Update on Integrative Health Congressional Caucus

I wrote a February. 14, 2018 blog on this topic entitled "A Call to Action - Forging a New Path for Homeopathy." In short, Congress held a bi-partisan Caucus on the topic of including integrative therapies (including homeopathy) more to help solve some of the healthcare problems America faces today. The Integrative Health Policy Consortium (IHPC) has been instrumental in getting this Congressional Caucus to happen. For some backstory on the Caucus, its formation, and its focus, I recommend reading John Weeks' interview of IHPC President, Len Wisneski, MD here. In summary, though, Dr. Wisneski mentioned:

• There is a sea change in the landscape for health, healthcare, and health reform remains a focus for policy makers, legislators, and the public. The time is right for communicating with, connecting, and catalyzing legislators to support this shift.
• The opioid crisis is a hot topic right now. There's a shift in focus from it being about a drug, to the solution being more person-centered on the physical and emotional pain of people, and on their wellness and well-being.
• Whatever form healthcare reform evolves into for the future, the IHPC wants to preserve the advances made to date in federal legislation for access to integrative health.
• "When it comes to costly, chronic diseases, integrative approaches can offer improved outcomes with lower costs."

John Weeks also wrote a helpful summary of the event, and a few of those points are noted here:

• "The Caucus was held on March 15, 2018 to a standing room only crowd."
• It served "as a non-partisan forum for legislators to learn from experts on best practices and new research while also identifying policy opportunities to bring integrative health solutions to the American people."
• "The power of the Caucus will be in the level of participation that members of the integrative health community can create by connecting with their members of Congress."

IHPC submitted an immediate press release about the Caucus, as well. You can read that update here at the very bottom of the web page.

I hope you find this update useful on the happenings of integrative health in Washington D.C. in recent weeks. It is part and parcel to increasing access to care for homeopathy, as well.

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely,
Noel