Legislature(2023 - 2024)BUTROVICH 205
03/07/2023 03:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
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Audio | Topic |
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Start | |
Confirmation Hearing(s) Commissioner Department of Health | |
SB8 | |
SB44 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ | TELECONFERENCED | ||
+= | SB 8 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+= | SB 44 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 44-NATUROPATHS: LICENSING; PRACTICE 4:13:09 PM CHAIR WILSON reconvened the meeting and announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 44 "An Act relating to the practice of naturopathy; establishing the Naturopathy Advisory Board; relating to the licensure of naturopaths; relating to disciplinary sanctions for naturopaths; relating to the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development; and providing for an effective date." 4:13:26 PM CHAIR WILSON noted that there was a committee substitute (CS) for the committee to consider. He solicited a motion. 4:13:29 PM SENATOR KAUFMAN moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS) for SB 44, work order 33-LS0297\S, as the working document. 4:13:40 PM CHAIR WILSON objected for purposes of discussion. 4:13:53 PM JANE CONWAY, Staff, Senator Cathy Giessel, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided the following summary of changes for SB 44 from version B to version S: Page 2, lines 23-24: re: Advisory Board composition The Advisory Board composition was changed to be comprised of 2 NDs, 1 pharmacist, 1 MD or OD and 1 public member. (Reduced public members from 2 to 1, reduced NDs from 3 to 2, and added 1 pharmacist and 1 MD or OD.) Page 4, line 4: re: externship Removes the externship program requirement for Naturopath licensure. The term is confusing and unnecessary. Other medical providers with the level of authority the NDs are requesting are not required to match or emulate the MD and OD internship process. The training for NPs is most commensurate with that of NDs having similar clinical hours, and neither have a required residency. Page 6, line 13: re: vaccines Added vaccines to the list of services that a licensed naturopath may provide. Page 6, line 19: Deletion of the word "surgical" to clarify this sentence which only means that a licensed naturopath may treat superficial lacerations, abrasions and lesions. The word "surgical" can be mistaken to infer procedures that they are not seeking to perform. Page 6, line 26: Replaces the word "ultrasound" with the word "imaging." There are several types of imaging that a naturopath may wish to order if necessary. Other types of imaging could be an X-ray, MRI, CT scan, ultrasound, EKG, and other tests to assist with correct patient diagnosis. Page 6, line 30: Replaces the word "ultrasound" with the word "imaging." There are several types of imaging that a naturopath may wish to order if necessary to assist with correct patient diagnosis. CHAIR WILSON discerned there were no questions or comments. 4:16:55 PM CHAIR WILSON removed his objection; he found no further objection and version S was adopted. He noted that Senator Dunbar had an amendment. 4:17:21 PM At ease 4:18:19 PM CHAIR WILSON reconvened the meeting. 4:18:25 PM SENATOR DUNBAR moved to adopt Amendment 1 for SB 44. He noted that the amendment was drafted based on the original bill, but the following reflects the proposed changes to version S. AMENDMENT 1 OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR DUNBAR TO: SB 44, version S Page 4, lines 5 - 6: Delete all material. Renumber the following paragraphs accordingly. Page 6, line 24: Delete "and" Page 6, line 27, following "test": Insert "; and (5) write prescriptions if the person has passed a pharmaceutical examination approved by the department that is equivalent to any examination of pharmaceutical knowledge required under AS 08.64.210 or 08.64.220" 4:18:28 PM CHAIR WILSON objected for purposes of an explanation. SENATOR DUNBAR explained that naturopaths in Alaska are not required to have prescriptive authority to practice, but SB 44 would require an individual who applies for a license to practice naturopathy in the state to have passed a pharmaceutical examination before they apply. The intent of the amendment is to delete the requirement for naturopaths to pass a pharmaceutical examination. Then on page 6, line 27 a new paragraph (5) adds the ability for naturopaths to write prescriptions if they have passed an approved pharmaceutical examination. Naturopaths may obtain prescriptive authority but they aren't required to do so. 4:20:15 PM SENATOR GIESSEL advised that Dr. Clyde Jensen, who is a professor of pharmacology, may wish to comment on Amendment 1. 4:20:41 PM CLYDE JENSEN, Ph.D., MS, Professor of Pharmacology, Rocky Vista University, Saint George, Utah stated his belief that a naturopath who does not wish to prescribe should not be required to do so. He then cautioned the committee to be mindful of any amendment that creates unnecessary obstacles. 4:22:08 PM CHAIR WILSON asked Senator Dunbar for confirmation that the amendment would remove the requirement for a naturopath to pass a pharmaceutical examination. 4:22:26 PM SENATOR DUNBAR clarified that Amendment 1 removes the requirement for a naturopath to pass a pharmaceutical examination to practice naturopathy. It also adds a new paragraph (5) on page 6 that clarifies that a licensed naturopath who wants to write prescriptions may do so once they have passed an approved pharmaceutical examination. 4:22:47 PM CHAIR WILSON asked Dr. Jensen if there would be a benefit for a naturopath to take the pharmaceutical examination even if they do not intend to prescribe. 4:23:04 PM DR. JENSEN said he was not aware of a benefit to taking the examination if a naturopath chooses not to prescribe. 4:23:23 PM SENATOR GIESSEL stated that the purpose of the state's regulatory boards is to protect the public. She posited that when a naturopath is providing health care services, they are not confining their services to individuals who are not consuming pharmaceuticals. She opined that the vitamins, minerals, and herbal preparations that naturopaths recommend have the potential to create side effects when they interact with pharmaceuticals an individual has taken. She said that's the reason to require naturopaths to demonstrate pharmaceutical knowledge even if they don't prescribe them. The requirement for naturopaths to pass a pharmaceutical examination provides documentation that the state has examined an individual and asserts that they have equivalent pharmaceutical knowledge to others who are licensed under medical statutes. She noted that Dr. Jenson testified in the past that the pharmacological education that naturopaths receive is equivalent to medical physicians. 4:26:18 PM SENATOR TOBIN asked if the amendment would create two types of licenses for naturopaths, one with an endorsement and one without. She asked who would be checking to ensure that a naturopath was practicing within their scope of licensure. 4:26:50 PM SENATOR DUNBAR stated his belief that it would be the same regulatory agency that currently oversees naturopaths. He continued to say that if a naturopath were to exercise prescriptive authority without taking the pharmaceutical examination, that same regulatory body would take action. He noted that Senator Giessel has evidence that most naturopaths would take the examination and seek prescriptive authority, but some members of the public expressed a desire to not force prescriptive authority on naturopaths. 4:28:05 PM SENATOR DUNBAR said he appreciates the changes in the CS and Senator Giessel's reasoned argument for public safety. He withdrew Amendment 1 and said he appreciated that the discussion was on the record. 4:28:22 PM CHAIR WILSON found no further amendments, questions, or comments and he solicited a motion. 4:28:39 PM SENATOR KAUFMAN moved to report the CS for SB 44, work order 33- LS0297\S, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). 4:28:48 PM CHAIR WILSON found no objection and CSSB 44(HSS) was reported from the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee.