NIH News
For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Contact
Lauren Musiol
202-745-5051
musiollk@mail.nih.gov
Comprehensive New Data on Costs of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
News Advisory
What: The release of data from a nationwide government survey on the costs of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will hold a telephone briefing to discuss the findings of the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).
Why: Millions of adults and children in the United States use one or more types of CAM for their health and wellness, yet data on the costs associated with CAM use have been sparse. The 2007 NHIS provides estimates of the overall out-of-pocket cost of CAM, the frequency and out-of-pocket cost of visits to CAM practitioners, and frequency and out-of-pocket costs of purchases for self-care therapies.
When: July 30, 2009 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. EDT. Playback is available between 4:00 P.M. ET Thursday, July 30 through Friday, August 7, 2009. Playback: Number—(888)203-1112; Passcode—9198554
Where: Telebriefing and online presentation. By responding to this invitation media will receive dial-in information to the telebriefing and obtain access to an online presentation of the data.
Who Should Attend: Credentialed media only, please.
Hosts: Josephine P. Briggs, M.D., Director, NCCAM; Richard L. Nahin, Ph.D., M.P.H., Acting Director, Division of Extramural Research, NCCAM and lead author of the NHIS cost data report; Patricia M. Barnes, M.A., Statistician, NCHS; and Barbara J. Stussman, B.A., Survey Statistician, NCHS.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine's mission is to explore complementary and alternative medical practices in the context of rigorous science, train CAM researchers, and disseminate authoritative information to the public and professionals. For additional information, call NCCAM's Clearinghouse toll free at 1-888-644-6226, or visit the NCCAM Web site at nccam.nih.gov. NCCAM 1999–2009: Celebrating 10 years of rigorous research.
The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is a component of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). NCHS's mission is to provide statistical information that will guide actions and policies to improve the health of the American people. The CDC protects people's health and safety by preventing and controlling diseases and injuries; enhances health decisions by providing credible information on critical health issues; and promotes healthy living through strong partnerships with local, national, and international organizations.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH)—The Nation's Medical Research Agency—includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
Reference:
- Nahin, RL, Barnes PM, Stussman BJ, and Bloom B. Costs of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and Frequency of Visits to CAM Practitioners: United States, 2007. National health statistics reports; no 18. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2009 (in press).
