Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB867 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	hb0867
6	6
7	7	HOUSE BILL 867
8	8	J2 5lr2488
9	9
10	10	By: Delegate Cullison
11	11	Introduced and read first time: January 30, 2025
12	12	Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
13	13
14	14	A BILL ENTITLED
15	15
16	16	AN ACT concerning 1
17	17
18	18	State Board of Physicians – Naturopathic Doctors – Prescriptive Authority and 2
19	19	Administration of Medication 3
20	20
21	21	FOR the purpose of repealing the Naturopathic Doctors Formulary Council within the 4
22	22	State Board of Physicians; altering the drugs that may be prescribed by a 5
23	23	naturopathic doctor; altering the methods by which a naturopathic doctor may 6
24	24	administer medication; and generally relating to naturopathic doctors. 7
25	25
26	26	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
27	27	Article – Health Occupations 9
28	28	Section 14–5F–01 and 14–5F–14 10
29	29	Annotated Code of Maryland 11
30	30	(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 12
31	31
32	32	BY repealing 13
33	33	Article – Health Occupations 14
34	34	Section 14–5F–04.1 15
35	35	Annotated Code of Maryland 16
36	36	(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 17
37	37
38	38	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 18
39	39	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 19
40	40
41	41	Article – Health Occupations 20
42	42
43	43	14–5F–01. 21
44	44
45	45	(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 22
46	46
47	47	(b) “Approved naturopathic medical program” means a naturopathic medical 23
48	48	education program: 24 2 HOUSE BILL 867
49	49
50	50
51	51
52	52	(1) In the United States that: 1
53	53
54	54	(i) Provides the degree of Doctor of Naturopathy or Doctor of 2
55	55	Naturopathic Medicine; 3
56	56
57	57	(ii) Offers a 4–year graduate–level, full–time didactic and 4
58	58	supervised clinical training; 5
59	59
60	60	(iii) Is accredited, or has achieved candidacy status for accreditation, 6
61	61	by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education or an equivalent federally and 7
62	62	Board–recognized accrediting body for naturopathic medical programs; and 8
63	63
64	64	(iv) Is part of an institution of higher education that is either 9
65	65	accredited, or is a candidate for accreditation, by a regional or national institutional 10
66	66	accrediting agency recognized by the United States Secretary of Education; or 11
67	67
68	68	(2) In a diploma–granting, degree–equivalent college or university in 12
69	69	Canada that: 13
70	70
71	71	(i) Offers graduate–level, full–time didactic and supervised clinical 14
72	72	training; 15
73	73
74	74	(ii) Is accredited, or has achieved candidacy status for accreditation, 16
75	75	by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education or an equivalent federally and 17
76	76	Board–recognized accrediting body for naturopathic medical programs; and 18
77	77
78	78	(iii) Has provincial approval for participation in government–funded 19
79	79	student aid programs. 20
80	80
81	81	(c) “Auto–injectable epinephrine” means a portable, disposable drug delivery 21
82	82	device that contains a premeasured single dose of epinephrine that is used to treat 22
83	83	anaphylaxis in an emergency situation. 23
84	84
85	85	(d) “Board” means the State Board of Physicians. 24
86	86
87	87	(e) “Committee” means the Naturopathic Medicine Advisory Committee. 25
88	88
89	89	[(f) “Council” means the Naturopathic Doctors Formulary Council.] 26
90	90
91	91	[(g)] (F) (1) “Device” means a device used in the diagnosis, treatment, or 27
92	92	prevention of disease. 28
93	93
94	94	(2) “Device” does not include: 29
95	95
96	96	(i) Any surgical or dental instrument; 30
97	97	HOUSE BILL 867 3
98	98
99	99
100	100	(ii) Any physical therapy equipment; 1
101	101
102	102	(iii) Any X–ray apparatus; or 2
103	103
104	104	(iv) Any component part or accessory of any of the items listed in 3
105	105	items (i) through (iii) of this paragraph. 4
106	106
107	107	[(h) “Formulary” means a list of drugs and devices developed and adopted in 5
108	108	accordance with § 14–5F–04.1 of this subtitle.] 6
109	109
110	110	[(i)] (G) “Licensed naturopathic doctor” means a naturopathic doctor who is 7
111	111	licensed to practice naturopathic medicine. 8
112	112
113	113	[(j)] (H) “Naturopathic doctor” means an individual who practices naturopathic 9
114	114	medicine. 10
115	115
116	116	[(k)] (I) (1) “Naturopathic medicine” means the prevention, diagnosis, and 11
117	117	treatment of human health conditions, injury, and disease using only patient education and 12
