Nevada reviews CAM practices

A Nevada law passed in June 2005 directs a new regulatory board to study and recommend complementary and integrative medical services.

The Nevada Institutional Review Board aims to raise that state’s health-care profile by encouraging the study of, documenting and recommending promising medical diagnostics and treatments from the world of complementary and alternative therapies, or what it calls complementary and integrative medicine (CIM).

Supporters say that the board, which is accountable to the state’s board of homeopathic medical examiners, will open the door for alternative treatments that may not be traditionally covered by medical insurance.

According to a legislative document, the results promised by the legislation include:

“Nevada citizens will have access to medical alternative devices, therapies and substances that would otherwise be unavailable. As information becomes available, physicians and health care practitioners will better understand CIM, and the people of Nevada will benefit through additional protections provided through subsequent legislation resulting from [review board] activities.”