Friday, November 20, 2009

2010 trends accroding to Entrepreneur Magazine

This doesn't highlight alternative care directly, but does give hope for the market share preventive care is taking. Keep on keepin' on!

From 10 (an 1/2) to watch, December 2009 issue of Entrepreneur Magazine:

#8: Health and Wellness
Healthcare reform, aging baby boomers, more emphasis on preventive care -- all of these things and more are fueling growth in health and wellness businesses. Healthcare and social assistance topped the industry growth charts this year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, with second quarter revenue of $452.5 billion, up 3 percent from the previous quarter.

Home care was the No. 1 growing industry from 2004 to 2009, averaging yearly increases of more than 7 percent, according to IbisWorld. In-home care already employs a staggering 1.33 million people, and revenue is expected to grow beyond $72 billion by 2011.

And whatever form the government's healthcare act finally takes, it is likely to boost the number of consumers for health services.

Preventive care continues to thrive too. In fact, people are more likely to go to the gym during a down economy, according to a recent survey by the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association. Total health club industry revenue last year topped $19 billion, the association reports.

Boomer Fitness, based in San Carlos, Calif., is capitalizing on that generation's obsession with staying healthy and youthful.

"Our generation isn't about sitting around and getting old," says founder Arleen Cauchi. "We're about being active, enjoying life." - K.O.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

PEBB covers NDs but not their services...?!?

The Public Employee Benefits Board has become a "self-insured" employer and is using Providence to administer its plan. Under the new plan NDs are covered (as they have been) but the actual services that Providence will pay for have been severely limited. Despite recent gains in the legislature through SB 327 which gained full prescription rights for NDs, they have decided they will not pay for any prescriptions written by NDs, even though they have the same basic education as MDs and DOs. It appears that all the plan will pay for is talking to the doctor, though that is subject to a test of "medical necessity." If you have PEBB insurance coverage, don't plan on getting your naturopathic care covered, but do contract your insurance provider to express you disappointment.

The actual handbook reads as follows:

Effective January 1st, coverage for naturopathic services will exclude the following things:

- Prescription of pharmaceuticals (whether prescription or over-the-counter) and surgery or invasive therapeutic procedures

- Immunizations, vaccinations, injectables, and intravenous infusions (does not include venipuncture for the purpose of obtaining blood samples for laboratory studies)

- Topical
and oral drugs, pharmaceuticals, intravenous administered treatments, minor surgery.


- Vaccines or vaccination services, homeopathic products, botanical medicine products

- Dietary and nutritional supplements, including vitamins, minerals, herbs, herbals and herbal products, injectable supplements and injection services, or other similar products

- Natural childbirth services