SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 1862
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Health & Long-Term Care, February 26, 2004
Title: An act relating to naturopaths.
Brief Description: Regulating naturopathic physicians.
Sponsors: House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Ruderman, Pflug, Cody, Skinner, Clibborn, Benson, Chase, Anderson, Campbell, Conway and Dickerson).
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Health & Long-Term Care: 2/26/04 [DP].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Deccio, Chair; Winsley, Vice Chair; Brandland, Franklin, Keiser and Thibaudeau.
Staff: Tanya Karwaki (786-7447)
Background: Naturopathy is the practice of the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of disorders of the body by stimulation and support of the human body's natural processes. The practice includes manual manipulation; the use of nutrition and food science; physical modalities; homeopathy; hygiene and immunization; and the administration, prescription, and use of medicines of mineral, animal, and botanical origin.
Naturopaths may use medicines that are derived from animal organs, tissues, and oils; minerals; and plants. They may also use vitamins, minerals, whole gland thyroid, and other traditional herbal and botanical pharmacopeia. Naturopaths may also use intermuscular injections of vitamin B12 preparations.
Summary of Bill: The scope of practice statement describing naturopathic medicine is revised to include a description of the practice as a progression from treating patients with the least interventive, natural treatments to more interventive prescriptive medicines only when necessary.
The term "medicines of mineral, animal, and botanical origin" is replaced with the term "naturopathic medicines." The medicines that naturopaths may use includes homeopathic medicines, hormones, and those legend drugs and controlled substances consistent with naturopathic medical practice and in accordance with rules established by the Secretary of Health. The use of injections includes injections of all substances appropriate to the practice of naturopathic medicine and in accordance with rules established by the Secretary of Health. Finally, the current prohibition on controlled substances is revised to permit the use of codeine and testosterone in Schedules III, IV, and V of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act as consistent with naturopathic practices and as established by the Secretary in rule. The Secretary, in consultation with the Naturopathic Advisory Committee and the Board of Pharmacy, will establish educational and training requirements for the use of controlled substances.
The definition of "minor office procedures" is modified to include care and procedures for lesions. The definition of "common diagnostic procedures" eliminates references to superficial scrapings and prohibitions on surgical procedures and restates the prohibition as applying to incision or excision beyond a minor office procedure.
Naturopathic education programs are required to be accredited.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: This bill is about patient care and the need for primary care. Naturopaths should be able to write prescriptions for all antibiotics. This bill modernizes statutory language relating to naturopaths. Naturopaths do not have as broad prescriptive authority for legend/controlled drugs as advanced registered nurse practitioners. Naturopathic doctors are primary care providers. The only additional drugs that naturopaths are seeking prescriptive authority for are testosterone and codeine.
Testimony Against: This bill gives prescriptive authority for legend drugs, testosterone, and codeine to naturopaths. It also sets up a process for the Secretary of Health to determine future prescriptive authority. Residency requirements should be placed on naturopaths.
Testified: PRO: Michele Dunlap, ND, Yakima Allergy and Longevity Clinic; Kasra Pournadeali, ND, WA Assn. of Naturopathic Physicians; Dr. Julie Jacobson, MD, PATH; Janile Martin, ARNP, Integrative Medicine; Terry Kohl, WANP; Bruce Milliman, ND, WANP; CON: Carl Nelson, WSMA.