The Ontario Homeopathic Association is one of the associations which
grants H.D. We are in the midst of discussions with HPRAC of the
Ontario Ministry of Health for self-reregulation of homeopathy in our
province. There remains much to discuss, clarify and hone but if you're
interested in the varied opinions around our regulation submission or
in OHA's criteria for H.D. our website is www.ontariohomeopath.com.
Maya

> Message: 6
> Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 22:46:01 -0500
> From: Robert & Shannon Nelson <shannonnelson@tds.net>
> Subject: Re: [H] Re: Herscu, Heilkunst REPLY FROM PAUL HERSCU
> To: homeopathy@homeolist.com
> Message-ID: <43b9384f8af272f8b2fece1586774278@tds.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
>
> Interesting! So H.D. could be either a Heilkunst practitioner or a
> "regular" homeopath. Do you know what level of training is required
> for a "regular" homeopath to be granted an H.D.--whether it roughly
> approximates that of RSHom, or something different?
> Shannon

Yes, I've learned this about the OHA too: however, the OHA's regulation
submission includes practices so far removed from what anyone would call
classical homeopathy ("injecting" remedies, communicating diagnoses (as if
malpractice insurance doesn't cost enough) and requisitioning tests from
labs,or using combination remedies exclusively, to name a few) that it
leaves classical homeopaths looking like we should be kept out of the loop
for self regulation all together! (They also make HeilKunst look like
strict Hahnemannian homeopathy in comparison...but hey, I gather my anger's
been expressed and I'll just leave it at that).

So this just confuses the issue even more--plus it's so clear all the
"associations" are just trying to out boast/out H.D. each other.

When what we need, for a big start, is an organized group of homeopaths
who'll just get insurance providers to cover our patients for homeopathic
care given by homeopaths...instead of just covering homeopathy performed
by naturopaths. It sure would go a lot farther towards getting homeopathy
and homeopaths far more established, recognized, and accessible to the
public than a "phony doctor" designation ever will.

Nancy


>From: Maya de Szegheo-Lang <mayalang@sympatico.ca>
>To: homeopathy@homeolist.com
>Subject: [H] more on H.D.
>Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2005 12:33:13 -0400
>
>
>The Ontario Homeopathic Association is one of the associations which grants
>H.D. We are in the midst of discussions with HPRAC of the Ontario
>Ministry of Health for self-reregulation of homeopathy in our province.
>There remains much to discuss, clarify and hone but if you're interested in
>the varied opinions around our regulation submission or in OHA's criteria
>for H.D. our website is www.ontariohomeopath.com.
>Maya
>
>>Message: 6
>>Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 22:46:01 -0500
>>From: Robert & Shannon Nelson <shannonnelson@tds.net>
>>Subject: Re: [H] Re: Herscu, Heilkunst REPLY FROM PAUL HERSCU
>>To: homeopathy@homeolist.com
>>Message-ID: <43b9384f8af272f8b2fece1586774278@tds.net>
>>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
>>
>>Interesting! So H.D. could be either a Heilkunst practitioner or a
>>"regular" homeopath. Do you know what level of training is required
>>for a "regular" homeopath to be granted an H.D.--whether it roughly
>>approximates that of RSHom, or something different?
>>Shannon
>
>

Nancy, after reading your post I can see why you feel as you do in regards
to the OHA submission. The OHA submission to HPRAC regarding homeopathic
regulation alludes to practices that are not the norm of the majority of
practitioners with HD designation who are members of OHA. It was put forth
to HPRAC without referral, feedback or even notice from its members,
constituents and the overall homeopathic community in the province of which
it supposedly claims to represent. Though I looked forward to and welcomed
regulation of homeopathy I did not accept or agree to the submission as it
was put forth. Many other colleagues and OHA members share in this opinion
and are just as disappointed as I am. It's a huge shame how this was handled
good intentions or not put aside.



Please do not assume that those with an HD designation are injecting
remedies, require diagnosis or lab results to treat their patients, or
prescribe combination remedies. We are classical homeopaths in the truest
sense of the word, following the aphorisms of Hahnemann regardless of what
the OHA submission to HPRAC states.



Sivan Bomze B.Sc., D.H.M.H.S., HD

Homeopathic Doctor



-----Original Message-----
From: homeopathy-bounces@homeolist.com
[mailto:homeopathy-bounces@homeolist.com] On Behalf Of Nancy Siciliana
Sent: July 28, 2005 1:06 PM
To: mayalang@sympatico.ca; homeopathy@homeolist.com
Subject: RE: [H] more on H.D.



