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Septemper 14, 2009
PIHMA EXTENDS HOURS IN ‘CHRONIC CARE’ CLINIC TO HELP ADDRESS STATE’S 10,000 UNINSURED
PHOENIX, AZ, SEPT. 14, 2009 – While the state budget crisis will leave thousands of Arizonans with nowhere to turn for medical care at the end of this month, one Valley business is taking strides to help alleviate the rapidly growing problem.
Recently, KidsCare Parents, an insurance provider of low-cost services for low-income families, announced that they’ve been forced to halt all services for the more than 10,000 parents who currently use the program. While the children who are covered by the Kidscare program will continue to be insured for the time being, they, too in danger of losing coverage in the upcoming fiscal year.
“This is devastating news for our state,” said Catherine Niemiec, President and Founder of the Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture (PIHMA), the Valley’s Oriental Medical college and clinic. “Many of these families are seemingly left without any options for health care at all, as community health centers are being bombarded with an influx of patients as it is, and reduced funding on top of it. However, PIHMA is able to help provide affordable and effective healthcare to assist in this situation.”
To help address the health care crisis, PIHMA plans to extend the hours and add more shifts at their Community Clinic which specializes in chronic care, in addition to adding reduced rate drop-in clinic shifts at their Phoenix campus. PIHMA currently provides individualized, effective Oriental medical healthcare & acupuncture to hundreds of patients in the community suffering from pain, chronic disease, colds & flus, age-related health issues, gynecological disorders, addiction, and stress.
A recent study shows that visits to Licensed Acupuncturists in the United States almost tripled from 1997 to 2007, with most visits paid for out-of-pocket.
“This is due to both the effectiveness of the medicine, as well as its affordability. Regular visits at our teaching clinic range from $20-35, essentially the price of an insurance co-payment,” said Niemiec.
And there is some additional good news – as more and more families are forced to seek alternative methods of health care and treatment, more job positions will open in related fields of integrative medicine to help fill the needs of consumers.
“Oriental medicine continues to gain mainstream popularity, and with it comes more job openings in fields for Licensed Acupuncturists, herbalists, bodyworkers, and homeopaths, just to name a few,” Niemiec said.
“The opportunity for many new career paths gives the state health care industry a small glimmer of hope on an otherwise seemingly never-ending stream of economic woes.”
To learn more about the PIHMA Chronic Care Clinic and its extended hours and services, please contact the Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture (PIHMA), College & Clinic, www.pihma.edu, 602-274-1878; 301 E. Bethany Home Road, A-100, Phoenix, AZ 85012.
About PIHMA
The Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture (PIHMA), now in its 13th year, is the Valley's only accredited Oriental medical college, offering 4-year Master of Science degrees in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Located at 301 E. Bethany Home Road, the graduate programs offer the highest level of training in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, with over 3000 hours of Oriental medical theory & practicum, herbal medicine & dietary therapy, Western sciences, and an extensive clinical internship, including an onsite community clinic. PIHMA graduates work in independent practice, at hospitals and integrative medical clinics, and in professional therapeutic settings. PIHMA also offers a speakers bureau to educate the public on how Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine works.