Please read the following scenario and answer the questions that follow.

You are the medical assistant for a family-practice provider, Dr. Bill Claredon, who is close to retirement. He is much adored by all his patients, but he thinks any complementary therapies are outright quackery. Marjorie Johns, a patient with debilitating back pain, tells you she is seeing an acupuncturist and is taking less and less of her prescribed medications. You quietly mention this to Dr. Claredon before he enters the examination room to see Marjorie. He glares at you with disgust at the information and is quite agitated when he enters the examination room.

Why do you think Dr. Claredon is so averse to complementary therapies?

Discuss complementary alternative medicine and insurance coverage, and describe the blending of traditional and nontraditional health care practices today.