Abstract
Congress, in coordination with the public, has been the driving force behind improving research, regulation, and access to complementary and alternative therapies. While government agencies have remained reluctant to move forward in conducting research in some areas of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), at times displaying a bias against them, many in Congress have been open- minded and active in asking for more research in these areas and in wanting to make CAM therapies more accessible. Numerous surveys indicate a steady increase in the use and acceptance of these therapies and the "grass roots" participation in CAM- related legislation is very strong. Congress mandated the creation of the Office of Alternative Medicine (OAM) in 1992 with an original budget of just $2 million. In 1998, in a desire to give the OAM more control of its research portfolio, Congress included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 1999 Omnibus Bill language to elevate the OAM to Center status (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) with a $50 million budget. Dr. Stephen E. Straus has recently been named as the new director of NCCAM. Several people on Capitol Hill have been very supportive of CAM issues. Most notable are Congressman Dan Burton, Senator Tom Harkin, Senator Orrin Hatch, and Congressman Peter Defazio. CAM issues are typically nonpartisan. In the last year, the Government Reform Committee has conducted a series of hearings looking at the role of CAM in the US health care system as well as issues in research, regulation, and access. One recent advance that comes as a result of this investigation is the announcement of the Health Care Financing Administration that the Dean Ornish Multisite Lifestyle Modification Program for Heart Disease will be accepted as a demonstration program with Medicare. The Department of Defense is also developing this program as a result of appropriations language in FY 1999. Several CAM-related bills have been introduced in the 106th Congress. Con gress remains a key component in ensuring increased research focus and funding, better regulation, and improved access to CAM treatment options for all Americans.