AB973: Bill Text

AB973,35 Section 35 . 448.56 (1m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB973,12,22 448.56 (1m) (b) The examining board shall promulgate rules establishing the requirements that a physical therapist must satisfy if a physician, naturopathic doctor, physician assistant, chiropractor, dentist, podiatrist, or advanced practice nurse prescriber makes a written referral under sub. (1). The purpose of the rules shall be to ensure continuity of care between the physical therapist and the health care practitioner.

AB973,36 Section 36. 450.03 (1) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB973,13,5 450.03 (1) (e) Any person lawfully practicing within the scope of a license, permit, registration, certificate, or certification granted to provide home medical oxygen under s. 450.076, to practice professional or practical nursing or nurse-midwifery under ch. 441, to practice dentistry or dental hygiene under ch. 447, to practice medicine and surgery under ch. 448, to practice optometry under ch. 449, to practice naturopathic medicine under ch. 466, or to practice veterinary medicine under ch. 89, or as otherwise provided by statute.

AB973,37 Section 37. 450.10 (3) (a) 12. of the statutes is created to read:

AB973,13,7 450.10 (3) (a) 12. A naturopathic doctor licensed under ch. 466.

AB973,38 Section 38 . 450.11 (7) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB973,13,12 450.11 (7) (b) Information communicated to a physician, naturopathic doctor, physician assistant, or advanced practice nurse prescriber in an effort to procure unlawfully a prescription drug or the administration of a prescription drug is not a privileged communication.

AB973,39 Section 39. 450.11 (8) (f) of the statutes is created to read:

AB973,13,15 450.11 (8) (f) The naturopathic medicine examining board, insofar as this section applies to naturopathic doctors.

AB973,40 Section 40. 462.04 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB973,13,25 462.04 Prescription or order required. A person who holds a license or limited X-ray machine operator permit under this chapter may not use diagnostic X-ray equipment on humans for diagnostic purposes unless authorized to do so by prescription or order of a physician licensed under s. 448.04 (1) (a), a naturopathic doctor licensed under ch. 466, a dentist licensed under s. 447.04 (1), a podiatrist licensed under s. 448.63, a chiropractor licensed under s. 446.02, an advanced practice nurse certified under s. 441.16 (2), a physician assistant licensed under s. 448.04 (1) (f), or, subject to s. 448.56 (7) (a), a physical therapist licensed under s. 448.53.

AB973,41 Section 41. Chapter 466 of the statutes is created to read:

AB973,14,2 chapter 466

AB973,14,3 naturopathic MEDICINE

AB973,14,4 466.01 Definitions. In this chapter:

AB973,14,5 (1) “Board" means the naturopathic medicine examining board.

AB973,14,6 (2) “Drug” has the meaning given in s. 450.01 (10).

AB973,14,9 (3) “Minor office procedure" includes the methods for the repair and care incidental to superficial lacerations, superficial abrasions, and superficial lesions and the removal of foreign bodies located in the superficial tissues.

AB973,14,10 (4) “Naturopathic doctor" means an individual licensed under this chapter.

AB973,14,16 (5) (a) “Naturopathic medicine” means, except as provided in par. (b), a system of primary health care for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human health conditions, injury, and disease; the promotion or restoration of health; and the support and stimulation of a patient's inherent self-healing processes through patient education and the use of naturopathic therapies and therapeutic substances, including all of the following:

AB973,14,20 1. Ordering and performing physical and laboratory examinations, for diagnostic purposes, consistent with naturopathic education and training, including diagnostic or evaluation methods, physical examinations, clinical laboratory tests, diagnostic sonography, electrocardiography, and phlebotomy.

AB973,14,21 2. Ordering diagnostic imaging studies.

AB973,14,22 3. Dispensing, administering, ordering, or performing any of the following:

AB973,14,23 a. Health education and health counseling.

AB973,15,3 b. Food, extracts of food, nutraceuticals, vitamins, amino acids, minerals, enzymes, botanical medicines, homeopathic medicines, dietary supplements, and nonprescription drug products.

AB973,15,5 c. Hot or cold hydrotherapy, naturopathic physical medicine, the use of therapeutic medical equipment, and therapeutic exercise.

AB973,15,7 d. Devices, including therapeutic devices, barrier contraception, and durable medical equipment.

AB973,15,9 e. Any other diagnostic, therapeutic, or other procedure authorized by rule under s. 466.03 (2) (a).

