2021 -- H 5850

========

LC000435

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- LICENSE OF NATUROPATHY ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Casey, Kennedy, Solomon, Kazarian, and Williams

     Date Introduced: February 24, 2021

     Referred To: House Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 5-36.1-2 and 5-36.1-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-36.1 entitled

"License of Naturopathy Act of 2017" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     5-36.1-2. Definitions.

     The following words and phrases as used in this chapter shall have the following meanings:

     (1) "Approved naturopathic college" means a college that grants a degree of doctor of

naturopathy naturopathic doctor and:

     (i) Is accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME), its successor

or other accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education; or

     (ii) Is accredited by any other organization approved by the board of licensure of

naturopathy.

     (2) "Board" means the board of licensure of naturopathy.

     (3) "CNME" or "Council" is the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education.

     (4) "Department" means the Rhode Island department of health.

     (5) "Director" means the director of the Rhode Island department of health.

     (6) "Disciplinary action" means any action taken by an administrative law officer

established against a licensee or applicant on a finding of unprofessional conduct by the licensee

or applicant. "Disciplinary action" includes issuance of warnings and all sanctions including denial,

suspension, revocation, limitation, or restriction of licenses and other similar limitations.

     (7) "Doctor of naturopathy" means a person who practices naturopathic health care and is

licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

     (8) "Natural" means present in, produced by, or derived from nature.

     (9) "Naturopathic doctor" means a person who practices naturopathic health care and is

licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

     (9)(10) "Naturopathic health care" or "the practice of naturopathic health care" means a

system of health care that utilizes education, natural substances, and natural therapies to support

and stimulate a patient's intrinsic self-healing processes and to prevent and treat human health

conditions and injuries.

     5-36.1-3. Scope of practice.

     (a) A license authorizes a licensee, consistent with naturopathic education and training and

competence demonstrated by passing the doctor of naturopathy naturopathic doctor licensing

examination, to:

     (1) Order and perform physical and laboratory examinations for diagnostic purposes;

     (2) Dispense or order natural substances of mineral, animal, or botanical origin, including

food, extracts of food, nutraceuticals, vitamins, amino acids, minerals, enzymes, botanicals and

their extracts, botanical substances, homeopathic substances, and all dietary supplements and

nonprescription drugs as defined by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 301 et

seq., that use various routes of administration, including oral, nasal, auricular, ocular, rectal,

vaginal, and transdermal;

     (3) Administer natural substances of mineral, animal, or botanical origin, including food,

extracts of food, nutraceuticals, vitamins, amino acids, minerals, enzymes, botanicals and their

extracts, botanical substances, homeopathic substances, and all dietary supplements and

nonprescription drugs as defined by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 301 et

seq., using transdermal routes of administration;

     (4) Administer or perform hot or cold hydrotherapy, electromagnetic energy, and

therapeutic exercise for the purpose of providing basic therapeutic care services, except that if a

referral to another licensed provider is appropriate for ongoing rehabilitation or habilitation

services, the doctor of naturopathy naturopathic doctor shall make the referral;

     (5) Provide health education and health counseling; and

     (6) Perform naturopathic musculoskeletal mobilization. ; and

     (7) Perform and administer IV therapy; and

     (8) Administer and perform phlebotomy within the office of the naturopathic doctor; and

     (9) Perform consultations with patients regarding their use of prescription medications,

including, but not limited to, counseling regarding interactions of prescription medications, nutrient

LC000435 - Page 2 of 4

deficiencies and safe ways to discontinue use of prescription medication. Naturopathic doctors shall

not make any changes to a patient’s prescription medication and will recommend all changes be

made by the patient’s referring physician.

     (b) If a doctor of naturopathy naturopathic doctor is engaged in the private practice of

naturopathy in the state, the doctor of naturopathy naturopathic doctor shall display the license

obtained pursuant to this section conspicuously in each office where the doctor of naturopathy

naturopathic doctor is engaged in practice.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC000435

========

LC000435 - Page 3 of 4

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- LICENSE OF NATUROPATHY ACT

***

     This act would change the name of doctor of naturopathy to naturopathic doctor and permit

them to administer IVs, perform phlebotomy, and consult, but not change, patient’s prescription

medication.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC000435

========

LC000435 - Page 4 of 4