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Virginia Citizens Need A -- Health Freedom Act -- To Protect Unrestricted Access To Complementary and Alternative Health Care Services
Problem and Solution
Problem: The concern is that consumer access is limited in VA to complementary and alternative health care because many practitioners do not practice in VA or if they practice they do so under the threat of being criminally charged with practice of medicine or the practice of one of the other healing arts under the purview of the Board of Medicine without a license. VA law’s broad definition of what constitutes the practice of the healing arts in Section 54.1-2903 and the requirement that persons who engage in those acts must have a license to do so, brings about a cumulative effect and makes it potentially a criminal act to practice any form of the healing arts without a license. VA does not provide a safe harbor for the many natural healing arts that are widely practiced and pose no risk of harm to the public.
Solution: This bill is a common sense approach used by other states. It provides an exemption to the practice of the healing arts violations for those persons practicing a healing art within the prohibited conduct parameters and provides clients with proper disclosures.
Rationale
1. Liberty - Every citizen has the right to choose the path of his/her own healing.
2. Free Market - Citizens want more healthcare options to broaden the availability of all natural healing modalities, consistent with worldwide trends. Total U.S. out-of-pocket expenditures related to alternative health care were conservatively estimated at $27 billion, comparable to the amount spent on out-of-pocket expenditures for all U.S physician services in 1997*.
3. Cost Effectiveness and Increased Options - Citizens are facing substantial health insurance cost increases. Thousands of Virginians do not have health insurance. Citizens want more healthcare options, particularly for chronic illness. Complementary and alternative health care can be used for chronic as well as preventative medicine.
4. States with Exemptions - Six states (MN, CA, RI, ID, LA, OK) have passed similar health freedom bills. Health freedom bills are being introduced in twelve additional states and a total of thirty states are known to be addressing this issue.
5. Information Exchange - Once protected, the marketplace can more effectively provide citizens with detailed information about complementary and alternative services. Communication between clients and their conventional and alternative health care providers can benefit all.
Complementary and Alternative Healthcare Services in Virginia
Popularity among Clients - The usage of the broad domain of healing arts including complementary and alternative practices continues to grow even though the client typically pays for the total cost of the service. Americans made more visits to complementary and alternative healthcare providers (629 mi) than to all primary care physicians (386 mi) in 1997*. Total number of visits to complementary providers increased by 47% from 427 mi in 1990 to 629 mi in 1997 nationwide.*
* Per David Eisenberg, M.D., Harvard Medical School
Iridology is the study of the iris.
Every cell, tissue and organ of the body has its nutritional requirements. They require specific nutrients in correct combinations to work at their best. When the body begins to suffer illness and disease. The iris reflects these needs and the skilled iridologist can see them. All tissues change according to the nutritional program applied and the living habits a person practices.
Improper living habits undermine the body until it is unable to hold up under stress. Iridology notes tissue changes as reflected in the iris. Therefore, it is possible to watch for a correct or incorrect response to nutritional changes, living habits and one's state of health.
Iridology points out where the inherent weaknesses are; what the current, chronic and degenerative weaknesses are; and what is needed nutritionally to strengthen them. When the organs and tissues are given the correct minerals, vitamins, nerve strength and rest, healing takes place.
The iris analysis is intended to coordinate information necessary to start a path of living in the pursuit of vibrant health. It is good -to receive competent nutritional advice, from your doctor, or a qualified nutritional consultant.
Eyes On Health
The eyes are the windows to the soul and iridology is one key to unlocking the secrets to better health. They offer reliable representation of a person's well being. In everyday life we often comment on a person's bright or dull eyes.
Farmers and others who work with animals can confidently determine the condition of a cow, sheep or horse by inspecting the eyes. Iridology defines these observations much further. The Iris consists of a very large number of delicate fibers. These fibers react to the body's metabolism in a predictable pattern that is recorded in a system called iridology charts.
The right eye represents the right side of the body and the left eye represents the left side of the body. By using a special camera your eyes will provide vital information on your past and current health condition.
If you would like to know about Iridology and how it can benefit you, please call us at (877) EAT-RAW-1 or e-mail us.
