Complementary and alternative medicine a term that encompasses meditation, acupuncture, chiropractic care and homeopathic treatment, among other things has become increasingly popular. About four in 10 adults and one in nine children in the U.S. are using some form of alternative medicine, according to the National Institutes of Health.

And with the Affordable Care Act, the field could make even more headway in the mainstream health care system. That is, unless the fine print in state legislation and insurance plans falls short because of unclear wording and insufficient oversight.

One clause of the health law in particular Section 2706 is widely discussed among providers of alternative medicine because it requires that insurance companies shall not discriminate against any health provider with a state-recognized license.

That means a licensed chiropractor treating a patient for back pain, for instance, must be reimbursed the same as a medical doctor. In addition, nods to alternative medicine are threaded through other parts of the law in sections on wellness, prevention and research.

But because under the health care law each state defines its essential benefits plan what is covered by insurance somewhat differently, the wording concerning alternative medicine has to be very specific in terms of who gets paid and for what kinds of treatment, said Deborah Senn, the former insurance commissioner in Washington and an advocate for coverage of alternative medicine.

For example, naturopathic care would not fall under the nondiscriminatory list in Missouri because the state does not recognize it as a licensed practice.

And even if a practice is licensed, that doesnt mean it will receive coverage, said Afua Bromley, a licensed acupuncturist at the Acupuncture St. Louis and Wellness Center.

Some people have the misconception that the (Affordable Care Act) means that acupuncture coverage will be mandated, and thats not the case, she said.

Insurance companies can still decide not to include acupuncture in their plans, so Bromley cannot bill an agency for acupuncture care if coverage isnt provided.

However, because shes licensed, Bromley will be able to bill insurance companies for office visits, just like a medical doctor can bill separately for an office visit, nutritional counseling, exams and more.

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Health law boosts status of alternative medicine — at least on paper