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Health Insurers Continue to Add
Chiropractic to Benefits
As reported in the Feb. 2, 2000 PRNewswire, American WholeHealth
Networks, Inc., the largest health care network of complementary and
alternative medicine providers in the US, announced that the company will
provide a chiropractic covered benefit and an alternative medicine
affinity program to the over 400,000 individuals covered by the plan. Ray
Seaver, American WholeHealth Networks president explained the move by
saying “A growing number of people believe that optimal health is best
achieved by treating the whole person-the physical, emotional, and
lifestyle components that together affect ones health and well-being.
People are using alternative medical services in unprecedented numbers,
but they are paying significant out-of-pocket costs.'' Mark Selna, M.D.,
PARTNERS medical director states, “We think our members deserve choice
and quality. Many are already using these therapies. We want to give our
members the tools and knowledge they need to take responsibility for their
own health and be an active partner in their care.” Once again it seems
the insurance industry and medicine are following the lead of the consumer
who is asking for these services.
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