HB 266-PRACTICE OF NATUROPATHY  4:52:00 PM CHAIR OLSON announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 266, "An Act relating to the practice of naturopathy; and providing for an effective date." 4:52:24 PM DANIEL YOUNG, Naturopathic Doctor, stated that he has practiced naturopathy for 24 years, with 17 years practice in Eagle River. He said he is a vice president of the Alaska Association of Naturopathic Physicians and would like to testify in support of HB 266. He explained that to become licensed in Alaska, a naturopathic doctor must have attended a four-year graduate level naturopathic medical school and be accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME). He related that the CNME is a member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors. This body is regulated by the U.S. Department of Education oversees accreditation of allopathic medical doctors (M.D.), osteopathic (D.O.), and naturopathic (N.D.) medical education. He stated that NDs are required to pass rigorous board exams which include pharmacology, and pharmacotherapeutics modules. He stated that NDs are also educated in all the same basic sciences as a medical doctor. However, NDs also study holistic and nontoxic approaches to therapy with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness. Just as medical or osteopathic doctors are considered to be the experts in their fields so are NDs experts in the practice of natural medicine. He highlighted that NDs have practiced in Alaska for 26 years with an impeccable safety record. He emphasized that NDs provide excellent patient care and anyone who says otherwise is mistaken. He provided that NDs study; pharmacology - how drugs work in the body and pharmacotherapeutics - how to use drugs therapeutically. Additionally, NDs also study pharmacognosy - the study of medicines derived from natural sources, which more than prepares them to use natural substances in their practices. Further, the required pharmacology board exam ensure entry-level competency. Although the current law prohibits prescribing drugs, NDs are well trained to use natural substances, whether they are prescription or nonprescription substances. The current statutes and regulations that explain prescription authority have had the due force of law. He characterized the statute as one that allows NDs to function safely within its tenets. He acknowledged that Dr. Jasper has provided the history of the NDs statutes and regulations. He said that over recent years the NDs have attempted to modify the law. 4:55:20 PM JANE MADISON stated that she is an interested resident. She testified in support of HB 266. She has listened to testimony and has heard patients in support of naturopath medicine as the only answer to their health care and wellness. She has also heard medical doctors say that NDs are not well trained and should not be allowed to practice health care. She believed both of these extreme positions are incorrect. Over the past few years she experienced a very serious medical issue and has become very familiar with NDs and MDs. She offered her belief that both have place in health care for Alaskans. She said she was diagnosed with a variety of endocrine issues. She was treated by an excellent physician assistant, whom she described as a wonderful family practitioner, endocrinologist, and a knowledgeable internist, all of whom helped some. All her providers have been medical professionals who appeared to genuinely care and were excellent medical detectives. They all gave her case a great deal of time and attention. However, none could bring her back to normal. In fact, an endocrinologist actually told her that her condition was very serious and they did not have tests or treatment for it. A physician's assistant told her she may have to accept the fact that she may never be well again. She consulted an ND, who quickly determined her endocrine system needed a little boost. She was given one nonprescription pill per day and was monitored with monthly blood tests for a year. Within one month she was back to normal, even though she had spent several years of suffering. She offered her belief that MDs are not knowledgeable about what NDs offer patients and Alaska's regulations limit NDs' practices. She agreed that NDs should have minimum educational requirements prior to licensure in Alaska and they should also have oversight by a state licensing board, as well as submit to continuing education requirements. She stressed that they should be regulated, recognized, and encouraged to practice alongside traditional medical community. She said she hoped this bill will help this happen. She suggested cost savings could be saved if NDs were given the same prescription authority as physician assistants since many patients first visit an ND and must also visits a physician assistant or medical doctor to get a prescription. She stressed this required the necessity for patients to incur two office visits. Thus cost savings could result in insurance billings. She encouraged both sides of wellness and medicine to work together and recognize the NDs are professionals, as well. CHAIR OLSON thanked Ms. Madison and related that there will be a town hall meeting next week. 4:59:22 PM MARY MINER, Naturopathic Doctor, stated she works as an ND in Fairbanks. She graduated from Bastyr University as a naturopathic doctor in 1983 and has been in practice for 28 years. She said she has held licenses in Washington, Connecticut, and Alaska. She testified in support of HB 266. She said that she is placed is an awkward position when she must tell patients she cannot treat them with therapies they know work for them since she is now cut off from access to them. She also cannot refer her patients to traditional medical doctors who do not have familiarity with ND remedies which are outside the MD's training. She urged members to pass this bill. 5:00:49 PM DAVID OTTESEN, stated he is testifying as a consumer, but is also the owner of Rainbow Foods. He related that this is the fourth year he has testified on some form of bill concerning the practice of naturopathy. He said he hopes this year something will come of it. He related his understanding that in prior years the naturopathy bills have involved an expansion of the scope of practice for NDs commensurate with training they receive. However, this year the NDS are just asking to be able to practice as they have for the past 25 years. He pointed out the testimony from patients and consumers of medical care who have expressed their satisfaction with naturopathic care. He characterized naturopathy as high quality, effective care. He emphasized that there has not been a shred of testimony of any harm from NDs. Further, he has heard lots of assertions from doctors and the Alaska Medical Association (AMA) that "the sky will fall if anything like this passes." He found that statement ridiculous. This year NDs are asking to be able to perform services they have provided over the past 25 years. He thinks it is entirely reasonable to request this consideration. He characterized this situation as a travesty if something can't be done because the current situation is intolerable. These NDs have been practicing in Alaska for many years, but their practices are threatened and they may need to leave the state if something isn't done about the current situation. He urged members to pass the bill because NDs provide low-cost, effective care. He concluded that as a consumer should have that choice and it is a freedom of choice issue. CHAIR OLSON stated that considerable progress has been made on the bill. 5:03:41 PM TIM PETERSON, Medical Doctor, stated that he is an allopathic doctor and has practiced emergency room medicine and family medicine in Juneau since 1989. He emphasized the first two years of training NDs receive is identical to that of allopathic medical doctors. He respects NDs' diagnostic skills. He commented on the type of people who opt to see naturopaths. He offered his belief that people who visit NDs tend to be savvy consumers. He said they sometimes pay their own fees and often must fight with insurance for coverage. He characterized those who seek naturopaths as good consumers. He suggested that they see NDs as a matter of choice because it works out better for them. He has had a condition and disease in which his fingers turned white. His colleagues wanted to give him an expensive drug that required liver function tests, but he was not quite ready for that type of testing. He visited a Harvard-trained naturopath in Juneau and was very satisfied with the results. DR. PETERSON said as a matter of choice and collegiality he supports this bill. He has never seen anyone visit the emergency room with side effects or illnesses as a result of seeing naturopaths. He said in this town the NDs and MDs work together. "These are not outliers," he said. He acknowledged that some of his colleagues would disagree and that the medical association tends to be a little conservative as well as a little reactive. He recalled that he testified five or six years ago against the chiropractors' efforts to give prescription drugs since he did not feel it was appropriate. However, he believes NDs should continue to practice, which is appropriate. He characterized NDs as an asset and potentially a money-saving option for patients, rather than for patients to incur the extra expense of an emergency room visit with him. [HB 266 was held over.]