SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5219

BYSenators Williams, Johnson, Kreidler, Kiskaddon and Conner

Regulating naturopathic physicians.

Senate Committee on Human Services and Corrections

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 2, 1987; March 4, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5219 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Wojahn, Chairman; Stratton, Vice Chairman; Anderson, Deccio, Johnson, Kiskaddon, Kreidler, Tanner.

Senate Staff:Don Sloma (786-7414)

                  March 6, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS, MARCH 4, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Drugless healing (naturopathy) involves a number of physical and mental treatments which seek to stimulate the natural curative processes of the human body.

The Legislative Budget Committee (LBC) conducted a sunset review of the Drugless Healing Act (Chapter 18.36 RCW) during 1986.  The review recommended continued licensure of drugless healers.  However, the Drugless Healing Act, written in 1919, was found to be largely outdated in terms of its scope of practice, licensing procedures and disciplinary authorities. 

The LBC recommended that a new practice act be written to retain the current scope of practice, and to modernize licensing and disciplinary procedures.  Suggestions for expanding drugless healers' scope of practice were to be reviewed by the State Health Coordinating Council.

SUMMARY:

The Drugless Healing Act is rewritten in a form consistent with the model professional licensure statutes developed by the Department of Licensing.  Naturopathic physicians are licensed, and the unlicensed practice of naturopathy is prohibited.  The definition of naturopathic medicine explicitly includes minor surgery, parenteral injections, natural childbirth obstetrics, acupuncture, the use of certain classes of legend drugs and nondrug, contraceptive devices.

The Director of the Department of Licensing is authorized to adopt necessary rules, set fees, establish forms and procedures, determine minimum education and experience requirements, prepare and administer examinations, issue and deny licenses, hire investigative staff, maintain records, determine whether alternative training or education may be substituted to obtain licensure, hear appeals and engage in other activities necessary to license and discipline naturopaths.

A five member naturopathic advisory committee is created, composed of three licensed naturopaths, and two persons unaffiliated with the profession.  The committee is authorized to approve the licensing examination and advise the Director.

Persons holding valid licenses to practice drugless therapeutics when this chapter becomes effective will continue to be licensed under this chapter.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

Termination and repeal of the Drugless Healing Act (Chapter 18.36 RCW) under the Sunset Act (Chapter 43.131 RCW) is delayed for one year until June 30, 1988.

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Jeff Larson, Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians; Bob Jacobs, Legislative Budget Committee; David Kalin, Acupuncture Association of Washington; Luci Phillips, State Health Coordinating Council