We celebrate Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. on the fourth Thursday in November. Because I live in the U.S. and Thanksgiving falls on my regular blogging day this year, I get the day off.
On this Thanksgiving Day, I am thankful for the cornucopia of blog fodder coming up as we move toward the end of 2013 and into 2014. The Bravewell Collaborative is shutting down this month although it is not giving up on pushing the integrative medicine agenda. On December 13th, the Council for Chiropractic Education, which is only provisionally accredited now due to failure to follow numerous regulatory requirements, will have its day in court before the National Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity. The NAICI will then recommend to the Department of Education whether or not the CCE should continue as the approved accrediting agency for all chiropractic colleges. On January 1, 2014, Section 2607 of the Affordable Care Act, which prohibits discrimination against state-licensed CAM providers, kicks in along with the rest of the ACA. Lawsuits to follow. Early next year will undoubtedly bring a new batch of proposed state legislation seeking to license naturopaths as primary care doctors. These are always interesting reading as they inevitably include a laundry list of legally permissible quacky naturopathic treatments such as colonic irrigation, organ repositioning and homeopathy. And, given the ACA’s emphasis on, and reimbursement for, primary care, chiropractors will certainly continue their campaign to convince everyone that they are actually PCPs. I expect legislation will be introduced seeking expansion of chiropractic and naturopathic scope of practice. Perhaps acupuncture too.
So stay tuned. And Happy Thanksgiving wherever you live.