118	118	naturopathic therapies and therapeutic substances recognized by the Council of 13
119	119	Naturopathic Medical Education. 14
120	120
121	121	(2) “Naturopathic medicine” includes: 15
122	122
123	123	(i) Counseling; 16
124	124
125	125	(ii) The practice of the mechanical sciences of healing, including 17
126	126	mechanotherapy, articular manipulation, corrective an d orthopedic gymnastics, 18
127	127	hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, and phototherapy; 19
128	128
129	129	(iii) The practice of the material sciences of healing, including 20
130	130	nutrition, phytotherapy, treatment by natural substances, and external applications; and 21
131	131
132	132	(iv) Prescribing, dispensing, or administering nonprescription and 22
133	133	prescription drugs and devices [listed in the formulary] AS AUTHORIZED UNDER THIS 23
134	134	TITLE. 24
135	135
136	136	[(l)] (J) “Naturopathic musculoskeletal mobilization” means the treatment by 25
137	137	manual and other mechanical means of all body tissues exclusive of high–velocity thrusts 26
138	138	at or beyond the end range of normal joint motion. 27
139	139
140	140	[(m)] (K) “Nonprescription drug” means a drug that: 28
141	141
142	142	(1) May be sold without a prescription; and 29
143	143
144	144	(2) Is labeled for use by a consumer in accordance with State and federal 30
145	145	law. 31 4 HOUSE BILL 867
146	146
147	147
148	148
149	149	[(n)] (L) “Prescription drug” means any drug defined in § 503(b) of the federal 1
150	150	Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act if the drug’s label is required to bear the statement “Rx only”. 2
151	151
152	152	[14–5F–04.1. 3
153	153
154	154	(a) (1) There is a Naturopathic Doctors Formulary Council within the Board. 4
155	155
156	156	(2) The Council consists of the following members: 5
157	157
158	158	(i) The Deputy Secretary of Public Health Services, or the Deputy 6
159	159	Secretary’s designee; and 7
160	160
161	161	(ii) The following members, appointed by the Board: 8
162	162
163	163	1. Two individuals who: 9
164	164
165	165	A. Practice naturopathic medicine in the State; 10
166	166
167	167	B. Are certified by the North American Board of 11
168	168	Naturopathic Examiners; 12
169	169
170	170	C. Have a minimum of 2 years experience; and 13
171	171
172	172	D. Are licensed naturopathic doctors; 14
173	173
174	174	2. Two licensed physicians who practice in the State; 15
175	175
176	176	3. One pharmacist who has a background in pharmacognosy 16
177	177	and who practices in the State; and 17
178	178
179	179	4. One consumer. 18
180	180
181	181	(3) (i) The term of an appointed member is 4 years. 19
182	182
183	183	(ii) At the end of a term, an appointed member continues to serve 20
184	184	until a successor is appointed. 21
185	185
186	186	(4) A member of the Council: 22
187	187
188	188	(i) May not receive compensation as a member of the Council; but 23
189	189
190	190	(ii) Is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard 24
191	191	State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 25
192	192
193	193	(5) The Board shall designate the chair of the Council. 26
194	194	HOUSE BILL 867 5
195	195
196	196
197	197	(6) The Board shall provide staff for the Council. 1
198	198
199	199	(b) The Council shall: 2
200	200
201	201	(1) Develop and recommend to the Board a formulary for use by licensed 3
202	202	naturopathic doctors; 4
203	203
204	204	(2) Annually review the formulary adopted by the Board under subsection 5
205	205	(c) of this section to determine if any changes are necessary for compliance with current 6
206	206	prescribing standards or the practice of naturopathic medicine; 7
207	207
208	208	(3) Otherwise review the formulary at the direction of the Board; and 8
209	209
210	210	(4) Make recommendations to the Board based on the reviews conducted 9
211	211	under items (2) and (3) of this subsection. 10
212	212
213	213	(c) (1) The Board shall adopt a formulary based on the recommendations of 11
214	214	the Council made under subsection (b) of this section. 12
215	215
216	216	(2) The Board may modify or reject any recommendation of the Council 13
217	217	regarding the formulary. 14
218	218
219	219	(d) (1) The formulary adopted by the Board shall include: 15
220	220
221	221	(i) Nonprescription drugs and devices; 16
222	222
223	223	(ii) Prescription oxygen and auto–injectable epinephrine; and 17
224	224
225	225	(iii) Prescription diaphragms and cervical caps for contraception. 18
226	226
227	227	(2) The formulary may not include: 19
228	228
