IM4US: Challenging Economic Disparities in Integrative Medicine

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.

CA Wildfires Spark Serious Health Challenges — Holistic Practitioners Respond

The barrage of recent wildfires in Northern and Southern California wrought widespread environmental havoc, and also spurred major health challenges in communities ravaged by the blazes. Throughout the state, holistic practitioners are on the front lines, trying to restore health and balance.

Doctors vs Insurance CEOs: A Tale of Two Surveys

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.

Samueli Family Grants $200 Million for Holistic College at UC-Irvine

Just months after closing the pioneering DC-based institute that bore their name, philanthropists Henry and Susan Samueli have given $200 million to the University of California Irvine to build a new College of Health Sciences committed to holistic research, training and practice.

Restoring Health, Rebuilding Lives: Clinicians Rise to Aid Refugees

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

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?

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.

Samueli’s Sunsetting Marks End of an Integrative Era

After 15 years of leading-edge interdisciplinary research and highly influential policy work aimed at mainstreaming holistic medicine, the Samueli Institute announced it is ceasing all operations this year. 

Holistic Practitioners Deeply Divided on Trump Healthcare Policies

Data from Holistic Primary Care’s new 2017 practitioner survey indicate that the holistic healthcare community—like much of the rest of the country–is deeply divided about the Trump administration and its healthcare proposals.

What Can Holistic Medicine Expect from GOPcare?

How will holistic medicine fare under the Trump administration? It’s a big question with no obvious answer. yet A lot depends on what the new administration does with healthcare at large. And that is still full of unknowns. Some thought leaders applaud the GOP’s support for expanding health savings accounts (HSAs). Others see big danger in deregulation.