BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular Session
SB 538 (Block) - Naturopathic doctors
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|Version: April 16, 2015 |Policy Vote: B., P. & E.D. 5 - |
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|Urgency: No |Mandate: No |
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|Hearing Date: May 26, 2015 |Consultant: Brendan McCarthy |
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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
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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.
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Related
Legislation: SB 1446 (McCleod, Statutes of 2012) allows
naturopathic doctors to independently prescribe and administer
vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other substances.
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