News, Policy & Economics

IM4US: Challenging Economic Disparities in Integrative Medicine

By Kristen Schepker, Assistant Editor

Integrative medicine offers immeasurable value in treating a multitude of health conditions. But the steep price of holistic services, and the fact that most are not covered by either federal  payors or private insurance, makes them inaccessible to many people, especially in poor and medically underserved communities. One health justice organization is working to change all of that.

Doctors vs Insurance CEOs: A Tale of Two Surveys

By Erik Goldman, Editor in Chief

Two recent surveys–one assessing physician income by specialty, the other looking at annual compensation packages for top health insurance CEOs–tells a troubling tale about the nation’s healthcare priorities and the value systems that shape our medicine.

Restoring Health, Rebuilding Lives: Clinicians Rise to Aid Refugees

By Madiha Saeed, MD, Contributing Writer

Refugee healthcare has become one of the world’s most pressing medical issues. Dozens of international groups provide acute care in the world’s most strife-torn regions. But once refugees are out of imminent danger, and find foothold in places of relative safety, a different set of challenges emerge. Clinicians all over the US are working to help recent immigrants restore their health, rebuild their lives, and integrate into new communities.

New Bills Urge Wider Federal Coverage of Supplements, Medical Foods

By Kristen Schepker, Assistant Editor

Two new pieces of federal legislation propose to expand access to vital health supports for millions of low-income Americans. If passed, the bills will make crucial medical foods and dietary supplements available to individuals and families who otherwise struggle to afford them.

Who Cares for the Au Pairs?

By Laura Henderson, Contributing Writer

The saga of Edna Valenzuela, a young Colombian woman who was diagnosed with lymphoma while working as an au pair for a DC-area family, and almost sent back to her home country in the midst of chemotherapy, throws much-needed light on the plight of a very vulnerable population.