A Cost-Effective Solution

Access to Naturopathic Medicine saves $1.5 Million in Health Care Costs

In a program conducted by Green Mountain Wellness Solutions for the Vermont Automobile Dealers Association in 2005-2006, 848 employees were examined and advised by naturopathic physicians for one year. For those employees who participated:

• incidence of high blood pressure dropped 36%
• incidence of diabetes dropped 13%
• risk for cardiovascular disease dropped 35%
• obesity fell by 15%
• physical inactivity fell 21%
• high cholesterol fell 17%
• smoking fell by 17%
• high risk stress fell 24%

For those employees who also participated in a supplementary pedometer program:

• high blood pressure dropped by 47%
• diabetes fell by 20%
• risks for cardiovascular disease fell 43%

These figures do not only describe an improvement in the health of the employees. Since many of these conditions can be quite costly to treat through conventional care, the data also show a great reduction in the cost of healthcare for the employer. By using complimentary and alternative medical care the Vermont Automobile Dealers Association saved:

• $315,000 in direct health care costs
• $1,145,000 in indirect health care costs (absenteeism, low-productivity, etc.)
• Almost $1,500,000 in total health care costs.

The use of regulated naturopathic medical care is physically and economically beneficial to employers and employees alike. The care that naturopathic physicians provide is often less dangerous and uncomfortable then some more conventional medical treatments. Naturopathic care can also be less expensive than conventional medicine, making health care more available to those who otherwise could not afford it. Licensure minimizes the potential for malpractice of naturopathic medicine and maximizes the medical options available to residents of licensed states.

(Information Provided by the Florida Naturopathic Physicians Association)

Study Points to Cost-Effectiveness of Naturopathic Care for Low-Back Pain

Researchers who studied treatment alternatives for low-back pain in a group of 70 warehouse workers found that a naturopathic approach incorporating a range of treatment optionsundefinedacupuncture, exercise and dietary advice, relaxation training, and a back-care bookletundefinedwas more cost-effective than the employer’s usual patient education program. Both the workers and the employer benefited from the naturopathic approach, which was associated with better health-related quality of life, less absenteeism, and lower costs for other treatments and pain medication. Overall, naturopathic care resulted in a net savings (reduced "societal cost") of $1,212 per participant.

In this NCCAM-funded study, Patricia Herman, N.D., and colleagues recruited workers ages 18 to 65 who had experienced low-back pain for at least 6 weeks. The workers were randomly assigned to receive naturopathic care or patient education visits over a 3-month period. The 30-minute, onsite visits were conducted semiweekly (naturopathic) or biweekly (patient education).

The researchers conclude that naturopathic care is more cost-effective than a patient education program in treating low-back pain. They also recommend further studies of the economic impact of naturopathic medicine, particularly to address the limitations of their evaluation.

For More Information

• Herman PM, Szczurko O, Cooley K, et al. Cost-effectiveness of naturopathic care for chronic low back pain. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 2008;14(2):32–39.
• National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. An Introduction to Naturopathy. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Web site. Accessed at nccam.nih.gov/health/naturopathy/ on May 7, 2008.
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