcare, two sections are essential.

The first, a "non-discrimination in healthcare" section prohibits insurance companies from discriminating against healthcare providers. It was created to encourage full utilization of healthcare providers and reduce the cost of patient care.

According to Wisneski, the non-discrimination section specifically includes providers of integrative healthcare, and they are also to be included within the health plan coverage. However, there is concern this section could lose ground during the ACA's implementation.

"This is something that is being taken up on a state-to-state basis," Wisneski said. "We are focusing on this area very carefully and have formed a committee that is functioning of both our members and various experts, to ensure that this part of the law is implemented. This, we consider to be the most important passed."

A second notable section focuses on establishing community health teams to support patient-centered medical homes. Included within those teams are doctors of chiropractic, licensed complementary and alternative medicine practitioners.

"This is the first time, really in history, that this type of language has been articulated in the law. Very few people are aware of what's in the law in this regard," Wisneski said.

Wisneski added that seeing things coming to fruition was "very exciting."

A 2011 Consumer Reports survey found more than 38 million Americans make an excess of 300 million visits each year to CAM specialists, including acupuncture, massage therapists and chiropractors.

Obamacare was enacted over strong objection in 2010 with the stated goal of providing all Americans access to quality, affordable health insurance. Whether it would be completely enacted or repealed, along with the future of the CAM and integrative medicine industry, was dependent upon the 2012 presidential election.

With President Barack Obama's re-election and the assurance of the ACA beginning in 2014, it is the first time in U.S. history that CAM and integrative medicine practitioners have been included in a national healthcare law.

Copyright 2013 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.

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I know about Back Pain

The majority of back pain patients have not experienced any trauma, accidents or major injuries prior to the onset of their problem. The cause of most back pain is the cumulative affect of improper sitting posture, poor work habits, incorrect lifting, lack of proper exercise and other lifestyle-related factors. All of these factors cause stress and imbalances on the spine and eventually pain. This is why people often injure their back by just bending over to pick up a piece of paper. The spine was already compromised and just the simple act of bending was enough to set off the problem. When this occurs, the surrounding back muscles go into spasm to protect the stressed or injured tissues of the back. In the US, low back pain is one of the most common conditions and one of the leading causes of physician visits. In fact, at least four out of five adults will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. Thirty-one million Americans have low back pain at any given time. One half of all working Americans admit to having back symptoms each year. One third of all Americans over age 18 had a back problem in the past five years severe enough for them to seek professional help. And the cost of this care is estimated to be a staggering $50 Billion yearly--and that's just for the more easily identified costs!

SYMPTOMS:
 TENDERNESS, PAIN, AND STIFFNESS IN THE LOWER BACK
 PAIN THAT RADIATES INTO THE BUTTOCKS OR LEGS
 DIFFICULTY STANDING ERECT OR STANDING IN ONE POSITION FOR A LONG TIME
 WEAKNESS AND LEG FATIGUE WHILE WALKING
 DISCOMFORT WHILE SITTING

If you have any of these symptoms call me. Below is a story that one of my clients wrote about us.

When I contacted Koenig Family Chiropractic for the first time I could barely stand up. I have dealt with back pain my whole life and this was the worst case I’ve experienced. Dr. Josh clearly explained to me what my test results documented and convinced me to go through an extended 3 month treatment. Dr. Josh treated me to fix the problems that had showed up on the exam and not just the pain! After just one week my pain was gone and through weekly adjustments my spine became straighter, my disks are spaced further apart and the curvature is returning to my neck. Dr. Josh has opened my eyes to the benefits of long term chiropractic treatment and I am a big advocate!

Brian Gorman

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Healthy recipes to plan for the week ahead

 Breakfasts

(Get your shopping list for the week here!)

1. Easy Oatmeal Pancake
Combine 1/2 cup oats, 1/2 cup egg whites, 1/4 tsp baking powder & cinnamon to taste in a small bowl.  Cook in a greased skillet until the pancake has set. Flip and cook the other side. Serve with 1 Tbsp maple syrup and 1 tsp butter.

2. Steak & Swiss Omelet
Whisk 1 egg and 1 egg white together in a small dish. Cook 2 Tbsp chopped onion in a skillet until soft. Add the eggs and cook until set. Add 3 oz cooked steak and 1 slice Swiss cheese, fold over the omelet and serve with 1 slice whole-grain toast.

