Regulatory Announcements

Need to dispose of prescription drugs before the next Take Back Day? To locate a year-round authorized collector in your area: https://apps.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e1s1

Senate Bill 1547 passed over the weekend, despite a lengthy list of opponents. This bill allows NDs to sign off on "return to play" forms to clear an athlete for play after a head injury. The Legislature moved to include NDs, chiropractors, physical therapists, and occupational therapists to this expanded list of medical professionals.

A service for consumers from the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) and the Institute for Natural Medicine (INM). The AANP and the INM would like to acknowledge the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC) for its contributions to the content the FAQs.

The FAQs can be found at https://www.naturopathic.org/natfaqs

Naturopathic doctors are trained to focus on prevention and well-being. Individually or as part of primary care teams, they can play a central role in lowering health care costs while improving outcomes. This is according to the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (naturopathic.org), which today released a new FAQ for consumers on ways naturopathic medicine lowers health care costs, in partnership with the Institute for Natural Medicine (http://naturemed.org/). The FAQ describes how licensed naturopathic doctors treat each person holistically, emphasizing self-healing processes, and follow a unique Therapeutic Order to determine how therapies should be applied to provide the greatest benefit with the least potential for harm.

http://www.naturopathic.org/natfaqs

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On July18, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo signed into law a bill officially regulating naturopathic medicine in the state.  This bill was passed unanimously by both the State Senate and State House of Representatives. Rhode Island is now the third state to license naturopathic medicine providers in the past 12 months.  This is a major milestone, as naturopathic medicine is now regulated in every state in New England!

Citizens of Rhode Island will now have access to the full scope of treatment that can be provided by NDs, with the assurance that these doctors are licensed medical professionals that have attended a four year naturopathic medical school.  This focus on patient safety is a major part of why licensure is so important. Read the full bill, H 5474.

The culmination of over twenty years of advocacy, on January 11, Governor Baker added Massachusetts to the list of states that acknowledge the value of alternative healthcare from a qualified professional. Massachusetts will become the 22nd U.S. jurisdiction to regulate naturopathic medicine. The new bill S.2335 ensures patients can trust that their wellness professional holds a graduate degree from an accredited naturopathic medical school.

Amy Rothenberg, N.D., and president of the Massachusetts Society of Naturopathic Doctors (MSND), says, “This law allows the people of Massachusetts access to well-educated and trained naturopathic doctors and their expertise in both preventative medicine and natural integrative care.”

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Today, with the stroke of his pen, Governor Tom Wolf adds Pennsylvania to the list of states that acknowledge the value of alternative healthcare from a qualified professional. Pennsylvania becomes the 21^st U.S. jurisdiction to regulate naturopathic medicine. The new law HB516 regulates naturopathic doctors; ensuring patients can trust that their wellness professional holds a graduate degree from an accredited naturopathic medical school.

Heidi Weinhold, N.D. and Legislative Chair of the Pennsylvania Association of Naturopathic Physicians (PANP), says, “This is a historic day for naturopathic medicine. The governor’s approval will throw open the doors for more Pennsylvania students to choose this academic course of study. Then, they can return home from a four-year graduate program to set up a practice as a naturopathic doctor.”

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On Feb 29, 2016 at 4 pm Pacific Christa Louise and Shannon Braden will be presenting the AANP membership with information about how the FNMRA enhances the naturopthic profession.

The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) achieved a milestone when its House of Delegates recently approved guidance for naturopathic practice and care. The guidance is intended to boost naturopathic doctors' prospects for becoming licensed and enhance the public's perception of the profession. 

Join our webinar on Monday, November 23 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. EST to learn more about the documents, their value, and their relevance to you.

Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1088049589451535873

This report examines a problem that confronts the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) professions whereby a profession is defined politically not by its full professional scope but by its treatment modalities. Even when CAM disciplines are defined by legal statutes as broad-based professions, this designation is not honored by such codes as the policies of insurance coverage. This project consisted of three parts: development of a background paper on the policy issues associated with the scope of practice and utilization of CAM practitioners in the health care system, input from a panel of CAM experts, and input from a panel of health care policy decisionmakers.

Read more http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR1200/RR1258/RAND_RR1258.pdf