Increased Utilization

The use of non-traditional, or "unconventional" health care has risen dramatically over the last several years, as society is becoming more aware of alternative approaches and making more informed choices on matters of health.

Research suggests that in 1990 Americans made an estimated 425 million visits to providers of unconventional therapy. This number exceeds the number of visits to all U.S. primary care physicians (388 million).

Alternative medicine use and expenditures increased substantially between 1990 and 1997, attributable

primarily to an increase in the proportion of the population seeking alternative therapies, rather than increased visits per patient. Extrapolation of research results suggests a 47.3% increase in total visits to alternative medicine practitioners, from 427 million in 1990 to 629 million in 1997, thereby exceeding total visits to all US primary care physicians. Estimated expenditures for alternative medicine professional services increased 45.2% between 1990 and 1997 and were conservatively estimated at $21.2 billion in 1997, with at least $12.2 billion paid out-of-pocket. This exceeds the 1997 out-of-pocket expenditures for all US hospitalizations.

Articles:

• Eisenberg, D.M., Kessler, R.C., Foster, C., Norlock, F.E., Calkins, D.R., Delbanco, T.L. (1993) "Unconventional Medicine in the United States: Prevalence, Costs, and Patterns of Use", New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 328, pp.246-252.
• Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, Ettner SL, Appel S, Wilkey S, Van Rompay M, Kessler RC (1998). "Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990-1997: results of a follow-up national survey." JAMA Nov 11;280(18):1569-75.
• MacLennan, A.H., Wilson, D.H., Taylor, A,W. (1996) "Prevalence and Cost of Alternative Medicine in Australia", The Lancet, Vol. 347. Pp. 569-573.
• Millar, W. (1997) "Use of Alternative Health Care Practitioners by Canadians", Canadian Journal of Public Health, Vol. 88(3), pp.154-158.