Legislature(2025 - 2026)DAVIS 106
01/22/2026 03:15 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB147 | |
| HB232 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 147 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 232 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 147-PRACTICE OF NATUROPATHY
3:20:28 PM
CHAIR MINA announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 147, "An Act relating to the practice of
naturopathy."
3:21:05 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE PRAX, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, presented HB 147 to the committee. He explained that
the proposed bill would establish a licensing standard for
pharmaceutical workers in Alaska and allow for temporary
endorsement allowing said workers to perform their duties under
supervision of a medical doctor for a year, after which they
would qualify for a pharmacology test. Additionally, the bill
would require 60 hours. of continuing education, including 20
hours. of pharmacology, and would prohibit prescribing a
controlled substance, poison, chemotherapy drug for cancer,
ionizing or radiation therapy, radioactive substance, or anti-
psychotic medication. He also stated that 15 other states allow
for similar provisions.
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX, referring to past testimony, stated that
there had been no disciplinary actions taken against
naturopathic doctors in states that provided such prescribing
authority and that many patients in Alaska emergency rooms are
there to receive primary care rather than emergency care, adding
to a primary care shortage within Alaska. Referencing debates
around the Rural Health Transformation Project, he explained how
the proposed legislation would allow Alaska to join multi-state
licensure compacts. He expressed hope that the bill would allow
naturopathic doctors to work to the fullest scope of their
education and training.
3:25:46 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY commented that he was a co-sponsor of HB
147. He explained that allopathic medicine was the opposite of
naturopathic medicine, referencing the hierarchal structure
surrounding allopathic medicine, and said that many folks in
Alaska would like to pursue alternate forms of medical care. He
stated that since the late 1980s, naturopathic doctors have had
the authority to order laboratory testing and imaging. However,
he stated that while naturopaths have such authority, they are
currently not able to treat their patients to the same capacity
that a traditional medical doctor would. He emphasized that
naturopathic doctors must attend four years of school and are
educated in traditional pharmacology and explained that the
proposed legislation was about allowing access to high-quality
medical care in Alaska. He remarked that the best course of
action for the legislature to take would be to meet folks where
they are by passing this legislation. He further stated that
enshrining these guidelines into law, primary care access would
be expanded across the state. He also stated that not passing
said guidelines would result in unscrupulous medical providers
entering Alaska. He remarked that the state has "created a
culture that encourages substandard care." Representative Gray
concluded that the guidelines within the proposed legislation
would allow Alaska to attract "good naturopaths" who will
practice a high standard of care.
3:28:48 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SCHWANKE echoed Representative Gray's remarks
that HB 147 would increase access to naturopathic care in
Alaska. She shared a personal story about a family member of
hers that had suffered a stroke, who was helped by a
naturopathic doctor and still alive despite the diagnosis by
traditional physicians. Representative Schwanke stated that the
traditional physician who diagnosed her father said that he
would "pass in a couple of months," but naturopathic physician
Dr. Scott Luper, whom she said was on the line listening to the
committee meeting was able to "find an alternative path" and
extend her father's life to the present. Representative
Schwanke said that her father was "enjoying his winter in
Florida this year."
REPRESENTATIVE SCHWANKE, further referencing Representative
Gray's testimony, stated that Alaska is one of a growing number
of states that license and regulate naturopath doctors and that
"it [was] pretty well known that Alaska [was] the most
restrictive when it comes to pharmaceutical prescriptive
authority." She further stated support for the bill and to
moving it out of committee.
3:31:19 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GRAY moved to report HB 147, out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB-147 was reported out of the
House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.