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Key Findings

1. In policy and research, practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are often treated as purveyors of a limited set of procedures, even though they are legally recognized as health care professionals capable of providing a broad range of primary care.
2. This situation reduces patient access to care.
3. The focus on procedures presents a number of barriers to the full incorporation of CAM professionals into integrative patient care teams.
4. To advance the CAM professions and include them in integrative care, a number of policy changes are required to remove the barriers and improve patient outcomes.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioners such as chiropractors and acupuncturists are almost unique among health professionals in that, although they are legally recognized as members of professions, and some can provide primary care, Medicare and most private insurers treat them primarily as purveyors of a limited set of procedures.