Consumer Financial Issues in Complementary and Alternative Medicine - Laws and Alternative Treatments

Written by National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

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Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

AHRQ conducts research on health care outcomes, quality, cost, use, and access. AHRQ's publications for consumers, including "Choosing and Using a Health Plan" and "Checkup on Health Insurance Choices," are located at www.ahrq.gov/consumer/index.html#plans .

Toll-free in the U.S.: 1-800-358-9295
TTY (for deaf and hard-of-hearing callers): 1-888-586-6340
Web site: www.ahrq.gov
E-mail: info@ahrq.gov

CAM on PubMed

CAM on PubMed, a database developed jointly by NCCAM and the National Library of Medicine, offers citations to (and in most cases, breif summaries of) articles on CAM in scientically based, peer-reviewed journals. CAM on PubMed also links to many publisher Web sites, which may offer the full text of articles.

Web site: www.nlm.nih.gov/nccam/camonpubmed.html

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

CMS, formerly the Health Care Financing Administration, administers the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Contact the above to be referred to your nearest regional office. CMS has publications on these programs, including the HIPAA law.

Toll-free in the U.S.: 1-877-267-2323
Web site: www.cms.hhs.gov

Department of Labor (DOL)

The DOL has informational pamphlets and other materials concerning Federal health care laws, including the HIPAA and COBRA laws.

The DOL Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration Web site has many publications. Go to www.dol.gov/pwba or call the toll-free number below.

Toll-free in the U.S.: 1-866-4-USA-DOL (1-866-487-2365)
TTY (for deaf or hard-of-hearing callers): 1-877-889-5627
Web site: www.dol.gov

Department of the Treasury

The Department's Office of Public Affairs has information on HSAs, including press releases and links to other resources. A representative can be reached 24 hours a day by calling 202-622-2960. Questions can also be submitted by e-mail to HSAinfo@do.treas.gov.

Telephone: 202-622-2000
Web site: www.ustreas.gov

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

The VA is responsible for providing Federal benefits to veterans of the Armed Forces and their dependents. With regard to CAM, as of 2002, coverage decisions for chiropractic were being made on a regional basis, and there had been some coverage of acupuncture in the preceding few years. For more information, contact your local VA health facility, or the Tricare Military Health System at www.tricare.osd.mil.

Toll-free in the U.S.: 1-877-222-8387
TTY (for deaf or hard-of-hearing callers): 1-800-829-4833
Web site: www.va.gov/health_benefits

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

Contact HRSA for more information about its programs and a referral to your nearest HRSA field office.

For information about the Hill-Burton program, you can go to www.hrsa.gov/osp/dfcr/obtain/obtain.htm or call 1-800-638-0742.
For information about or referrals to HRSA's community and migrant health centers, and other BPHC-funded centers, you can go to www.ask.hrsa.gov/pc.
HRSA administers the "Insure Kids Now!" campaign. To be referred to the program in your state, go to www.insurekidsnow.gov/states.htm or call toll-free 1-877-543-7669.

Toll-free in the U.S.: 1-888-ASK-HRSA (1-888-275-4772)
Web site: www.hrsa.gov
E-mail: ask@hrsa.gov