3. Yummy Yogurt Parfait
Layer 1 cup Greek yogurt, 1/2 cup fruit & 1 serving granola in a dish and serve. 

4. Creamy Honey Toast & Berries
Combine 2 Tbsp cream cheese with 1 tsp honey, then spread on 2 slices whole-grain toast. Top with 1/2 cup berries and sandwich the two slices together. 

5. Hearty Sweet Potato-Sausage Hash
Pierce 1 small sweet potato with a fork and microwave on high until tender. Cook 2 Tbsp chopped onion and 1 breakfast sausage patty in a skillet until meat is cooked through. Add 1 cup kale and cook until wilted. Chop sweet potato and stir into hash. 

6. Peachy Keen Smoothie
Combine 1 cup skim milk, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, 1 cup peaches & 1 frozen banana in a blender until smooth. 

7. Avocado Breakfast Toast
Top 2 slices whole-grain bread with 1/3 of an avocado, 1 scrambled egg, and 2 tomato slices. Season with black pepper and salt.

 Lunches

1. Cheesy Broccoli and Rice
Cook 1 cup broccoli and combine with 1/2 cup cooked brown rice, 1/4 cup Greek yogurt, 1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese & 1/4 tsp Dijon mustard. Heat until the cheese has melted, and season with black pepper. 

2. 'I-Can't-Believe-It's-Not-Meatball' Sub
Heat 1 serving veggie (soy-based) meatballs according to the package directions. Microwave 1 cup fresh spinach and 1/2 cup marinara sauce in a bowl covered with a wet paper towel until the spinach has wilted. Place 1 oz mozzarella cheese inside a whole-grain pita, then add the meatballs, spinach and sauce. 

3. Sausage-Stuffed Pita Sandwich
Cook 1 cup bell pepper strips in a skillet until soft and starting to brown. Add 1 cooked and sliced chicken sausage and 1/2 cup marinara sauce, and cook until heated through. Transfer to a whole-grain pita, adding cheese if desired. 

4. Peanutty Chicken & Veggies
Heat 1 package Green Giant Antioxidant Blend Frozen Vegetables with Olive Oil Seasoning according to package directions. Then combine with 3 oz cooked chicken, 1/2 cup cooked brown rice & 2 Tbsp prepared peanut sauce and heat through. 

5. Smothered Chicken Burrito
Fill 1 whole-grain tortilla with 3 oz chopped cooked chicken, 1/2 cup assorted vegetables & 1/4 cup low-fat Cheddar cheese. Microwave until sauce is bubbling and the burrito is steaming. Combine 1/4 cup salsa and 1/4 cup Greek yogurt in a small bowl, then spread over the burrito.

6. Avocado Chicken Salad
Combine 1/3 of an avocado, 1 Tbsp chopped onion, 1 Tbsp Greek yogurt, juice of 1/2 lime and 1 Tbsp chopped cilantro in a small bowl. Add 3 oz shredded cooked chicken and spread between 2 slices of whole-grain bread; add desired condiments. 

7. Slim & Satisfying Mac 'n Cheese
Cook 1 cup chopped cauliflower in a skillet until tender, then combine with 1 oz cooked whole-grain pasta, 1/4 cup Greek yogurt, 1/4 cup shredded low-fat Cheddar cheese, 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard & 1 slice cooked bacon. Heat until the cheese has melted; serve immediately. 

 Dinners

1. Shrimp & Veggie Alfredo Pasta
Heat 1 package Green Giant Healthy Vision Blend Frozen Vegetables according to package directions. Meanwhile, cook 1 oz whole-grain pasta, adding 3 oz frozen, ready-to-eat shrimp during the last minute of cooking. Combine all ingredients in a bowl, then stir in 2 Tbsp reduced-fat cream cheese. Top with 1 tsp Parmesan cheese. 

2. Almond-Crusted Chicken with Broccoli and Rice
Mix 1 Tbsp flour and 1/4 tsp pepper. Dip 1 (3-oz) chicken breast first into the flour mixture, then 1 beaten egg white, then 2 Tbsp almonds and 1 tsp Parmesan. Bake on a greased baking sheet at 350 until cooked through. Meanwhile, cook 1 cup broccoli and reheat 1/2 cup cooked brown rice. 

