The Consequences of Increased Competition on Alternative Health Care Practitioners in the United States

Abstract

The economic and political environment of health care in the United States has changed markedly during the 1980s. Medical reforms that stress cost-containment, bolster competition and promote the profit motive have spread rapidly. The consequences of these changes on conventional medicine have received a great deal of attention. However, little is known about their impact on alternative practitioners.

In an effort to examine this impact, 91 alternative practitioners in New Jersey were surveyed. New Jersey was selected because its medical markets closely resemble those nationwide. The ‘typical’ alternative practitioner was male, middle-aged and in a solo practice. He worked 36 hours and treated 110 patients per week, spent 22 minutes with each patient and earned $54,000 per year.

Most respondents reported that their practices and personal incomes significantly increased between 1980 and 1987. Although most were optimistic about the future, they were worried about prepaid groups, inadequate insurance coverage and physician opposition. Suggested remedies included political lobbying, formation of their own prepaid groups and greater efforts to educate the public about the benefits of alternative medicines.