HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 143

BYRepresentatives Brekke, Miller, Lewis, Hine, Lux, Fuhrman, Scott and H. Sommers 

Regulating naturopathic physicians.

House Committe on Health Care

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (11)

     Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Bristow, Brooks, Bumgarner, Cantwell, Lewis, Lux, D. Sommers, Sprenkle and Vekich.

House Staff:John Welsh (786-7133)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE MARCH 5, 1987

BACKGROUND:

In 1983, the legislature placed the regulation of drugless healing (naturopathy) under the Sunset Act for review, terminating the 1919 practice act as of June 30, 1987 and repealing it as of June 30, 1988.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The sunset dates for the Drugless Healing Act are re-scheduled for termination as of June 30, 1988 and repeal as of June 30, 1989.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The sunset termination and repeal dates are re-scheduled one year ahead, and the provisions creating a new practice act with a new scope of practice are stricken.

Fiscal Note:    Requested February 9, 1987.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Mr. Eugene Zampieron, KCMU Radio Station; Dan Labriola, N.D., Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians; David Kailin, Acupuncture Association of Washington; Elizabeth Gentala, Well Mind Association; Mike Ryherd, Washington State Medical Association; Bob Neill, Citizen; Jeff Larsen, Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians; Dr. Joe Pizzorno, Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians; Dr. Tim Birdsall; Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians; Marliene Truer, Patient; Lois Hayasaka, Commission on Asian American Affairs.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     The practice of drugless healing was initially authorized and regulated by the Legislature in 1919.  Now known as naturopathy, the archaic provisions are very much out of date and no longer coincide with actual practice.  But the new scope of practice appears to infringe upon the other practices, such as chiropractic, medicine, physical therapy, massage and acupuncture and need to be studied during the interim.  Another year for working out the problems in the bill is needed.  The practice of naturopathy, an alternative form of health care, has much value and many devoted patients who attest to its value.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.