3. Quick Tuna Casserole
Prepare 1 oz whole-grain pasta and 1 package Green Giant Digestive Health Blend Frozen Vegetables according to package directions. Drain pasta and combine with 3 oz drained canned tuna, 1 Tbsp reduced-fat cream cheese & 1 Tbsp shredded Cheddar cheese; serve.

4. Chili Mac 'n Cheese
Prepare 1 oz whole-grain pasta according to package directions, reserving one Tbsp of the cooking water. Combine 1 serving canned chili and 2 Tbsp each Greek yogurt & shredded Cheddar cheese; heat through. Mix in the macaroni and reserved cooking water. Serve with a side of spinach salad. 

5. Smashed Potato with Beef and Mushrooms
Bake 1 small potato until tender. Cook 4 oz sliced beef in a skillet with 1/2 tsp olive oil until no longer pink. Season with salt & pepper; set aside. Add 1 cup sliced mushrooms and 1/2 tsp dried herbs to the empty pan, browning mushrooms. Add 2 Tbsp vegetable broth and 1 cup kale; cook until wilted. Return meat to the pan to heat through. Slice potato in half and smash it; serve meat and veggies on top.  

6. Southwest Shrimp Burrito
Cook 3 oz frozen, ready-to-eat shrimp in a skillet. Sprinkle on 1/2 tsp taco seasoning and cook until heated through. Add the shrimp to a whole-grain tortilla, then top with 2 Tbsp chopped onions, 1 chopped banana pepper & 1/4 of an avocado. Garnish with cilantro. 

7. 5-Minute Black Bean Soup
Combine 1 cup canned black beans, 1/4 cup salsa, a cup diced tomatoes, 1/2 cup cooked brown rice & 1/2 cup vegetable broth and heat through. Top with 1/4 of an avocado. 

 Snack Options

 

Choose 1-2 snacks each day:

Veggies dipped in 1/4 cup guacamole

1/2 cup shelled edamame, sprinkled with sea salt  

1 slice of whole-grain toast with 1 Tbsp of peanut butter  

1 cup of vegetable soup  

1 whole-grain tortilla sprinkled with 1/4 cup part-skim cheese and salsa, folded over and grilled

1 cup fruit salad with a dollop of Greek yogurt

1 cup whole-grain cereal with 1/2 cup skim milk

Simple smoothie made with 1 cup frozen berries and 1/2 cup skim milk

A handful of celery stalks with 1 Tbsp of peanut butter

A handful of roasted almonds

Egg white omelet made with 1/4 cup egg white and veggies and spices of your choice

1 cup of sliced cucumber with 1 oz cheese

Small whole-grain tortilla filled with chicken, veggies and salsa

1 package Green Giant Healthy Heart Blend Frozen Vegetables

Half a bran muffin and 1/2 cup of berries

1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese with 1/2 cup sliced fruit

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What happens at the Chiropractor

What Happens at the Chiropractors

Great article written by university of Minnesota click here for full article: http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/chiropractic/what-happens-chiropractor

While visiting a chiropractor is similar to visiting other healthcare providers, it does have some unique elements. You will likely find the office setting and intake procedures quite familiar, but many notice the distinctive appearance of the chiropractic treatment table. These tables are often quite elaborate to allow specific positioning and movement during spinal adjustments and thus assist the chiropractic treatment.

A typical visit to a chiropractor includes an initial intake, physical exam, treatment, and follow-up plan.

What happens during the intake?

An initial chiropractic consultation is very similar to that of a standard medical intake. You will likely complete a health questionnaire and answer questions about your health history. Typically the chiropractor asks you to indicate where you are experiencing discomfort by marking the areas on a drawing of the human body.

What happens during the physical exam?

The chiropractor will start with a routine physical exam, then follow it with an exam that focuses on the spine, with particular attention given to the areas of complaint. The chiropractor will most likely examine your whole spine. For example, if you had a low back complaint, the chiropractor would also likely perform a neck exam because the adaptations resulting from injury or subluxation in one area can result in secondary irritations somewhere else in the spine.

