To help you achieve total health, your PPO plan also includes alternative care benefits. For your convenience, no referral is required and you are free to choose from more than 700 qualified and credentialed complementary and alternative medicine providers. Choose your alternative care provider at chpgroup.com or through Added Choice and call the provider you select to schedule an appointment at a time that works for you.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the stimulation of certain acupuncture “points” located throughout the body. Stimulation is often by the insertion of fine metallic needles into the skin and deeper tissues at these points. Acupuncture points can also be stimulated by hand, often called acupressure, laser light, and heat.
Acupuncture is widely practiced in the US with an estimated 3.1 million Americans receiving treatments from acupuncture providers.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic is a medical discipline that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems and the effects these disorders have on the general health of patients. Chiropractic care is primarily – but not solely – used to treat complaints related to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches. Chiropractic treatments often include spinal manipulation or adjustments and other joint and soft tissue manipulation techniques and can also include exercise, nutrition and health, and lifestyle counseling.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is the manipulation the muscles and other soft tissues of the body using hands, fingers, forearms and/or elbows. While massage can be used for relaxation, more importantly, it is used as part of a course of treatment for medical conditions. Massage Therapy encompasses many different massage techniques including but not limited to Swedish Massage, Remedial Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Sports Massage and Thai Massage. According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, an estimated 18 million U.S. adults and 700,000 children received massage therapy.
Naturopathic
Naturopathic medicine is a primary care discipline that emphasizes prevention and the self-healing process through the use of natural therapies. Naturopathic physicians focus on identifying the underlying causes of disease. Naturopathic treatments are supported by research drawn from peer-reviewed journals from many disciplines.
Naturopathic medicine has developed over many centuries from many different cultures and medical traditions, with consistent philosophical foundations: the body has the potential to heal itself given the right tools and support, and each patient has their own unique needs. The selection of treatments is based on the physician’s assessment of these needs and the underlying causes of illness for each individual patient. Treatments may include the use of botanical medicines, nutritional support, lifestyle counseling, physical medicine, and other supportive interventions. A naturopathic physician’s approach is to help the patient heal themselves with appropriate natural medicines and activities that do not cause harm to the patient.