Chronic pain affects nearly 116 million American adults at an estimated cost of nearly $635 billion annually. 409 participants initially enrolled in the study and most participants were white females with an average age of 49 and a reported average of about 8 years of chronic pain. 52% percent of the participants reported symptoms consistent with depression as well. After 24 weeks of integrative treatments, specifically acupuncture and massage, there was a significant decrease in pain severity (-23%) and pain interference with daily life (-28%). This study proves that integrative methods are effective in treating certain medical issues. However, it is not just effectiveness that matters; affordability is the main purpose of introducing complementary and alternative medicines. In 1996, the Washington State Legislature ordered that health care insurers cover "every category of provider" that legally provides a medical service. This allows patients to choose the type of medical care that they desire and it will be covered by their insurance as long as they seek the medical attention from a licensed professional. This would include the coverage of complementary and alternative medicine providers. An analysis of data was conducted that compares the financial effects of CAM users and nonusers among the four largest insurance companies, in the state of Washington, over the first decade of this law. This study provides some insight about the effects on insurance savings for people who used CAM treatments instead of modern medicines only. CAM users had lower average expenditures than nonusers at $3,800 versus $4,200 annually. Patients who saw a CAM provider, such as an acupuncturist or a massage therapist, through their insurance benefits had lower inpatient expenditures pried at $800 versus $1,200 for patients not using CAM providers. Overall,
Chronic pain affects nearly 116 million American adults at an estimated cost of nearly $635 billion annually. 409 participants initially enrolled in the study and most participants were white females with an average age of 49 and a reported average of about 8 years of chronic pain. 52% percent of the participants reported symptoms consistent with depression as well. After 24 weeks of integrative treatments, specifically acupuncture and massage, there was a significant decrease in pain severity (-23%) and pain interference with daily life (-28%). This study proves that integrative methods are effective in treating certain medical issues. However, it is not just effectiveness that matters; affordability is the main purpose of introducing complementary and alternative medicines. In 1996, the Washington State Legislature ordered that health care insurers cover "every category of provider" that legally provides a medical service. This allows patients to choose the type of medical care that they desire and it will be covered by their insurance as long as they seek the medical attention from a licensed professional. This would include the coverage of complementary and alternative medicine providers. An analysis of data was conducted that compares the financial effects of CAM users and nonusers among the four largest insurance companies, in the state of Washington, over the first decade of this law. This study provides some insight about the effects on insurance savings for people who used CAM treatments instead of modern medicines only. CAM users had lower average expenditures than nonusers at $3,800 versus $4,200 annually. Patients who saw a CAM provider, such as an acupuncturist or a massage therapist, through their insurance benefits had lower inpatient expenditures pried at $800 versus $1,200 for patients not using CAM providers. Overall,