09/02/2009                      Healthcare Debate Challenge

 Please read my open letter to government officials on the current healthcare debate below!

Dear Congressman and/or Senator,    

     The healthcare debate is front and center on the minds of many Americans and concerned citizens.  I am sure you have heard much good and much bad regarding this issue and I just wanted to express some concerns of mine and many of my patients.

    President Barack Obama's willingness to cover all Americans is a noble idea and worthy of consideration.  In order to achieve this though, I feel we first have to correct some abuses/ inequities in the current system before we take on the much larger, more costly task of insuring everyone.   In my opinion, the number one problem with escalating costs in the present system is the government's misunderstanding of  the role in healthcare of allopathic medicine i.e. MD's, DO's, etc... and Naturopathic medicine i.e. DC's, ND's(naturopathic doctors), MT's(massage therapists) PT's(physical therapists), and Nutritionists etc.  In fact, the government's favoring of allopathic medicine over naturopathic medicine the past 70 years is evidenced by the quick fix mentality of correcting problems as is seen by the band-aid approach to symptom care.  And no doubt there are billions of dollars spent every year on pharmaceutical advertising versus a pittance spent on naturopathic advertising.  This exists because the economic balance weighs in allopaths' favor, such as:  allocation of research dollars;  costly ER visits for what would otherwise be a simple office visit;  a medicare drug prescription bailout under Pres. George W Bush that was not balanced by an equally and fairly balanced coverage of supplemental neutraceuticals by naturopaths.  Seniors should decide what is best for themselves.  We may find they ultimately prefer the natural, safer, less expensive alternative.  Also there is the failure of the FDA to regulate neutraceuticals so that americans are confused and misguided due to charlatans and fraud present within the system.  The medicare coverage of chiropractic, to this date, only includes- spinal manipulation.  Services for chiropractic care that are not included for senior citizens are: coverage for  the exam, X-ray coverage, therapeutic coverage (for items like electric stim, ultrasound, laser, massage etc),  coverage for rehabilitation services, coverage for neutraceuticals, coverage for ordered testing: MRI's, CT's and labs, coverage for splints, braces, canes and supplies etc..  Many of these items my patients feel we Chiro's are more knowledgable to prescribe.  Supposedly there is coverage for chiropractic care in the VA system but most of my veteran patients' still can not get a referral by an MD and, I feel, should not need one; let seniors decide what's best for them, not just the treatment because it is a covered benefit.  I feel by correcting these issues, we can drive down healthcare costs making health coverage more affordable.  A level playing field will inherently correct abuse, better educate patients, strengthen the governments role in balancing allopathic and naturopathics position in healthcare, and avoid the unfairly represented, allopathic, powerful lobbyist that many of your colleagues have become biased toward.  A fairer representation of naturopathic medicine by the federal government is the answer especially to include the minimum services as a covered benefit more fairly for naturopaths.  This will not come about through the current system until the government steps in.  I believe this will negate the necessity of a government option.

    If the current system is not going to include basic coverage for those services offered by naturopaths which can have far-reaching preventative effects and long term cost savings for our nation's health, then implementing an out of control national plan that additionally favors the allopathic model is going to be disastrous.  Securing a balanced covered option of services for both allopathic and naturopathic procedures within the medicare model, will serve as a baseline coverage of services for the rest of the healthcare industry.  The private insurance industry would then guarantee these as a covered benefit, which many do not now, for their beneficiaries and this would balance the playing field.  If patients had more direct, open access to naturopath's they just might be more willing to seek a less costly alternative.  It is estimated 75% of expenses for healthcare occur for our seniors.  If this is true then having an alternative that has a covered benefit package would likely level the playing field.  They may receive more therapeutic support for their problem, get better care and get more involved in their health.   By opening new avenues of care through a more fairly covered benefit package of naturopathic medicine, we could shift the focus to prevention and wellness and not just treat symptoms with drugs and costly surgeries.  This may increase some cost on the front end, but will ultimately prevent the severe costs on the back end, eventually lowering premiums.  These patients generally are more active in their care, more determined to listen to dietary and wellness solutions and will also be more productive workers, mothers, teachers, etc...  I am talking about supporting the naturopath's approach to treat conditions that are not fully manifested.  Take for example, the heart patient who makes a decision to prevent a heart attack with exercise, diet, neutraceuticals and chiropractic care rather than the more invasive, severe and costly options of medication and surgery, not to imply these are not necessary.   President Obama spoke yesterday encouraging americans to get the H1N1 flu shot.  This is further evidence he does not get it-evidence he is surrounded by allopaths who are furthering their own cause.  I am not saying this flu shot may not be beneficial for some, but there is much more to this debate than is being mentioned.  For instance, we have the prevalence of new strains every day, due to the speed of pushing this vaccine- it has not been thoroughly tested with scientific guidelines on who is more susceptible.  Is the vaccine worse than the flu?  This was the case in 1976 in which more people died from the vaccine.  There are alternatives to the vaccine, using neutraceticals, washing hands, chiropractic care, some simple common sense measures etc.. to name a few. 

