The AANP promotes policy advancements that benefit NDs and their patients, protects regulatory provisions for the medicines used by NDs, and promotes the advancement of naturopathic philosophy in public health policy.
Our strategy encompasses policy development, lobbying on Capitol Hill, regulatory engagement, and engaging our members and affiliates in grassroots advocacy.
WHAT WE DO
Federal Lobbying
We engage directly with lawmakers to advocate for policies, such as inclusion in Medicare and the VA, that support the naturopathic profession.
Regulatory Advocacy
We study and evaluate regulatory proposals that could impact the profession, submit comments and testimonies to federal agencies, and engage directly with federal agencies’ leadership to promote our goals.
Participation in Coalitions
Advocacy is most effective when large groups representing the same interests with compatible points of view collaborate. We work with a wide range of partners, coalitions, and partner organizations in the health care field to amplify
our voice.
Issues We Focus On
Inclusion in the VA
We work to urge the VA to hire licensed naturopathic doctors (NDs) so they can begin treating veterans at VA facilities with natural, non-toxic, and non-addictive treatments. The VA and the Department of Defense are embracing Whole
Health initiatives that embody the very essence of naturopathic philosophy. We work with various individual VA facilities and nationally to open doors for veterans to access the services of NDs.
Each year, the number of seniors who qualify for Medicare increases and so does the need to provide them with greater choice in health care. A major AANP legislative priority is to get licensed naturopathic doctors included in Medicare
so that seniors can be covered for care that can prevent many types of chronic illness and improve patients’ quality of life by alleviating the need for expensive drugs and surgery.
Since enactment of the Drug Quality and Security Act (DQSA) in late 2013, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has gone significantly beyond the letter of the law in developing regulations that would limit access to safely compounded
medications, especially those that are natural or herbal, and their availability for office use. The AANP is working with a coalition of provider groups to protect patient access to these life-saving natural compounded alternatives
to pharmaceutical drugs.
The AANP has submitted comments to the FDA to defend homeopathic products. Our comments support the Citizen's Petition submitted by the Americans for Homeopathic Choice (AHC), who seek to advocate for an updated approach to the regulation
of homeopathic products. Notably, our comments emphasized the importance of a trained health professional’s role in working with homeopathic products and treatments as different from over-the-counter (OTC) considerations, which
seems to be the focus of the FDA.
Since COVID erupted, the FTC and FDA have issued hundreds of warning letters to practitioners requiring them to delete online posts about immune system support or potential COVID treatments. Learn more about the current regulatory
situation, the unprecedented enforcement actions, and the key guidelines you need to stay safely within bounds as you promote your practice and communicate with your patient community.
The AANP is working with our lobbyist, Congress, HHS and other federal agencies to ensure that naturopathic physicians receive financial assistance, prompt communication, updated guidance and robust resources during the COVID-19
pandemic. Whether you are an individual ND, state association, or a professional association, we've created materials and resources for you to protect and promote naturopathic medicine.
Receive updates on current legislative and regulatory activity and action alerts on issues that may significantly impact the naturopathic profession. Subscribe to AANP federal advocacy updates here.
The AANP has launched a coordinated campaign to protect patient access to natural medicines. Your donations will support legal actions to protect patient access to cBHRT, compounded medications, homeopathy, NAC, and more.
Held each spring, the DC FLI is the premier opportunity to lobby Members of Congress on the issues that are most important to naturopathic doctors and naturopathic medicine.
The comprehensive AANP legislative action center makes it easy for you to take action on issues like state licensure, scope, and federal issues.
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You don't have to be a member to recieve updates and action alerts on federal issues. Sign up to receive calls to action, news, and updates when legislative or regulatory activity takes place that may significantly impact the naturopathic
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