AB973,15,10 4. Prescribing, dispensing, and administering drugs, subject to s. 961.397.

AB973,15,11 5. Performing minor office procedures.

AB973,15,15 6. Signing and attesting to any certificates, cards, forms or other required documentation that a physician may sign, so long as it is within the naturopathic doctor's scope of practice. This subdivision does not supersede any federal or state statute, rule, or regulation.

AB973,15,16 (b) “Naturopathic medicine” does not include any of the following:

AB973,15,17 1. Performing any surgical procedure other than a minor office procedure.

AB973,15,18 2. Using general or spinal anesthetics.

AB973,15,19 3. Administering ionizing radioactive substances for therapeutic purposes.

AB973,15,21 4. Performing surgical procedures involving the eye, ear, tendons, nerves, veins, or arteries that extend beyond superficial tissue.

AB973,15,23 5. Performing any procedure or other practice prohibited by the board by rule under s. 466.03 (2) (a).

AB973,15,24 (6) “Nonprescription drug product" has the meaning given in s. 450.01 (13m).

AB973,16,4 466.02 License required; use of titles. (1) (a) Except as provided in subs. (2) (a) and (b) and (3), no person may practice naturopathic medicine or make a representation as authorized to do so unless the person is licensed under this chapter.

AB973,16,15 (b) Except as provided in subs. (2) (b) and (3), no person may designate himself or herself as a naturopathic doctor or doctor of naturopathic medicine; use or assume the title “naturopathic physician,” “physician of naturopathic medicine,” “naturopathic doctor," “doctor of naturopathic medicine," “naturopathic medical doctor,” or “doctor of naturopathy"; use the words “naturopathic medicine” or “naturopathic health care” in connection with his or her practice; append to the person's name the letters “N.D.," “ND," “N.M.D.," or “NMD"; use any other titles, words, letters, abbreviations, insignia, or designation that would imply that the individual is licensed, certified, or registered as a naturopathic doctor or doctor of naturopathic medicine; or claim to render naturopathic medicine or naturopathic health care services unless the person is licensed under this chapter.

AB973,16,16 (2) (a) Subsection (1) (a) does not require a license for any of the following:

AB973,16,18 1. Any person lawfully practicing within the scope of a license, permit, registration, or certification granted by this state or the federal government.

AB973,16,19 2. The provision of information in connection with the sale of vitamins or herbs.

AB973,16,21 3. The provision of advice regarding the use of a therapy including herbal medicine, homeopathy, nutrition, or other nondrug or nonsurgical therapy.

AB973,16,24 4. Any individual acting under an exemption from the requirement to obtain a license to practice medicine and surgery under s. 448.03 (2), to the extent that the individual's activities also fall within the practice of naturopathic medicine.

AB973,17,3 5. Any person who is providing patient services as directed, supervised, and inspected by a naturopathic doctor who has the power to direct, decide, and oversee the implementation of the patient services rendered.

AB973,17,4 (b) Subsection (1) (a) and (b) does not require a license for any of the following:

AB973,17,7 1. The practice of naturopathic medicine by an individual employed by the federal government while the individual is engaged in the performance of duties prescribed by federal law.

AB973,17,10 2. A person who is licensed to practice naturopathic medicine in another state or country and is providing consultation to or with or a demonstration to or with a naturopathic doctor who is licensed under this chapter.

AB973,17,15 3. The practice of naturopathic medicine by a student enrolled in an approved naturopathic medical program that qualifies under s. 466.04 (1) (d) 1., provided that the performance of services is pursuant to a course of instruction or assignments from an instructor and is under the supervision of the instructor. The student shall use the title “ND candidate” with the intended year of graduation.

AB973,17,17 (3) The board may, by rule, establish additional exemptions from the requirements under sub. (1).

AB973,17,19 466.03 Duties and powers of examining board. (1) The board shall promulgate rules that establish all of the following:

AB973,17,21 (a) Standards of practice for and a code of ethics governing the professional conduct of naturopathic doctors.

AB973,17,23 (b) Continuing education requirements for an applicant seeking renewal of a license to practice naturopathic medicine.

AB973,18,3 (c) Examination standards and requirements for purposes of examinations required under s. 466.04 (1) (e), including required passing scores for examinations and the times when examinations are offered.

AB973,18,4 (2) The board may promulgate rules to do any of the following:

AB973,18,8 (a) Further define the scope of practice of naturopathic medicine. The board may expressly authorize diagnostic, therapeutic, or other practices that may be used by naturopathic doctors. The board may expressly prohibit diagnostic, therapeutic, or other practices.