Yes, I've learned this about the OHA too: however, the OHA's regulation

submission includes practices so far removed from what anyone would call

classical homeopathy ("injecting" remedies, communicating diagnoses (as if

malpractice insurance doesn't cost enough) and requisitioning tests from

labs,or using combination remedies exclusively, to name a few) that it

leaves classical homeopaths looking like we should be kept out of the loop

for self regulation all together! (They also make HeilKunst look like

strict Hahnemannian homeopathy in comparison...but hey, I gather my anger's

been expressed and I'll just leave it at that).



So this just confuses the issue even more--plus it's so clear all the

"associations" are just trying to out boast/out H.D. each other.



When what we need, for a big start, is an organized group of homeopaths

who'll just get insurance providers to cover our patients for homeopathic

care given by homeopaths...instead of just covering homeopathy performed

by naturopaths. It sure would go a lot farther towards getting homeopathy

and homeopaths far more established, recognized, and accessible to the

public than a "phony doctor" designation ever will.



Nancy





>From: Maya de Szegheo-Lang <mayalang@sympatico.ca>

>To: homeopathy@homeolist.com

>Subject: [H] more on H.D.

>Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2005 12:33:13 -0400

>

>

>The Ontario Homeopathic Association is one of the associations which grants


>H.D. We are in the midst of discussions with HPRAC of the Ontario

>Ministry of Health for self-reregulation of homeopathy in our province.

>There remains much to discuss, clarify and hone but if you're interested in


>the varied opinions around our regulation submission or in OHA's criteria

>for H.D. our website is www.ontariohomeopath.com.

>Maya

The alternative link folks have been coding research processes for 15 years.
They are now providing codes that cross walk to the cpt codes used by the
insurance industry and allopathic medical community. They are coding all
sorts of alternative/natural proceedures-- everything from energy work
(reiki, theraputic touch etc) to acupuncture and homeopathy. They provide
eduation and a 'super bill' that is the same as is used now in the industry.
The patient pays the provider and then submits the superbill to their
insurance company. Because the procedures are standardized, insurance
companies can track what is cost effective for them to cover. So, the
theory goes, they will cover alternative medicine. Different insurance
groups cover different areas differently. so, for example, blue cross/blue
shield may offer different coverage in Mass. than in Calif ( as well as
different plans that you can buy.)

I have heard that Mutual of Omaha is covering some homeopathic services in
AZ. Flex plans will reimburse at 100% for homeopathic services in MN and
CO.(at least that is what my clients have found)

Wheather or not having insurance cover homeopathy is a big discussion, I
think-- There are so many uninsured people in the US that it may not REALLY
make care any more accessable.

Anyway, here is the website for Alternative Link.

ALTERNATIVE LINK

YOUR CODING COMPANY FOR INTEGRATIVE HEALTHCARE

6121 Indian School Rd. NE, Suite 131
Albuquerque, NM 87110 USA
Tel: 505-875-0001 x 212 Fax: 505-875-0002
Email: Connie.Koshewa@alternativelink.com Web Site:
<http://www.alternativelink.com/>



Beth

> When what we need, for a big start, is an organized group of homeopaths
>
> who'll just get insurance providers to cover our patients for homeopathic
>
> care given by homeopaths...instead of just covering homeopathy performed
>
> by naturopaths. It sure would go a lot farther towards getting
homeopathy
>
> and homeopaths far more established, recognized, and accessible to the
>
> public than a "phony doctor" designation ever will.
>
>
>
> Nancy
>
>
>>
>

Hi Beth,

The issue of private insurance coverage is a big one--and quite an
influential one--in Ontario.

Because we have OHIP in this province, the cost of conventional medical care
(the general stuff--seeing your MD, seeing anyone she refers who is a
specialist, and the basic care and tests your doctors would call up for you,
including basic hospital stay if its necessary) is all paid for out of our
tax money. Patients do not have to pay for most of these treatments out of
pocket.

Private insurance companies sell supplements to this care: people who have
access to jobs with benefits are covered for expenses for things like eye
exams and glasses prescriptions, or counselling care, massage therapies,
dental care, and a variety of other treatments which are not covered by
OHIP. Sometimes these insurance providers cover the entire cost of any
treatment, and sometimes they cover up to a certain point (a percentage of
all you spend, or a capped amount per year per therapy, or both depending on
what you choose). Quite often these benefits determine whether or not
someone will seek out alternative medical treatment at all.

All kinds of insurance providers cover homeopathy--but ONLY as long as a
Naturopath delivers the treatment. If that naturopath has actually studied
homeopathy, great! The patient can get good treatment. If that naturopath
has NO training in homeopathy but sees a lot of combination remedy sales
people in his practice who love to stock him/her up with costly polypharmacy
medicines, that's just fine according to the insurance providers too. But
if a homeopath with good qualifications treats a patient with private
insurance, chances are excellent they will be told to seek the therapy out
from a naturopath if they wish to be compensated for the therapy in the
future.

