It promises to be a rich year for the naturopathic profession. Health freedom efforts continue with a new twist based on a law passed in New Mexico that essentially allows for diagnosis and treatment, including Gerson Therapy (named in the bill) and potentially photoluminescence. Licensure continues with bills in Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Iowa, and Virginia. Licensed states are heavily active this session. Arizona is seeking recognition in the state Medicaid program. Idaho is in the throws of negotiations on new legislation to eliminate the ambiguity of its law. California continues it work, including dealing with legislation to eliminate NDs from the osteopathic board, while Washington works to establish a standing naturopathic board to replace the advisory council. Kansas legislation changing registration to licensure has already passed the House and is now in the Senate.
AANP tracks state legislation across the country and now provides access to weekly updates with links to bills on the website.
Click here to view the bills referenced above and many more (
note: this is a member benefit - must be logged into the AANP web site to access) including legislation in Hawaii where last year’s victories have created this year’s challenges.
Legislation introduced last year by the Hawaii Society of Naturopathic Physicians (HSNP) resulted in a significant modernization and expansion of the scope of practice as defined by state law. The law change and ongoing rule-making will allow a ND to perform minor surgery, administer parenteral therapies and prescribe a limited formulary of legend drugs as adopted by the state Board of Naturopathic Medicine (Board). State licensed naturopathic doctors must meet the education and training requirements currently being formulated through the rule-making process before performing minor surgery or parenteral therapies.
The 2010 legislative session has revealed a discontent by some in the allopathic community who introduced three bills seeking to repeal most of the scope of practice gains made last year. Two senate bills (SB2489 and SB2204) have respectively been deferred after one hearing and not given a hearing at all.
House bill 2312 has passed through two committees with significant amendments which lessen the impact on our scope of practice, yet is still strongly opposed by the HSNP and the Board. We are working hard to make sure this bill does not pass in a House floor vote or is not heard after cross-over to the Senate, and at this time feel fairly confident it would be deferred by our allies in the Senate.
