The Connecticut law governing the practice of naturopathic medicine was passed 90 years ago and has not kept pace with advances made by other states. The Naturopathic Practice Act Modernization 2016 seeks to update the Scope of Practice definition to be consistent with standards already legislated in other states that license naturopathic physicians. Specifically, the act would allow naturopathic physicians (NDs) the same prescriptive authority consistent with many other states that license NDs.

The prescriptive authority language submitted to the Public Health Committee (PHC) is currently being reviewed and a public hearing should be scheduled in March for the bill.

Those in favor of NDs being able to prescribe, please reach out to your town’s legislators—especially if they are on the PHC—and ask them to not only support the bill, but vote yes to get it passed out of the committee.

Updating the Connecticut Naturopathic Practice Act enables NDs to serve their Connecticut patients’ primary care needs consistent with their ND training and education. The Act would also serve to retain vitally needed primary care doctors. This expansion would enhance the ability of NDs and MDs to develop integrated practices, an approach that is common in other states with modernized scope of practice laws. These integrated practices are attractive to patients because they combine both the acute interventions of allopathic medicine with the longer-term restorative strategies of naturopathic medicine and holistic medicine.

Consistent with other states, the act includes refresher pharmacology training and examinations to ensure consistency of knowledge, dosing and safe prescribing for the pharmaceutical component of this scope of practice change.

For links to supportive documents about how to connect with your legislators, go to CNPAonline.org/2015/01/how-why-to-speak-with-your-legislator/.