Clinician Perspectives on Referring Medicaid Back Pain Patients to Integrative and Complementary Medicine: A Qualitative Study

Kate Laforge, Mary Gray, Catherine J. Livingston, Gillian Leichtling, Esther K. Choo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: To increase understanding of referral processes from primary care to integrative and complementary medicine (ICM) under an Oregon Medicaid policy that restricted opioids and expanded access to ICM for back pain patients. Methods: Four asynchronous online focus groups with 48 medical clinicians were conducted. Themes were constructed using thematic analysis. Results: Three themes were constructed related to the clinician's experience: (1) high patient receptivity to ICM, (2) difficulty finding ICM providers who accept Medicaid beneficiaries, and (3) uncertainty of the effectiveness of ICM among clinicians. Conclusions: Findings suggest that health systems expanding access to ICM for Medicaid beneficiaries may benefit from establishing and supporting linkages between clinicians and ICM providers, especially in rural areas.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)55-60
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine
Volume29
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2023

Keywords

  • Medicaid
  • back pain
  • chronic pain
  • complementary therapies
  • opioids
  • primary care

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Complementary and alternative medicine

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