AB973,18,11 (b) Establish character and fitness requirements for initial licensure or renewal of a license under this chapter and evidence required to demonstrate satisfaction of such requirements.

AB973,18,14 (c) Establish physical and mental competency requirements for initial licensure or renewal of a license under this chapter and evidence required to demonstrate satisfaction of such requirements.

AB973,18,17 (d) Establish evidence of professional competency requirements for initial licensure or renewal of a license under this chapter, including evidence relating to an applicant's licensure status in other states.

AB973,18,19 (e) Establish additional clinical, practical, or residency requirements for initial licensure under this chapter.

AB973,18,21 (f) Adopt minimum malpractice insurance requirements for naturopathic doctors.

AB973,18,24 (3) The board may, for purposes of s. 466.04 (1) (d) 1. e. and 2. f., disqualify any naturopathic medical program if the board determines the program does not adequately prepare students to practice naturopathic medicine.

AB973,19,2 466.04 License; renewal. (1) Naturopathic doctor license. The board shall grant a license as a naturopathic doctor to a person who does all of the following:

AB973,19,4 (a) Submits an application for the license to the department on a form provided by the department.

AB973,19,5 (b) Pays the fee specified in s. 440.05 (1).

AB973,19,7 (c) Subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, submits evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant does not have an arrest or a conviction record.

AB973,19,10 (d) Submits evidence satisfactory to the board that he or she has completed a naturopathic medical program offered in the United States or in Canada that satisfies one of the following:

AB973,19,11 1. The program satisfies all of the following:

AB973,19,13 a. The program provides the degree of doctor of naturopathy or doctor of naturopathic medicine.

AB973,19,15 b. The program offers full-time, graduate-level, didactic, and supervised residential and clinical training.

AB973,19,18 c. The program is accredited, or has achieved candidacy status for such accreditation, by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education or an equivalent federally recognized accrediting body for naturopathic medical programs.

AB973,19,22 d. The program is offered by an institution of higher education or part of an institution of higher education that is accredited, or is a candidate for such accreditation, by a regional accrediting organization or a national institutional accrediting agency recognized by the federal department of education.

AB973,19,24 e. The program has not been disqualified by the board as an approved naturopathic medical educational program under s. 466.03 (3).

AB973,19,25 2. The program satisfies all of the following:

AB973,20,2 a. The program existed prior to the existence of the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education.

AB973,20,4 b. The program provided the degree of doctor of naturopathy or doctor of naturopathic medicine.

AB973,20,7 c. The program provided full-time, graduate-level, didactic, and supervised clinical training in naturopathic medicine for a duration of not less than 132 weeks and required completion within a period of not less than 35 months.

AB973,20,11 d. If the program is still in existence, the program is currently accredited, or has achieved candidacy status for accreditation by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education or an equivalent federally recognized accrediting body for the naturopathic medical profession recognized by the board.

AB973,20,15 e. The program was offered by an institution of higher education or part of an institution of higher education that is accredited, or is a candidate for such accreditation, by a regional accrediting organization or a national institutional accrediting agency recognized by the federal department of education.

AB973,20,17 f. The program has not been disqualified by the board as an approved naturopathic medical educational program under s. 466.03 (3).

AB973,20,19 (e) Submits evidence satisfactory to the board that he or she has passed all of the following:

AB973,20,22 1. A competency-based national naturopathic licensing examination administered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners or its successor organization or another examination approved by the board by rule.

AB973,20,23 2. A pharmacology examination approved by the board by rule.

AB973,20,25 3. Any other competency or jurisprudence examinations required by the board by rule.

AB973,21,3 (f) Meets any character and fitness, mental and physical competency, and professional competency standards established by the board under s. 466.03 (2) (b) to (d).

AB973,21,5 (g) Meets any other requirement established by the board under s. 466.03 (2) (e).

AB973,21,13 (2) Renewal. The renewal dates for licenses granted under this chapter are specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a). Renewal applications shall be submitted to the department on a form provided by the department, and shall include the renewal fee determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a), proof of compliance with continuing education requirements established by the board under s. 466.03 (1) (b), proof of compliance with any requirements established by the board under s. 466.03 (2) (b) to (d), and proof of compliance with any malpractice insurance requirements under s. 466.03 (2) (f).