Most often, a chiropractor will take X-rays of your spine prior to treatment. The purpose of the X-rays is to study the condition of the bony anatomy and soft tissues. It also helps the chiropractor understand the extent of wear, any anomalies in your spine, and other factors that will guide the development of the treatment plan.

The physical exam typically includes a variety of assessments, such as range of motion tests, palpation, reflex testing, muscle strength comparisons, and neurological and orthopedic tests focused on the main complaint.

What goes into a treatment plan?

Following the assessments, the chiropractor will develop a treatment plan that takes into account:

• The extent of your injury or irritation
• Your general health
• The condition of your spine as affected by age and previous injury
• What your goals are - this is most important item

Your goals of treatment should result from the discussion you have with your chiropractor. Many people seek simple relief of pain or discomfort, while others want to begin a regimen of ongoing care meant to improve their general health.

In initial consultations, your chiropractor will tell you the status of your condition and recommend an approach to care. Ask questions. As in any professional-patient relationship, trust and mutual understanding are vitally important.

What is a typical treatment?

"Adjustments" are usually the central part of chiropractic treatment. The chiropractic adjustment is a therapeutic manipulation that uses controlled force, leverage, direction, amplitude, and velocity directed at specific joints. In other words, an adjustment involves a lot more than simply opening up a joint. Click the videos listed in the column on the left to see examples.

Your chiropractor will most often make these adjustments to the spine, but he or she might adjust other joints, such as the ankle, knee, wrist, elbow, or shoulder in order to restore structural alignment or to improve joint function. Again, proper structure is necessary for proper function, and proper extremity function is an important part of healthy daily living.

When being treated for a complaint such as back or neck pain, you will most likely receive a series of adjustments, separated by either a day or a few days, to incrementally reduce the irritation and improve normal function. This might continue for several weeks, usually diminishing in frequency.

If you can't tolerate the manual adjustments, you may instead receive mild or non-force techniques.

Adjustments are often accompanied by non-manual therapies such as application of heat or ice, electrical stimulation, orthotic supports for your shoes, rehabilitative exercise, counseling about diet, weight loss, and other lifestyle factors, and nutritional supplements.

References

Expert Contributor: 

 Larry Kuusisto, PhD, DC

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How to Select the best Chiropractor for You

How To Select The Best Chiropractor
By: Kelly Andrews,

DC Chiropractic is a profession with a wide variety of practice philosophies and techniques, which makes it a challenge to select the best chiropractor. Because the chiropractic treatment is a physical procedure, consideration should be given to both the rapport with the doctor as well as compatibility with joint manipulation style.

This article outlines questions to ask when interviewing a chiropractor and provides guidelines for what to expect of chiropractic care. It also highlights some red flags that may indicate questionable treatment approaches.
See What to Expect at the First Chiropractic Consultation
Recommendations for a Good Chiropractor

A good place to start is to ask a primary care physician, physical therapist, or spine specialist for recommendations of chiropractors who they view as competent and trustworthy. One way to phrase this question is: "If someone in your family needed a chiropractor, who would you recommend?"

It also helps to ask friends, co-workers and neighbors for recommendations. Exercise caution, however, because one person's definition of the best chiropractor may be quite different from another person's definition. While recommendations can be valuable, it is important to find a chiropractor who can meet an individual's specific needs.

In general, if multiple people recommend the same chiropractor, chances are good that the chiropractor is reliable.

Before starting treatment, it is usually best to conduct a telephone interview or request an in-office consultation to learn more about the chiropractor, the clinic, and techniques used. Often the treating chiropractor will request a personal consultation to discuss these details.

For most people, it is important to feel comfortable with the chiropractor and the clinic to have an overall positive treatment experience. Feeling comfortable may depend on a lot of personal preferences, including details such as how long a patient may typically have to wait in the waiting room or location of the chiropractor’s office.

