Role of CAM in Healthy People 2020 Objectives for the nation: The implications and need for a national agenda for CAM

The evolution of health care in the US has grown from a curative toward a preventative model over the last century. The 1979 Surgeon General's Report, Healthy People, laid the foundation for the first US national agenda for health promotion and disease prevention with priorities aimed at increasing quality and years of healthy life. For three decades, significant progress has been achieved by a collective national movement set forth by the Health Objectives for the Nation. Success was based on a concerted approach utilizing various sectors of government, private and nonprofit stakeholders for strategic implementation. Establishment of NCCAM and other efforts yielded promising research on disease and illness prevention on diverse practices outside of allopathic medicine. National assimilation of CAM and integrative care, however, has been impaired by lack of a coordinated national implementation plan. Healthy People provides a baseline blueprint that can readily incorporate CAM priorities and objectives as components and expansions of existing initiatives. Presenters will demonstrate how leveraging scientific insights and lessons from Healthy People and CAM can enhance and coalesce the benefits of both. Progress of CAM and integrative health depends on a coordinated collaborative commitment to improve the health of the nation. Presenters will demonstrate how the overarching goals of Healthy People, CAM and the new administration's goals to “improve prevention and public health” for health care reform can be successfully integrated and aligned as a comprehensive national agenda. This strategy has untapped potential for cost containment, reduced duplication, research advancement, and enhanced program acceptability and effectiveness.