2008 Legislative Updates
January 22, 2008
February 4th --Hearing date set for Naturopathic bill
The hearing date for Representative Labuda's bill to regulate naturopathic doctors (HB 1064) has been set for Monday, February 4th in room LSB-A in the legislative services building just south of the Capitol. The bill will be heard by the House Health and Human Services committee, which begins its business at 1:30 pm . HB 1064 is currently fourth on the schedule for that day.
The purpose of House Bill 1064 is to provide standards for the licensing and regulation of naturopathic doctors:
- To ensure availability of naturopathic health care by qualified naturopathic doctors
- To provide a standard by which the consumer can identify and choose their natural medicine provider
- To protect the public health, safety and welfare
HB 1064 proposes a standard for minimal competency of naturopathic doctors. Only those individuals who have fulfilled the requirements recommended in HB 1064, and who diagnose and engage in potentially harmful practices, would be regulated by this bill.
**Access to herbs and nutritional supplements will NOT be affected**
HB 1064 expressly acknowledges that the many therapies used by naturopathic doctors, such as nutritional supplements, herbs, foods, homeopathic remedies, and such physical forces as heat, cold, water, touch and light, are not the exclusive privilege of naturopathic doctors, and their use, practice, prescription, sale of, or administration by persons not licensed to practice naturopathic medicine, is not prohibited by this bill.We hope you will consider joining us at the hearing in order to support HB 1064!
It is very important that the legislators see that there is public support for this issue. They are used to seeing opposition to issues every day, but supporters tend to be rare at the capitol. 50% or more of the seats in the hearing room would best be filled by supporters like you.
Our sincere thanks for your continued support!! I will continue to keep you informed of our progress as the bill makes it's way through the legislature.
Dee Koloski ND, LAc
CANP President
Supporter List Signup: Help license naturopathic doctors in Colorado (Link)
January 17, 2008
The long awaited sunrise review from the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies was released on Friday afternoon! The full text of the report is now public and is available at: www.dora.state.co.us/opr/oprpublications.htm.
The short history: the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies recommended in 2005 that naturopathic doctors be regulated in order to protect public health:
"A licensing scheme would offer the public the greatest level of regulatory protection. Only those individuals who have fulfilled the requirements for licensure would be allowed to engage in the scope of practice for naturopathic physicians, thus ensuring a minimum level of competency."
In its 2008 sunrise review it has again recommended regulation:
"Since this review concluded that harm can be caused by naturopathic practitioners engaging in certain types of practice, a licensing scheme, by any label, should be implemented, since it would offer the greatest level of regulatory protection. Only those individuals who have fulfilled the requirements for licensure should be allowed to engage in the scope of practice for naturopathic physicians, thus ensuring a minimum level of competency for those tasks deemed most risky."
Recommendation: "Regulate those naturopathic practitioners whose practices/activities pose a risk of harming the public and require that competency be demonstrated to engage in regulated practice."
Representative Labuda plans to introduce a bill to regulate naturopathic doctors in the House of Representatives during the 2008 legislative session.
We are very pleased with the department's recommendations and look forward to a successful 2008 legislative session. We will keep you informed as the bill progresses through the legislature.
On another note, we would like to extend hearty thanks for a successful fundraising drive in December. Taking part in legislative activity is extremely costly. If you would like to financially contribute to our ongoing efforts, Please mail your gift, payable to CANP* to:
Dr. Kim Nearpass
CANP Treasurer
PO Box 4236
Frisco, CO 80443
Phone: 970-668-1300
*Your non-tax-deductible donation will be most beneficial to our licensing effort because we have more flexibility with these funds. However, for tax-deductible donations, make checks payable to INM (Institute for Natural Medicine) with "Colorado Education Fund" written in the memo line. Tax-deductible donations can help with all costs except those related to lobbying.Our sincere thanks for your continued support!! I will continue to keep you informed of our progress as the bill makes it's way through the legislature.
Dee Koloski ND, LAc
CANP President
Supporter List Signup: Help license naturopathic doctors in Colorado (Link)