Assigned to HHS FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1163
homeopathic medicine; integrated medicine; qualifications
Purpose
Establishes a pathway for acupuncturists, physical therapists, naturopaths, chiropractors,
doctors from approved countries and individuals trained by the U.S. Armed Forces in emergency
medical care to become licensed homeopathic physicians. Applies the current scope of
homeopathic medicine to doctors of integrated medicine. Removes various functions from the
scope of homeopathic medicine.
Background
The Board of Homeopathic and Integrated Medicine Examiners (Board) is responsible for
the licensing and oversight of the practice of homeopathic and integrated medicine in Arizona,
including but not limited to: 1) conducting all licensure examinations, issuing licenses and
conducting hearings; 2) enforcing prescribed standards of practice; 3) collecting and accounting
for fees; 4) maintaining a record of its acts and proceedings; 5) maintaining a roster of all licensees;
and 6) adopting and using a seal. Additionally the Board may adopt necessary rules and hire
personnel to enforce laws governing homeopathic and integrated medicine (A.R.S. § 32-2904).
The Board must appoint an executive director from outside its membership, who serves at the
pleasure of the Board (A.R.S. § 32-2905).
The Board must grant a license to practice homeopathic medicine to an applicant who:
1) holds a degree from an approved school of medicine or has received an equivalent medical
education; 2) holds a license in good standing to practice medicine as a medical or osteopathic
physician in Arizona or is licensed in another state, district or territory of the United States; 3) has
a professional record indicating the applicant has not had a license to practice medicine refused,
revoked, suspended or restricted for reasons related to the applicant's ability to competently and
safely practice medicine; 4) has a professional record indicating the applicant has not committed
or engaged in any conduct constituting disciplinary action; 5) has the physical and mental capacity
to safely engage in the practice of medicine; 6) pays all required fees and costs; and 7) completes
the application. However, an applicant may also be licensed as a homeopath without holding a
license as a medical or osteopathic physician if the applicant holds a degree from an approved
school of medicine (A.R.S. 32-2912).
For a homeopath that is also licensed to practice as a medical or osteopathic physician,
practice of homeopathic medicine means the practice of medicine in which a person purports to
diagnose, treat or correct real or imagined human diseases, injuries, ailments, infirmities and
deformities of a physical or mental origin and includes acupuncture, chelation therapy,
homeopathy, minor surgery, neuromuscular integration, nutrition, orthomolecular therapy and
pharmaceutical medicine. For a homeopath that does not hold an additional medical license,
practice of homeopathic medicine means the practice of medicine in which a person purports to
diagnose, treat or correct real or imagined human diseases, injuries, ailments, infirmities and
deformities of a physical or mental origin by means of homeopathy and nutrition. FACT SHEET
S.B. 1163
Page 2
Homeopathy is a system of medicine that employs homeopathic medication in accordance
with the principle that a substance that produces symptoms in a healthy person can cure those
symptoms in an ill person (A.R.S. § 32-2901).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Removes acupuncture, chelation therapy, homeopathy, minor surgery, neuromuscular
integration, nutrition, orthomolecular therapy and pharmaceutical medicine from the definition
of practice of homeopathic medicine.
2. Requires the Board to award a license to practice homeopathic medicine to an eligible applicant
who has completed an approved training program.
3. Establishes separate examination requirements for licensure as a homeopathic or integrated
physician and modifies examination requirements.
4. Eliminates the ability of the Board to appoint a temporary secretary to perform the duties of
the executive director if that office is vacant.
5. Directs the executive director of the Acupuncture Board of Examiners to serve as the executive
director of the Board.
6. Requires the staff of the Acupuncture Board of Examiners to carry out the administrative
responsibilities of the Board.
7. Requires the executive director of the Board to perform all duties of the Board and employ
personnel necessary to carry out Board functions.
8. Requires the Board to meet each January with the Acupuncture Board of Examiners to set
financial compensation for staff and operating expense sharing.
9. Requires the Board to prescribe rules for conducting the homeopathic licensure examination
and set the passing grade.
10. Directs the Board to issue a license, without examination, to any applicant that holds or has
passed the examination to hold a certification from the Council for Homeopathic Certification
or its equivalent.
11. Removes the requirement that the executive director send a license renewal notice by first class
mail to the address most recently provided to the Board.
12. Requires the Board to include a list of approved training programs in its annual directory.
13. Requires licensees to inform the Board in writing of any change in personal or work email
address within 45 days. FACT SHEET
S.B. 1163
Page 3
14. Removes the requirement that the Board:
a) elect a secretary-treasurer from its membership; and
b) include the signatures of the president or vice-president and secretary-treasurer together
with the Board's seal as evidence of its official acts.
15. Classifies it as a class 5 felony to:
a) practice as a doctor of integrated medicine or an advanced homeopathic practitioner
without being licensed or exempt from licensure; or
b) secure a license to engage in the practice of integrated medicine by fraud or deceit.
16. Classifies it as a class 2 misdemeanor to use:
a) the titles of osteopathic medicine (homeopathic), homeopathic practitioner or doctor of
integrated medicine without being licensed; or
b) any words, initials or symbols that lead the public to believe that a person is licensed to
engage in the practice of integrated medicine.
17. Allows a licensee to use the titles homeopathic physician or doctor of integrated medicine if
the licensee holds:
a) a degree from an approved school of medicine or has received an equivalent medical
education; or
b) a license in good standing to practice medicine as a medical or osteopathic physician in
Arizona or by another state, district or territory of the United States.
18. Allows a licensee that does not hold a degree from an approved medical school or a license to
practice medicine in good standing to use the designations homeopathic practitioner, doctor
of homeopathy or homeopathic doctor, except that only a person dual-licensed as an
acupuncturist, naturopath, physical therapist or acupuncturist may use the designations
homeopathic practitioner or doctor of homeopathy.
19. Allows the Board to adopt in rule abbreviations for titles used by homeopathic and integrated
physicians.
20. Applies current acts of unprofessional conduct of a homeopathic physician to an integrated
physician.
21. Defines practice of integrated medicine as the practice of medicine in which the person
purports to diagnose, treat or correct actual or imagined diseases, injuries, ailments, infirmities
and deformities of a physical or mental origin using treatment modalities that include
acupuncture, chelation therapy, homeopathy, minor surgery, neuromuscular integration,
nutrition, orthomolecular therapy and pharmaceutical medicine
22. Defines approved training program, for a person seeking licensure as a homeopath, as a
program that requires the person to both:
a) successfully complete:
i. a program that would qualify an applicant for certification or licensure as a
chiropractor, naturopath, physical therapist or acupuncturist;
ii. training and testing by the U.S. Armed Forces at a level comparable to the national
standards for emergency medical care technicians; or FACT SHEET
S.B. 1163
Page 4
iii. a program to receive a degree or other certification from a Board-approved medical or
osteopathic medical school in an approved foreign country; and
b) meet one of the following:
i. hold, or pass the examination to hold, a certification from the Council for Homeopathic
Certification or its successor;
ii. complete a program approved by the Board or accredited by the Accreditation
Commission for Homeopathic Education in North America, its successor organization
or a similar accrediting body; or
iii. complete a Board-approved program designed to prepare the person for the practice of
homeopathic medicine.
23. Defines approved foreign country as Australia, Hong Kong, Canada, Ireland, the United
Kingdom, Israel, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, India, Switzerland, France, Germany,
as well as any other country the Board votes to add to the list at the Board's annual meeting.
24. Makes technical and conforming changes.
25. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 26, 2024
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