     This continuing inequity of balance weighted against naturopaths and favoring the drug industry that supports the escalating costs is a grave mistake.  The fact that I have not heard of a single mention of complimentary and alternative medicine in this debate- not brought forward by the federal commission on CAM- is a sign that they dont want this either, further evidence that allopaths are in total control.  There is no reason to give allopaths such consideration.  The government is in bed blatantly with allopathic medicine and until they balance it with serious education, more fair laws, overhaul of the FDA, a serious inclusion of CAM policies and intervention into this debate to offset the inequities, then to have a federal plan would be disastrous.   

     I know that I may have a vested interest in this debate and this letter may make me appear self-serving.  But I feel that in the best national interest and those of my patient's I must speak.  Maybe I am more effective at articulating this message because I can see the day to day problems in my practice.  Take a case in point; I treat many gallbladder cases in my practice using neutraceuticals but I have yet to hear a movement to save the gallbladder by the allopathic profession-not that it does not exist- but I never heard it.  It seems as though, many allopaths wait until it is very advanced and inflamed and then remove it surgically at a dear cost to the healthcare system and, even worse, to  the patient.  I can quote many more similar scenarios of equal significance to this debate.

     We are giving way too much to the allopathic doctors and their cohorts, the drug companies.  They are poisoning our children on the front end- with preservatives, vaccines, environmental toxins, pollutants and pesticides and then we are rewarding them with the costly cancer and heart disease treatments-drugs, surgeries etc.. on the back end.  When are we going to awaken to the fact that there might be a better way to do this- at the least- a more balanced approach.  A good example is the naturopathic push for the safe return to whole cow's milk.  We have the technology today to deliver whole milk safely to the consumer rather than the pasteurized, homogenized questionable food that milk has become.  We can trace the disease back to the farm and even the exact cow if we wanted to.  We can avoid severe dietary deficiencies that are rampant today that lead to many chronic illnesses.  A new disturbing trend, genetically modified organisms (GMO) is now being used by the food industry without disclosure and warning to the consumer.  This apparently got overlooked by the FDA.  The allopathic industry gets more unfair, more unbalanced, political press than naturopaths.  The ecological footprint  that our food choices have and the environmental impact of such choices needs to be addressed.  Our seniors deserve a more fair, naturopathic inclusive medicare plan and better covered services from a less costly healthcare system.  We should implement chiropractic care immediately into elderly homes, hospices, and yes, hospitals too; so senior citizens will get the care they deserve not only by an allopath, but also by a naturopath so that their services are fairly covered and coordinated via a wholistic approach.

      I challenge the President to delay a federal plan right now and first balance the playing field.  You can create better competition within the sytem already, if you assure more balanced, equal access and extensive coverage for naturopathic treatment for our citizens, especially our seniors.  In addition, inclusion of naturopathic therapies into the treatment of cancer is sorely needed- without the threat of running these clinics off to Mexico.

    I thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to read this letter.  These concerns of mine are real and sincere.  If you have any questions or would like to discuss this issue further I would be glad to do so.

                          Sincerely,

                                           Dr John M Rizzo DC

                                                      Ebensburg and Patton, Pa