AB 639

Current law provides for the licensure and regulation of naturopathic doctors and limited-scope naturopathic doctors, which have a more limited scope of practice than that of naturopathic doctors, by the Naturopathic Medicine Examining Board. This bill makes changes related to the regulation and scope of practice of naturopathic doctors.

Under current law, naturopathic doctors are limited to recommending, dispensing, and administering nonprescription drug products. The bill allows naturopathic doctors to prescribe, dispense, and administer prescription drugs. However, the bill prohibits naturopathic doctors from prescribing schedule I or II controlled substances. The bill also adds naturopathic doctors to various other provisions related to drugs, including a provision exempting certain health care practitioners from the limitation on purchasing pseudoephedrine products.

Under current law, the board is authorized, but not required, to promulgate rules to adopt minimum malpractice insurance requirements for naturopathic doctors and limited-scope naturopathic doctors. The board’s current rules do not require it. The bill 1) statutorily requires naturopathic doctors to have in effect malpractice insurance, as provided in the bill and 2) repeals the board’s authority to require higher levels of malpractice insurance for naturopathic doctors by rule.

The changes related to prescribing drugs and the requirement to have in effect malpractice insurance do not apply to limited-scope naturopathic doctors, and the bill further repeals the board’s authority to require malpractice insurance for limited-scope naturopathic doctors by rule.