AN ACT Relating to naturopathic physician scope of practice;
Summary
HB1888 expands the scope of practice for licensed naturopathic physicians in Washington. The bill states legislative findings that naturopathic physicians are already recognized as primary care providers, that the state faces a shortage of primary care services, and that allowing naturopathic physicians to practice more fully would improve access, reduce duplication of services, and lower emergency department use and costs. It updates statutory definitions related to naturopathic medicine and clarifies the range of services included in the profession.
The bill authorizes naturopathic physicians to prescribe and administer legend drugs and certain controlled substances, subject to board-approved examinations, training, and registration in the prescription monitoring program. It also allows them to sign and attest to a broader set of documents and certificates, including disability determinations, hospice orders, student athletic forms, guardianships, and powers of attorney, so long as the action is within their scope of practice. In addition, the bill revises related controlled-substance and practitioner definitions to incorporate naturopathic physicians into the state’s drug and prescribing framework.
Impact
HB1888 would amend multiple sections of Washington law governing naturopathic medicine and controlled substances, including RCW provisions defining naturopathic practice, practitioners, and drug-related terms. It would give naturopathic physicians explicit authority to prescribe and administer certain legend drugs and controlled substances, require compliance with board-established education and training standards, and integrate them into the prescription monitoring program. The bill also affects who may lawfully issue prescriptions, sign medical documentation, and be treated as an authorized practitioner under state drug and health-care statutes.
Sentiment
The overall sentiment reflected in the bill text is strongly supportive of expanding naturopathic practice. The findings emphasize access to care, primary care shortages, pandemic-related strain on the health system, and the role naturopathic physicians can play in addressing opioid and benzodiazepine-related issues through careful prescribing and deprescribing. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no additional evidence of opposition or divided sentiment in the available context.
Contention
The main policy tension is the expansion of prescribing authority for naturopathic physicians, especially for controlled substances, which raises questions about training, competency, and patient safety. The bill addresses that concern by requiring a board-approved exam, additional education and training, and registration with the prescription monitoring program before prescribing controlled substances other than testosterone and codeine products. Another potential point of contention is the broader recognition of naturopathic physicians for signing legal and medical documents, which could be viewed as either improving access and convenience or extending authority beyond what some stakeholders consider appropriate for the profession.