The outcome, of course, is that the general public perceives naturopaths
(nothing against them, but they aren't required to meet any particular
education or training standard in homeopathy here--a weekend course will
do!) as the qualified practitioners of homeopathy, while qualified
homeopaths become perceived as somehow less 'legitimate" providers of the
treatment, or at least "too expensive", given the choice. Homeopaths are
invisible in this set up, both in terms of being seen as actual
practitioners of the treatment and in terms of their impact in treating
chronic ailments.

Very few insurance providers actually cover homeopathic treatment provided
by homeopaths, whether their accreditations are R.S. Hom, D. S. Hom. Med.,
H. D., or GOD. So the public is actually encouraged away from treatment
with them...and if the public becomes aware of homeopathy at all, it's as a
polypharmacy treatment or as an adjunct to nutritional, botanical, and even
TCM treatments. It becomes that much harder to increase public awareness of
what homeopathy actually is, how it is done, and how effective it can be
when it's practiced well. Homeopaths become less accessible to the public,
and homeopaths themselves have a little more difficulty getting established
in practice (which again makes them look less legitimate, for some reason).

The "insurance thing" would certainly help homeopathy and homeopaths in
Ontario if we became that much more accessible to the public--more people
would be able to find out about what we do and more people would benefit.
The more access the public have and the more successful treatments take
place, the easier it would be for homeopathy to become recognized as a
powerful, effective medical treatment. Ontario's the most populated
province in the country, so its recognition here would go a long way to
helping homeopathy be recognized everywhere else in Canada. Then insurance
expenses can be analyzed so that effectiveness of treatment can be
determined as a result of patient and therapist activity,
comparatively...and we'll be able to see how much money is saved on the
larger scale of health care costs as a result of homeopathic treatment. The
benefits could actually cascade in our favour if this one small thing were
changed.

So, it would definitely go a long way. Currently, some (a very small
number) of insurance providers will cover homeopathy done by homeopaths as
long as these homeopaths are members of a limited number of homeopathic
associations (you guessed it: NUPATH's one, OHA is another. If you're a
member of neither, your patient won't be covered). Ideally, this will
change and insurance providers will be encouraged to provide coverage to
qualified practitioners no matter what their affiliation (as there are one
or two providers doing just that already). Well, one can only hope, anyway.

Regards,
Nancy

>From: "Beth Knudtsen-Spears" <bks@sherbtel.net>
>To: <homeopathy@homeolist.com>
>Subject: Re: [H] more on H.D.
>Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2005 22:46:36 -0500
>
>The alternative link folks have been coding research processes for 15
>years.
>They are now providing codes that cross walk to the cpt codes used by the
>insurance industry and allopathic medical community. They are coding all
>sorts of alternative/natural proceedures-- everything from energy work
>(reiki, theraputic touch etc) to acupuncture and homeopathy. They
>provide
>eduation and a 'super bill' that is the same as is used now in the
>industry.
>The patient pays the provider and then submits the superbill to their
>insurance company. Because the procedures are standardized, insurance
>companies can track what is cost effective for them to cover. So, the
>theory goes, they will cover alternative medicine. Different insurance
>groups cover different areas differently. so, for example, blue cross/blue
>shield may offer different coverage in Mass. than in Calif ( as well as
>different plans that you can buy.)
>
>I have heard that Mutual of Omaha is covering some homeopathic services in
>AZ. Flex plans will reimburse at 100% for homeopathic services in MN and
>CO.(at least that is what my clients have found)
>
>Wheather or not having insurance cover homeopathy is a big discussion, I
>think-- There are so many uninsured people in the US that it may not REALLY
>make care any more accessable.
>
>Anyway, here is the website for Alternative Link.
>
>ALTERNATIVE LINK
>
>YOUR CODING COMPANY FOR INTEGRATIVE HEALTHCARE
>
>6121 Indian School Rd. NE, Suite 131
>Albuquerque, NM 87110 USA
>Tel: 505-875-0001 x 212 Fax: 505-875-0002
>Email: Connie.Koshewa@alternativelink.com Web Site:
><http://www.alternativelink.com/>
>
>
>
>Beth
>
> > When what we need, for a big start, is an organized group of homeopaths
> >
> > who'll just get insurance providers to cover our patients for
>homeopathic
> >
> > care given by homeopaths...instead of just covering homeopathy
>performed
> >
> > by naturopaths. It sure would go a lot farther towards getting
>homeopathy
> >
> > and homeopaths far more established, recognized, and accessible to the
> >
> > public than a "phony doctor" designation ever will.
> >
> >
> >
> > Nancy
> >
> >
> >>
> >
>
>
>