US spending on complementary and alternative medicine during 2002-08 plateaued, suggesting role in reformed health system.

ABSTRACT: Complementary and alternative medicine services in the United States are an approximately $9 billion market each year, equal to 3 percent of national ambulatory health care expenditures. Unlike conventional allopathic health care, complementary and alternative medicine is primarily paid for out of pocket, although some services are covered by most health insurance. Examining trends in demand for complementary and alternative medicine services in the United States reported in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey during 2002-08, we found that use of and spending on these services, previously on the rise, have largely plateaued. The higher proportion of out-of-pocket responsibility for payment for services may explain the lack of growth. Our findings suggest that any attempt to reduce nationa

SUBMITTER: Davis MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3644505 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature