House of Representatives

SB 1300

naturopathic physicians board

Sponsors: Senator Geard, Representatives Binder, Gullett, et al.

DP	Committee on Health
DP	Caucus and COW
X	As Transmitted To The Governor

SB 1300 broadens the regulatory authority and changes licensing and certification requirements for the Naturopathic Board.

History

The Naturopathic Board (Board) is responsible for the licensure, certification and regulation of naturopathic physicians. The Board also certifies medical assistants and training programs for students of naturopathic medicine. The Board currently licenses 200 physicians and certifies 140 students and 108 training programs. The Board is comprised of three physician and two public members. Many of the proposed statutory changes have been recommended by the Auditor General as a result of a June 2000 audit. The Board has 3 full-time employees and operated on a budget of $136,000 in FY 2000.

Provisions

· Removes from the definition of approved “schools of naturopathic medicine”, schools that are certified, recognized or approved by another licensing jurisdiction.

· Adds an additional public and physician member to the Board. Increases the Board membership from five to seven members with staggered term limits.

· Prohibits the Executive Director from having any financial interests in the practice of naturopathic medicine or training of naturopathic physicians.

· Requires the Board to issue a license within ninety days of receiving a completed application for initial licensure.

· Allows the Executive Director to issue a temporary certificate free of charge to allow a person who has completed an application to engage in a clinical training program. Once the required fingerprint and criminal background check is complete, the Board shall collect fees and remove the temporary certificate status.

· Requires the Board to recognize the national examination for naturopathic medicine. The Board may develop its own examination only for areas that are not covered by the national examination. Precludes any Board or staff member from having a financial interest in the national examination. Restructures the format for the Board issued examination.

· Stipulates that applicants obtain a scaled average of seventy-five percent on the national and Board examination with no less than seventy-five percent on any section in either examination. Makes examination materials and records confidential.

· Prohibits Board members from participating in the adjudication of a case that have conducted the investigation or worked with the investigator on the case.

· Allows the Board and investigators to subpoena medical records relevant to an investigation.

· Removes gender references

· Makes technical change

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45th Legislature

First Regular Session 2 May 8, 2001

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