ACCAHC was created in 2004 in response to a clear need that had been articulated by three important groups: In 2001 the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (WHCCAM) recommended in its final report to the President and Congress, "... agencies should convene conferences of the leaders of CAM, conventional health, public health, evolving health professions, and the public...to facilitate the establishment of CAM education and training guidelines. Subsequently, the guidelines should be made available to the states and professions for their consideration." The WHCCAM also recommended that federal resources be provided to CAM accredited schools for research, curriculum and faculty development; and student programs and evaluation.

That same year the National Policy Dialogue to Advance Integrated Healthcare: Seeking Common Ground (NPD), recommended the establishment of "...a national consortium of conventional and CAM educators and practitioners." The 60 healthcare leaders who gathered at the NPD believed such a consortium could lead to mutual understanding and respect across disciplines. "An improvement in patient care may be expected as patients work with a variety of healthcare professionals who have an understanding of the different systems of health care and an appreciation for the patient benefits derived from various modalities of care....Ultimately this will lead to a broader and more effective healthcare system, resulting in lower medical costs." The final report from the National Policy Dialogue was distributed to every member of Congress.

More recently in 2004, the Institute of Medicine (IOM), at the request of Congress and the National Institutes of Health, issued a report on the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States. It included this statement, calling for the development of tools that would serve "...the goal of providing comprehensive care that is safe and effective, that is collaborative and interdisciplinary, and that respects and joins effective interventions from all sources." (p.216)

The repeated call of these experts was to convene CAM and conventional healthcare educators to facilitate understanding of one another's disciplines because this will enhance patient-centered care and ultimately improve health outcomes. It was clear to leaders and agencies in the CAM academic community that by working together and speaking with one voice, they would be most effective in their efforts to work with conventional medicine and transform the healthcare system. ACCAHC is the result of that vision and commitment.