General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6797
January Session, 2015 LCO No. 3322
*03322_______PH_*
Referred to Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH
Introduced by:
(PH)
General Assembly
Raised Bill No. 6797
January Session, 2015
LCO No. 3322
*03322_______PH_*
Referred to Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH
Introduced by:
(PH)
AN ACT CONCERNING THE PRACTICE OF NATUROPATHY.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 20-34 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2015):
(a) The practice of naturopathy means the science, art and practice of healing by natural methods as recognized by the Council of Naturopathic Medical Education and that comprises diagnosis, prevention and treatment of disease and health optimization by stimulation and support of the body's natural healing processes, as approved by the State Board of Naturopathic Examiners, with the consent of the Commissioner of Public Health, and shall include (1) counseling; (2) the practice of the [mechanical and material] physical and therapeutic sciences of healing as follows: [The mechanical sciences such as mechanotherapy] Corrective exercise therapy for rehabilitation, articular manipulation, [corrective and orthopedic gymnastics,] physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, electrotherapy and phototherapy; and the [material] sciences such as nutrition, dietetics, phytotherapy, treatment by natural substances and external applications; (3) ordering diagnostic tests and other diagnostic procedures as such tests and procedures relate to the practice of [mechanical and material] physical and therapeutic sciences of healing as described in subdivision (2) of this subsection; (4) ordering medical devices and durable medical equipment; and (5) removing ear wax, spirometry, tuberculosis testing and venipuncture for blood testing.
(b) For purposes of subsection (a) of this section, "natural substances" means substances that are not narcotic substances, as defined in subdivision (30) of section 21a-240, do not require the written or oral prescription of a licensed practitioner to be dispensed and are only administered orally.
Sec. 2. (Effective October 1, 2015) On or before February 1, 2016, the Department of Public Health, in consultation with the State Board of Naturopathic Examiners, established pursuant to section 20-35 of the general statutes, shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health concerning the scope of practice for naturopaths. Such report shall include, but need not be limited to, recommendations to (1) expand the scope of practice for naturopaths to include prescribing, dispensing and administering certain drugs, and (2) corresponding educational and examination requirements or other qualifications to allow for such expansion of the naturopaths' scope of practice.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2015 20-34
Sec. 2 October 1, 2015 New section
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1
October 1, 2015
20-34
Sec. 2
October 1, 2015
New section
Statement of Purpose:
To make changes to the scope of practice for naturopaths and to require the Department of Public Health to report concerning prescriptive authority for naturopaths.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]