If You Lose Your Health Freedoms - Don’t Blame it on the Medical Association

We are at a turning point in health care history. The question at the heart of this issue is: Whose right is it to decide what type of health care practices we can use to prevent illness and/or create, restore, and maintain wellness – the government, the American Medical Association, the insurance companies, or we, the people? Do we have the right to choose traditional (allopathic) medicine, complementary/alternative medicine, or some combination thereof?

Today, there are a handful of states that have passed “Freedom of Access” legislation, which safeguards the consumer’s right to choose the health care provider they desire as well as protecting the right of a complementary/alternative medical (CAM) practitioner to practice. Unfortunately, at the present time, Georgia is not one of them. Every year during the legislation, there are many attempts – some that succeed and some that fail – to limit our health care choices and limit or eliminate the CAM practitioner’s right to practice.

CAMA, the Complementary/Alternative Medical Association, is a nonprofit organization that works to educate the public, policy-makers, and the practitioners about natural healing and health. Its recently formed sister organization, CAMAction, advocates the passage of Freedom of Access legislation. In fact, CAMA and CAMAction have a Freedom of Access bill right now ready to be introduced and a legislative sponsor who is willing to introduce this bill. What we need is the membership and grass roots support so vital to getting legislation passed. That kind of support makes all the difference when facing legislators and, at least in this case, the Medical Association of Georgia, and the insurance and pharmaceutical companies. Many people feel inadequate when it comes to politics and dealing with the government. I am reminded of the scene in the Wizard of Oz when the cowardly lion sings about not having courage. In one part of the song, he says, “What puts the ape in apricot? What puts the hot in hottentot? What have they got that I ain’t got? Well, let’s take a look at what they have.

What do they have that we don’t have? $$$$$$$$$!

What do they have that we don’t have? UNITY!

What do they have that we don’t have? MEMBERS!

What do they have that we don’t have? POWER!

$$$$$$$! Yes, you are right. They have money but so do we. Keep in mind that Purdue spent $3 million in his campaign for Governor and Barnes spent $20 million and look who won. It does not take a lot of money to effect change but it certainly takes some! There is plenty of money in the State of Georgia and its citizens are certainly a generous lot. However, how and who do we financially support to protect our health care freedoms? Well, CAMA is a nonprofit, charitable organization and can accept tax-deductible donations. However, only five cents out of every $1.00 can be used for grassroots advocacy. On the other hand, CAMAction, CAMA’s sister nonprofit organization, can use every penny donated to it for advocacy, although those donations are not tax-deductible. Any monies donated to CAMA or CAMAction would be used to support a full-time lobbyist at the Capitol; a full-time director and administrative staff person; and adequately promote CAMA through advertising, community events, publications, health fairs, radio and television announcements. Even if only 1% of the four million people who live here in Atlanta donated $10 to CAMA and/or CAMAction, we would have $400,000 to work with. CAMA and CAMAction are working to support you. Support Freedom of Access legislation by joining CAMA today or by making a donation to CAMA or CAMAction.

UNITY!
Yes, you are right. The medical profession and insurance and pharmaceutical companies are certainly unified. They focus on their objective and not on their differences. They do their job! Can CAM practitioners or the public afford to do anything less?!? It is our collective job to safeguard our rights. What CAM practitioners have to offer matters. That we have the opportunity to offer it matters. That individuals retain their rights to visit the health care provider of choice matters. Can we afford to shift our focus and lose sight of what is important, and allow ourselves to be derailed? CAMA and CAMAction are working to support you. Support Freedom of Access legislation by joining CAMA today or by making a donation to CAMA or CAMAction.

MEMBERS!
You are right. There are more allopathic medical practitioners out than there are CAM practitioners. Given that, don’t you find it interesting that between 1990 and 1997, consumers’ reported use of CAM increased from 60 to 83 million while the use of traditional medicines did not. CAM is a hot commodity. Now is the time to act with intention, determination, and courage. CAMA and CAMAction are working to support you. Support Freedom of Access legislation by joining CAMA today or by making a donation to CAMA or CAMAction.

POWER!
You are wrong! No one has power unless we give it to them. We have the time, the energy, the talent, the vote, and the freedom to talk to our friends, neighbors, representatives, and senators. We have pens, papers, fax machines, emails, and we have voices. The idea of Freedom of Access has passed in other states. If one state can pass it so can we. And wouldn’t it be wonderful if Georgia was in the forefront of groundbreaking legislation. In order to make that happen, we must present a united front. We must speak up. We must use the power we have to effect the change we want. CAMA and CAMAction are working to support you. Support Freedom of Access legislation by joining CAMA today or by making a donation to CAMA or CAMAction.

JOIN CAMA.
CAMA and CAMAction need members who understand their importance and who commit themselves to the mission of educating the public, the practitioners, and the policy-makers, and ensuring the practitioner’s right to practice and the public’s right to use the health care provider of their choice. Neither CAMA nor CAMAction can fulfill their mission without grassroots support, a dynamic volunteer force, money, and legislators who are willing to sponsor the Freedom of Access bill. CAMA has lots of opportunities for volunteers to develop and fine-tune their skills and all for a good cause. Trained volunteers can help CAMA educate the public at health fairs and lectures; communicate our position to legislators; do administrative tasks; and help with fundraising activities. CAMA and CAMAction are working to support you. Support CAMA by joining CAMA today or by making a donation to CAMA or CAMAction.

You know, every year bills are introduced at the Georgia legislative sessions that could limit our freedom to choose the health care provider we desire and/or to eliminate our right to practice our chosen CAM profession. Freedom is not free as we all know. It takes the diligent efforts of those willing to stand in the breach to preserve our rights. CAMA and CAMAction are working to support you. Support CAMA by joining CAMA today or by making a donation to CAMA or CAMAction.

If we lose our right to choose the health care provider we desire, that is our own doing. If we lose our right to practice CAM, that is our own doing. The medical community, pharmaceutical companies, and insurance companies are only doing their job. If they are the only ones speaking, to whom will our legislators turn their ears. We must do our job. We must speak up. We must take action. We must use our power to effect the change we want. CAMA and CAMAction are working to support you. Support CAMA by joining CAMA today or by making a donation to CAMA or CAMAction.

Join CAMA and CAMAction.
Donate your time, talent, or treasure. Volunteer. Make a difference!
CAMA and CAMAction. PO Box 373478, Decatur, GA 30037
www.camaweb.org404.284.7592

You know, when Dorothy, the scarecrow, the tin man, and the lion did get to see the wizard, he told them it is what is in the mind, the heart, and the deeds that we do that make the man or woman. Join CAMA and CAMAction and let’s become a united and powerful presence that helps Georgia health care step into the 21^st century where allopathic medical practitioners and CAM practitioners work together in a wonderful, respectful spirit of collaboration and cooperation for the benefit of humankind.

Cheryl Ann Burney, Certified Hypnotherapist, CAMA Member

404.640.5036