In This Article:

How To Select The Best Chiropractor
Questions to Ask About Chiropractic Techniques
Chiropractic Treatment Program Guidelines
Chiropractic Health Care and X-Rays
How to Choose a Chiropractic Clinic
Did Chiropractic Work? Re-evaluating Your Treatment Plan

Questions to consider about rapport and experience with a chiropractor and/or clinic staff during an initial interview may include one or more of the following:
Is the chiropractor friendly and courteous?
Does the patient feel comfortable talking with the chiropractor?
Does the chiropractor fully answer all questions asked by the patient?
Does the chiropractic doctor listen to the patient's complete explanation of symptoms and treatment concerns/preferences?
How many years has the chiropractor been in practice?
Does the chiropractor have a specific undergraduate or post-graduate specialty?
Although not necessary, some chiropractors pursue post-graduate diplomat programs in various specialties, such as orthopedics, sports medicine, rehabilitation, neurology, nutrition.
Background Research on Chiropractors

Patients may want to research if there are any disciplinary actions against the chiropractor. This information is available from each state's Chiropractic Regulation & Licensing Board, which can usually be found on the state's website.

Patients can also check that their chiropractor's college is accredited by theCouncil on Chiropractic Education. Selecting any health care professional for treatment is something that should be done with care. Do not feel compelled to be treated by the first chiropractor interviewed - many people interview several chiropractors before finding one best suited to treat their condition.

The bottom line is that the chiropractor's role is to recommend the recommended course of care for the patient, and it is the patient’s decision whether or not to accept that doctor's recommendations. Patients should never feel like a doctor is pressuring them into a treatment or payment decision.

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Sciatica Help Plymouth Chiropractor

How Do Chiropractic Adjustments Help Sciatica?

Sciatica is a set of symptoms which ranges from smaller localized pain in one or both buttocks to deliberating strong pain throughout the leg and foot. Chiropractic adjustments can help you fight sciatica, if it is caused by a slight misalignment in the structure of the lower back.

But let’s take a more detailed look at the diverse forms of sciatica, its causes, and how doctors of chiropractic can help you decrease the pain and even the root of the problem.

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica is an irritation of one of five spinal nerve roots of left, right or both sciatic nerves. In simple words, sciatica is pain extending from the lower back all way down to your feet and toes.

The Many Faces of “Ouch”

The symptoms of sciatica are, certainly, pain, weakness, numbness, burning, and odd sensations. The most common symptom of them is low back pain, but it may not always present. The location of the sciatica symptoms may vary as well. Sometimes they may center in your lower back or buttocks, other times go all the way down your leg to your toe. The symptoms also may be on one side or both or the intensity may be stronger on one side vs. the other. Occasionally, the symptoms may be presented only in one particular part of your body, for example, in your calf or foot.

What Causes Sciatica?

Sciatica has three major causes:

1. As the sciatic nerve originates in the lower back, wrong movements, bone shifting, certain pressure can cause a pinching of the sciatic nerve that consequently produces pain.
2. If you ever fell on your pelvis or hip, had a major hip, knee, ankle or foot joint surgery or injury or broke a leg bone, or if you are currently experiencing a muscle imbalance due to certain physical activity or sports, you may have a rotated pelvis at the sacroiliac joint. The sciatic nerve runs in front of a sacroiliac joint and causes pain when rubbing together.
3. One of the most common sciatic pain locations is your buttocks. There are a lot of muscles located in this area (the gluteus maximus muscle, gluteus medius muscle and gluteus minimus muscle), and the sciatic nerve is supposed to go underneath these muscles. However, in some unlucky people this nerve passes through the piriformis muscle, and thus any simple action, such as stretching or driving can cause this muscle to contract and press the sciatic nerve that, as you understand, leads to pain.

Help is on the Way! How to Treat Sciatica Successfully

When you are in pain, your only wish, understandably, is for this pain to go away. Most people’s first action is to seek pain relievers, prescribed or over-the-counter (OTC). And although most anti-inflammatory medication and other pain relief formulas reduce or at least mask the pain, they don’t really fight the root of the problem.

Your chiropractic doctor can help you treat the original cause of the pain. If the root of the pain is structural, such as muscle spasms or misaligned pelvis or vertebra, certain chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy and spinal x-ray may fully resolve your problem forever.

Millions of patients all over the world are incorrectly told that their only option with lower back pain is drugs. Don’t stay in pain, don’t be fooled by pharmaceutical companies, don’t expose yourself and your loved ones to potentially dangerous side effects of drug consumption! If you experience such pain, please, visit us at HealthNOW or contact us at 408-733-0400 for a detailed consultation from a professional. Together we can fight it successfully!

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