03/30/2009 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB70 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 101 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 70 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
March 30, 2009
1:36 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Bettye Davis, Chair
Senator Joe Paskvan, Vice Chair
Senator Johnny Ellis
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Joe Thomas
Senator Fred Dyson
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 70
"An Act relating to naturopaths and to the practice of
naturopathy; establishing an Alaska Naturopathic Medical Board;
authorizing medical assistance program coverage of naturopathic
services; and providing for an effective date."
MOVED SB 70 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 101
"An Act relating to questionnaires and surveys administered in
the public schools."
MOVED OUT OF COMMITTEE 3/27/09
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 70
SHORT TITLE: NATUROPATHS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) DAVIS
01/21/09 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/21/09 (S) HSS, L&C, FIN
03/13/09 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/13/09 (S) Heard & Held
03/13/09 (S) MINUTE(HSS)
03/30/09 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
TOM OBERMEYER, aide to Senator Davis
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided an overview of SB 70.
EMILY KANE, ND, Vice President
Alaska Association of Naturopathic Physicians
Juneau, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 70.
KRISTIN L. COX, ND
Rainforest Naturopathic Medicine
Juneau, AK.
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 70.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:36:59 PM
CHAIR BETTYE DAVIS called the Senate Health and Social Services
Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:36 p.m. Present at the
call to order were Senators Paskvan, Ellis and Davis.
SB 70-NATUROPATHS
1:37:22 PM
CHAIR DAVIS announced consideration of SB 70.
TOM OBERMEYER, aide to Senator Davis, provided a brief overview
of SB 70, "relating to naturopaths and to the practice of
naturopathy; establishing an Alaska Naturopathic Medical Board;
authorizing medical assistance program coverage of naturopathic
services; and providing for an effective date." This bill
provides for a new naturopathic board with members designated in
the bill; it is independent of the state medical board but does
come under the auspices of the state department of licensing. SB
70 expands the practice of naturopathy into minor surgery and
prescriptive rights. Details of the changes proposed can be
found on page 4 of the bill.
The State Medical Association opposes the bill. The naturopaths
who have testified in favor of it believe that their training is
adequate to provide additional care in this state, particularly
in the underserved areas, to assist in alleviating the great
shortage of primary care physicians.
This issue is not new; this is the second or third legislature
that has brought this bill before the committee. Naturopathic
practice is licensed in at least 15 states and about 9 of those
have some level of prescriptive rights. Every state's licensing
is a little different, which has made it difficult to identify
any consistency in the training and the practice but it is
clearly a complementary alternative medical practice that is
increasing throughout the country
CHAIR DAVIS asked if the committee has any questions or
concerns. She said she will open the floor to public testimony
and that it is her desire to move the bill out of committee
today.
1:42:10 PM
EMILY KANE ND, Vice President, Alaska Association of
Naturopathic Physicians, Juneau, AK, said that Dr. Lise
Alschuler, President, American Association of Naturopathic
Physicians, was scheduled to testify via teleconference at 2:30
p.m. but if the bill is moving out of committee today, she will
hold her testimony for the next committee of referral.
CHAIR DAVIS asked Kristin Cox, ND if she wished to testify and
if her testimony would add anything new to what has already been
presented.
KRISTIN L. COX ND, Rainforest Naturopathic Medicine, Juneau, AK,
said no, that her testimony simply reinforces what has been said
before in support of SB 70.
DR. KANE said she would be happy to take questions from the
committee.
CHAIR DAVIS asked the will of the committee with regard to this
bill.
SENATOR ELLIS commented that he has "lived through this bill"
three or four times over the years and he is ready to support a
motion to move the bill.
1:43:52 PM
SENATOR PASKVAN moved to report SB 70 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There
being no objection, the motion carried.
1:45:13 PM
SENATOR THOMAS joined the meeting.
1:45:50 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Senator Davis adjourned the meeting at 1:45 p.m.
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