HB 122 Summary

• Establishes the Alaska Naturopathic Medical Board consisting of five members: three licensed naturopaths with at least five years of in-state practice experience, one licensed pharmacist, and one public member who may be a licensed physician.

• Authorizes naturopaths to prescribe and administer prescription drugs, vaccines, hormones, and medical devices to patients with whom they have a physician-patient relationship, while prohibiting prescribing controlled substances, poisons, surgery, general or spinal anesthetics, and ionizing radioactive substances.

• Requires naturopaths to hold a degree from an accredited four-year college or university and either have graduated before December 31, 1987 from a naturopathy school with four years of attendance and be licensed in another state, or after December 31, 1987 graduate from a naturopathy school accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education and pass the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination.

• Amends the definition of "practice of medicine" to allow naturopaths to use medical titles including "doctor of medicine" and "physician" if the words "naturopathy" or "naturopathic" also appear in the title.

• Authorizes the state medical assistance program to cover naturopathic services provided by licensed naturopaths within their scope of practice, effective July 1, 2011.