Senate Bill 990 Summary

• Establishes licensure and regulation of naturopathic physicians in Michigan under a new Part 186 of the Public Health Code, effective 180 days after rules are promulgated.

• Creates an 11-member Board of Naturopathic Medicine consisting of 6 naturopathic physicians, 1 physician, 1 pharmacist, 1 chiropractor, and 2 public members to oversee licensure and practice standards.

• Requires naturopathic physician applicants to graduate from an approved naturopathic medical program and pass a competency-based national licensing examination or state/provincial exam as approved by the board.

• Defines the scope of naturopathic practice to include diagnostic testing, prescription and non-prescription drugs, herbal remedies, physical medicine, minor office procedures, and other natural therapies, while explicitly prohibiting controlled substances, surgery (except minor office procedures), anesthesia, and laser procedures.

• Adds naturopathic physicians to the definition of "prescriber" in pharmacy law and requires the department to establish an annual fee schedule for naturopathic physician licensure to offset administrative costs.