229	229	(i) Except as provided in paragraph (1)(ii) and (iii) of this subsection, 20
230	230	prescription drugs or devices; or 21
231	231
232	232	(ii) Controlled substances.] 22
233	233
234	234	14–5F–14. 23
235	235
236	236	(a) A license authorizes a licensee, consistent with naturopathic education and 24
237	237	training and competence demonstrated by passing the naturopathic physician licensing 25
238	238	examination, to: 26
239	239
240	240	(1) Order and perform physical and laboratory examinations for diagnostic 27
241	241	purposes, including phlebotomy, clinical laboratory tests, orificial examinations, 28
242	242	electrocardiograms with over read by a cardiologist, and physiological function tests; 29
243	243	6 HOUSE BILL 867
244	244
245	245
246	246	(2) Order diagnostic imaging studies and interpret the reports of diagnostic 1
247	247	imaging studies; 2
248	248
249	249	(3) Dispense or order natural medicines of mineral, animal, or botanical 3
250	250	origin, including food, extracts of food, nutraceuticals, vitamins, amino acids, minerals, 4
251	251	enzymes, botanicals and their extracts, botanical medicines, homeopathic medicines, and 5
252	252	all dietary supplements and nonprescription drugs [listed in the formulary] that use 6
253	253	various routes of administration, including oral, nasal, auricular, ocular, rectal, vaginal, 7
254	254	transdermal, [and] intramuscular, SUBCUTANEOUS , AND INTRAVENOUS ; 8
255	255
256	256	(4) Administer natural medicines of mineral, animal, or botanical origin, 9
257	257	including food, extracts of food, nutraceuticals, vitamins, amino acids, minerals, enzymes, 10
258	258	botanicals and their extracts, botanical medicines, homeopathic medicines, and all dietary 11
259	259	supplements and nonprescription drugs [listed in the formulary] using various routes of 12
260	260	administration, including oral, nasal, auricular, ocular, rectal, vaginal, [and] transdermal, 13
261	261	INTRAMUSCULAR , SUBCUTANEOUS , AND INTRAVENOUS ; 14
262	262
263	263	(5) Administer auto–injectable epinephrine; 15
264	264
265	265	(6) Administer or perform hot or cold hydrotherapy, naturopathic physical 16
266	266	medicine, electromagnetic energy, and therapeutic exercise for the purpose of providing 17
267	267	basic therapeutic care services, except that if a referral to another licensed provider is 18
268	268	appropriate for ongoing rehabilitation or habilitation services, the naturopathic doctor shall 19
269	269	make the referral; 20
270	270
271	271	(7) Provide health education and health counseling; [and] 21
272	272
273	273	(8) Perform naturopathic musculoskeletal mobilization; AND 22
274	274
275	275	(9) PRESCRIBE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF NATUROPATHI C MEDICINE: 23
276	276
277	277	(I) A PRESCRIPTION DRUG; AND 24
278	278
279	279	(II) A SCHEDULE III, SCHEDULE IV, OR SCHEDULE V 25
280	280	CONTROLLED DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE. 26
281	281
282	282	(b) A license does not authorize a licensee to: 27
283	283
284	284	(1) Except for a prescription drug [or device included in the formulary 28
285	285	under § 14–5F–04.1(d)(1)(ii) or (iii) of this subtitle] DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (A)(9) 29
286	286	OF THIS SECTION , prescribe, dispense, or administer any prescription drug or device OR 30
287	287	A SCHEDULE II CONTROLLED DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE; 31
288	288
289	289	(2) Perform surgical procedures; 32
290	290	HOUSE BILL 867 7
291	291
292	292
293	293	(3) Practice or claim to practice as a medical doctor or physician, an 1
294	294	osteopath, a dentist, a podiatrist, an optometrist, a psychologist, a nurse practitioner, a 2
295	295	physician assistant, a chiropractor, a physical therapist, an acupuncturist, or any other 3
296	296	health care professional unless licensed under this article; 4
297	297
298	298	(4) Use general or spinal anesthetics; 5
299	299
300	300	(5) Administer ionizing radioactive substances for therapeutic purposes; 6
301	301
302	302	(6) Perform chiropractic adjustments or manipulations that include 7
303	303	high–velocity thrusts at or beyond the end range of normal joint motion unless the licensee 8
304	304	is also a licensed chiropractor; 9
305	305
306	306	(7) Perform acupuncture unless the licensee is also a licensed 10
307	307	acupuncturist; or 11
308	308
309	309	(8) Prescribe, dispense, or administer any prescription or nonprescription 12
310	310	drug or device [listed in the formulary] for cosmetic purposes. 13
311	311
312	312	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 14
313	313	October 1, 2025. 15