In the same way that sometimes what is not said can be more important than what is said, the facts that the Affordable Care Act omits all discussion of health insurance coverage for fitness training and the services of those who have achieved a Masters of Exercise Science and Physiology is a curious truth. Health insurance policies also frequently omit coverage for these services. (I am not in this field.)
The benefits of exercise both preventively and as part of a treatment plan for conditions ranging from weight loss to help address diabetes to improving range of motion for individuals with arthritis to the beneficial impact exercise can have on mental health are no longer up for argument.
More importantly the benefits of doing exercise correctly and regularly for any variety of conditions is increasing while the effectiveness of other approaches including medicating the type 2 diabetic or the obese or those with mental health issues is fraught with the complications of using medications and those medications are RARELY prescribed without concurrent advice to increase exercise.
Dietitian services are frequently covered by health insurance for a variety of reasons yet no weight management advice by a responsible dietitian will exclude a proviso that diet and exercise are important.
Physical therapists are covered by insurance yet physical therapists are less educated in the process of developing and helping individuals implement a fitness program beyond the specific injury they address.
In terms of master’s level training, exercise physiology is a master’s degree.
In terms of prevention athletic trainers and exercise specialists have skills and knowledge that exceed the advice to simply “exercise.” The different types and purposes of exercise as well as how they are performed are by now known to be a crucial factor in the effectiveness of exercise. These individuals are also required to take continuing education to maintain their competence.
Exercise physiology experts also frequently charge less for a service than other healthcare professionals.
We’ve become so accustomed to listening to the rhetoric offered by our politicians and health insurers and healthcare providers that we’re missing out on scientific advancements in the field of exercise and fitness that could address both the cost and treatment for specific conditions.
So why are trainers and exercise physiology experts omitted from attention as if they were not healthcare professionals? I can’t be sure. It could be because the field is new and evolving. It could be because they are not lobbying like physicians and health insurers in Washington. It could be because they would naturally be a better choice than medication for specific conditions that would cut into the business of prescribing diabetes or obesity medication.
What is sure is that with all the “talking” about healthcare reform the omission of exercise experts from meaningful discussion about prevention and treatment of disease as well as insurance coverage for these expert services is long overdue.
