STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1147

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 1155

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1155, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NATUROPATHY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Board of Examiners in Naturopathy to adopt a formulary and qualifications for administering natural medicines by injection, and to grant the authority to qualified naturopaths. It also establishes a temporary advisory committee to recommend a formulary and qualifications.

The Hawaii Society of Naturopathic Physicians and five individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Hawaii Medical Association submitted testimony in opposition. The Board of Examiners in Naturopathy submitted comments.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's current naturopathy law does not specifically authorize naturopaths to administer natural medicines by injection, although it does authorize diagnosing, treating, and caring for patients using natural methods or modalities, and nature's remedies of the type taught in education and training at naturopathic medical colleges. According to the Hawaii Society of Naturopathic Physicians, intramuscular and intravenous administration routes are taught in naturopathic medical colleges, and licensed naturopathic doctors in this State and nationwide "have been administering natural substances including vitamins, minerals and amino acids intramuscularly and intravenously for approximately twenty years."

The Hawaii Medical Association raised concerns about whether naturopaths have the necessary medical education and training to safely administer injections. This measure strikes a balance by establishing a temporary advisory committee to develop and submit recommendations to the Board of Examiners in Naturopathy on a formulary of natural medicines that naturopathic physicians may administer by injection and the qualifications needed before a naturopathic physician may administer natural medicines by injection. The temporary advisory board is comprised of naturopathic physicians, a person licensed in medicine, and a person licensed as a pharmacist, among others, to better address the various concerns before recommending the qualifications.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval and by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1155, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1155, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair