FON: The Business of Personalized Medicine

Integrative Oncology Breast Cancer Clinical Practice Guidelines Published in JNCI Monographs

The Society for Integrative Oncology has published a first-of-its kind breast cancer clinical practice guidelines in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute Monographs coinciding with the 11th International Conference of the Society for Integrative Oncology held this week in Houston, Texas. With over 80% of breast cancer patients using some form of integrative cancer therapy following diagnose, these timely guidelines will bring much needed clarity and support to women

The Pebble in the Pond: How Integrative Leadership Can Bring About Transformation

By Taylor Walsh The ascent of integrative health is moving apace. The hit-or-miss presence of yoga or massage that might be found in a hospital during the last 15 years has evolved into what looks like transformative, existential investments by serious centers of American healthcare. [FON thanks the Bravewell Collaborative for the rights to distribute “The Pebble in the Pond: How Integrative Leadership Can Bring About Transformation.” Access the 44-page paper.]

Cleveland Clinic Partners with Dr. Mark Hyman and IFM to Launch Pioneering Functional Medicine Center

By John Weeks “If we can show that we have better outcomes and it’s cheaper to take a functional approach, in the end, the doctors who adopt this model—and their patients—they will be the ones who win.” —Mark Hyman, MD This is Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) president Mark Hyman, MD, in an article in the widely read political blog The Daily Beast in June 2014 in which he mentioned that he was working with the Cleveland

Preventive Medicine as a Viable Financial Model

Prevention remains the only magic bullet ‘cure’ for most malignancies and chronic disease. It’s where we’re headed. The conundrum for providers lies in delivering the most effective services with sufficient profit margin. I consider the new healthcare law ‘ACA 1.0’ and, thankfully, version 2.0 is just around the (cost curve) bend. Hopefully we are getting closer with current incentives in place rewarding health outcomes via patient-centered medical homes, accountable care

Fee-Splitting 101 for MDs and other Integrative Health Practitioners

By Michael H. Cohen, JD Is it fee-splitting to hire another medical doctor, chiropractor, acupuncturist, or other health care practitioner in your office and give them a “cut” of patient revenues? Fee-splitting, “Stark,” self-referral, and anti-kickback issues concern many health care practitioners who seek legal counsel from our law firm. Here’s one typical scenario: You’re an acupuncturist and you want to hire a second acupuncturist as an independent contractor. The patient pays

Legal Viewpoint: MDs Operating Web-Based Health and Wellness Businesses

By  Michael H. Cohen, JD telemedicine laws: who operates the sites and provides content? are the visits to the site considered clinical encounters, or merely visits to receive general information and education? is personalized healthcare advice being given? will the physician be obligated to have medical licensure in the state of the patient, as well as the home state or originating site? is a restricted telemedicine license available? antikickback and

Grab Your Audience! — 12 Foolproof Ways to Open a Speech

In my previous blog in this space, I discussed the concept of mindfulness, and how incorporating mindful speaking can benefit your integrative medicine practice or research. Speaking with that level of focus is important, I said, because your material alone—no matter how strong—can’t create the responses you’re looking for in stakeholders. Let’s say you’re explaining your group or organization’s philosophy of integrative health. You’ve put together an excellent presentation or

An Open Letter to My Friend, John Weeks: By NCCAM’s Josephine Briggs

[Excerpted from FON Presents: In Living Tribute to John Weeks. Download the 64-page eBook.] An open letter to my friend, John Weeks: You will remember six years ago blogging about my appointment as Director of NCCAM to your readers: “Oops, they did it again.” Your post made it clear that you did not hold out much hope for me—or indeed for the overall NIH investment in complementary and alternative medicine.

New Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine Broadens Leadership Team

By John Weeks New Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM) broadens its leadership team: Wisneski, Snider and Weeks join board. In the fall of 2013, the American Board of Integrative Health and Medicine (ABIHM) announced that it was re-forming itself as the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM). In a speech announcing the new entity, the founding president Mimi Guarneri, MD mentioned three new areas of involvement beyond ABIHM’s historic education and certification