Herman's Systematic Review Yields Top 9 Therapies/21 Conditions with High Quality Evidence of Cost Savings from CAM

Summary: Preliminary results of a systematic review of approximately 6600 articles so far found 256 with CAM economic evaluations. Forty-eight were deemed "high quality," with comparisons available. These yielded 9 therapies and 21 conditions where complementary and alternative medicine has generated evidence of not merely cost-effectiveness but of cost-savings. So reports the professional who is emerging as the leading North American voice on CAM costs, economist-practitioner-researcher Patricia Herman, ND, MS, PhD. Herman co-authored the paper on the economics of integrative medicine for the recent Institute of Medicine Summit on Integrative Medicine and the Health of the Public. She reported findings from her 80% complete systematic review of over 8,000 references at the August 2009 convention of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Here are Herman's top 9 therapies and 21 conditions.   

Systematic review yields evidence of cost-savings from CAM

The most critical piece of the puzzle needed for the uptake of more complementary and integrative practices into mainstream payment and delivery is quality evidence of cost-savings. Particularly in economic downturn, evidence of efficacy and even effectiveness are not enough.

So it was particularly intriguing to see a presentation entitled "Systematic Review of Economic Evaluations: Can CAM be Cost Saving?" at the August 19-22, 2009 convention of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP). The presentation was by a professional whose background is rare for a professional in any healthcare field. The resume could be one-of-a-kind in integrative practice. Patricia Herman, ND, MS, PhD was a resource economist working for North American utilities on early green energy projects in her first profession before entering studies to become a licensed naturopathic physician. Herman subsequently completed two research fellowships on CAM economics funded by the NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Patricia Herman, ND, MS, PhD - economist, researcher, practitioner

Herman's work has become increasingly visible, and respected, this year. With Kenneth Pelletier, PhD, MD(hc), and others Herman co-authored the paper on the economics of integrative medicine for the Institute of Medicine Summit. Attendees at the May 2009 North American Research Conference on Complementary and Integrative Medicine heard her work called out and honored from the podium of the final plenary session by economist and keynoter Dean Jamison, PhD.