BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair 2015 - 2016 Regular Session SB 538 (Block) - Naturopathic doctors ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Version: April 16, 2015 |Policy Vote: B., P. & E.D. 5 - | | | 2 | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Urgency: No |Mandate: No | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Hearing Date: May 11, 2015 |Consultant: Brendan McCarthy | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- This bill does not meet the criteria for referral to the Suspense File. Bill Summary: SB 538 would expand the scope of practice for naturopathic doctors, to allow them to prescribe certain drugs without physician supervision and to perform minor procedures. Fiscal Impact: Unknown additional enforcement costs to the Committee (Naturopathic Doctors Fund). By expanding the scope of practice for naturopathic doctors to allow them to prescribe certain medications without supervision and perform minor procedures, there may be additional complaints to the Committee from patients that will require investigation and potential disciplinary action. The extent to which this will SB 538 (Block) Page 1 of ? occur is not known. Background: Under current law, naturopathic doctors are licensed and regulated by the Naturopathic Medicine Committee, which is within the Osteopathic Medical Board. Naturopathic doctors must complete four years of post-graduate training and take a national standardized licensing examination. Naturopathic doctors are not required to complete a residency training program, as are medical doctors. Under current law, naturopathic doctors can furnish or prescribe Schedule III - V drugs, in accordance with standardized procedures established by the naturopathic doctor's supervising physician. Naturopathic doctors can order diagnostic imaging studies (e.g. x-rays), but must refer those studies to a properly licensed health care professional to interpret the results. Drugs are classified into five schedules depending on the drug's medical use and potential for abuse or dependency. Schedule I drugs are considered the most dangerous and Schedule V are considered the least dangerous. Schedule IV drugs include mild narcotics, depressants, stimulants, and tranquilizers (such as Xanax, Ambien, and Valium). Schedule V drugs include drugs with limited quantities of narcotic and stimulant drugs (such as cough syrups with codeine). Proposed Law: SB 538 would expand the scope of practice for naturopathic doctors, to allow them to prescribe certain drugs without physician supervision and to perform minor procedures. Specific provisions of the bill would: Expand the kinds of imaging studies a naturopathic doctor can order; Authorize a naturopathic doctor to perform operative procedures relative to superficial lacerations, certain superficial lesions, and superficial abrasions; Authorize a naturopathic doctor to prescribe, administer, or order Schedule IV, V, and unclassified prescription drugs without physician supervision. SB 538 (Block) Page 2 of ? Related Legislation: SB 1446 (McCleod, Statutes of 2012) allows naturopathic doctors to independently prescribe and administer vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other substances. -- END --