Daily Report Blog

President Levine wrote to the Chair of the Maryland Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee on 2/22/12 in opposition to SB 180, a bill that would expand the scope of practice for naturopaths, allowing them to perform physical and laboratory examinations, prescribe prescription drugs, and order medical imaging and durable medical devices.  Further, the bill would allow naturopaths to use the terms “physician” and “doctor.”  While the AOA values naturopaths’ contributions to the health care delivery system, expanding their authority to provide services to patients should be directly related to additional education, training, and competency examination.  As written, SB 180 may result in Maryland residents being placed in harm’s way.​