[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,75],{"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43,"_44":45,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6690100,"mediaKeyId","2152953-13360c5082b5a7dd4217224f56f8436b","parentId",2152953,"title","Committee takes more testimony on proposed naturopathic licensure; board structure, scope and exclusions draw debate","audioSeconds",3044,"startMs",3950000,"endMs",6994000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2152953-13360c5082b5a7dd4217224f56f8436b&start=3950&end=6994","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2152953-13360c5082b5a7dd4217224f56f8436b/thumbnail_3950000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6690100/Wyoming/Committee-takes-more-testimony-on-proposed-naturopathic-licensure-board-structure-scope-and-exclusions-draw-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6690100-793dc1fe70284dd139e751296394fb24/orig.mp4?Expires=1769778793&Signature=UrbXDr13dHj9rBitwZU4S33JiDPzRk9UCDBMBQlJYvHz~GHqdW1BpWTpNdU6waSmpMoEhpTUqT~rUCM4pIssR2d2~XhgGdtOvArzPFpZMvWlaBKcvS6gDEpTdXz~PCEE0gz0HcEuGIzRJo1h~tPvMwBcOiv1LFRjw6LUBCwfyt52uqN1IpCBSKVcquwEgpRsrODaRQVlRfUf5E4RPqWBPo0Ya6ge7QqZAENAKHyui6QcTJuswnXKY~EYJoXVn607eOp5GFGFCM9RWCaxzxKbKpWs4fRHZcOEs89XT5JD6X0lTDyCkusRuPoQXjw35HiYP9EFImPXCH-zwIwm9h5ghQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wyoming Legislature","date","2025-01-27T16:56:57.577Z","article","The Labor, Health & Social Services Committee heard extended testimony on House Bill 269, a measure that would add naturopathic medicine to Wyoming law by creating licensure, expanding the state acupuncture board and defining education requirements for a licensed naturopathic physician.

Representative Darren McCann, sponsor of the bill, said HB269 aims to provide an alternative primary‑care option and to “bring competition” into medicine by recognizing naturopathic physicians trained in accredited, four‑year doctoral programs. Doctor Thea Marks, a naturopathic physician and former Wyoming resident who testified in support, described naturopathic doctors as “trained as primary care providers through rigorous accredited doctoral programs requiring more than 4,000 hours of education and training.”

What the bill would do

The bill would amend the Wyoming Acupuncture Act to create a Wyoming Board of Acupuncture and Naturopathic Medicine, increase the board from five to nine members and add three licensed naturopathic physicians as board members. It defines an “approved naturopathic medical program” as a four‑year, graduate doctoral program with didactic and supervised clinical training accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body and references the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners.

Licensure requirements in the draft include graduation from an approved naturopathic medical program or licensure in another jurisdiction with substantially comparable standards, a board‑approved competency exam, fingerprinting and criminal background checks. The bill authorizes rules by the expanded board and includes disciplinary and reinstatement provisions.

Supporters and rationale

Proponents said licensure would increase access to primary care in rural areas, allow naturopathic doctors to be covered by insurance and create clear educational standards. Laura Farr of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians told the committee licensure “is the framework that helps consumers distinguish between educational standards” and said licensure enables insurance and Medicaid coverage that can expand care in underserved communities.

Concerns from current Wyoming practitioners and regulators

Several Wyoming‑based practitioners and other witnesses opposed the bill as drafted. Speakers who identified as traditional naturopaths said HB269 would effectively exclude most existing Wyoming practitioners because it limits licensure eligibility to graduates of a small number of four‑year accredited programs (three programs were referenced during testimony) and would bar current naturopaths who use titles such as “doctor of naturopathy.”

Dan Young, a second‑generation naturopathic practitioner in Cheyenne, said the measure “would limit education accreditation, create monopolistic practices and impose unclear scope and rulemaking authority” and urged the committee to reject the draft. April Martinez and Shayla Slaugh, both naturopaths who testified against the bill, told the panel the proposal would erase professional titles used by experienced practitioners and could force clinics to close in rural communities.

Board capacity, fees and rulemaking issues

Chelsea Cortez, executive director of the Wyoming Board of Acupuncture, raised administrative concerns: combining acupuncture and naturopathic licensing would expand the board from roughly five members to nine and potentially create capacity and sustainability problems, given the small existing acupuncture licensee base. Cortez also flagged background‑check language that could prevent the office from issuing licenses until federal checks complete, which in practice can take months; she suggested conforming language already used in other practice acts.

Scope of practice and next steps

Committee members repeatedly pressed sponsors about scope of practice. Several lawmakers, including Representative Claxton and Representative Yen, said the bill’s draft defers scope decisions to board rulemaking and that lack of an explicit scope in statute makes it difficult to evaluate potential public‑safety implications. The sponsor and supporting witnesses said the board would set scope through rules and that those rules could be shared for further review.

The committee did not take final action. Chairwoman Rodriguez Williams announced that due to the volume of testimony and remaining questions the panel will carry HB269 over to a follow‑up meeting. Lawmakers said they intend to continue receiving public testimony and proposed rule drafts before considering the bill further.

Why it matters

HB269 would create a new licensure pathway that supporters say would raise education standards for primary‑care naturopathic physicians and expand access in rural Wyoming. Opponents say the draft would exclude many existing practitioners, create new licensing barriers, and leave important questions — including prescribing authority and the board’s rulemaking scope — unresolved. The committee’s decision to continue the hearing signals lawmakers will seek more information on scope, administrative capacity and consumer protections before deciding whether to advance the proposal.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Labor, Health & Social Services Committee, January 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Labor, Health & Social Services Committee heard extended testimony on HB269, a bill to license naturopathic physicians by expanding the state acupuncture board and setting doctoral‑level education and examination requirements.","taxTitle","Labor, Health & Social Services Committee, House of Representative, Committees, Legislative, Wyoming","taxId",61353,"location","Wyoming","headline","","shortSummary",{"_32":76,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":77,"_40":78,"_42":79,"_44":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6690105,"House committee approves bill shielding prescribers, pharmacists who use FDA‑approved drugs off label",3780,159000,3939000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2152953-13360c5082b5a7dd4217224f56f8436b&start=159&end=3939","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2152953-13360c5082b5a7dd4217224f56f8436b/thumbnail_159000.jpg","/articles/6690105/Wyoming/House-committee-approves-bill-shielding-prescribers-pharmacists-who-use-FDAapproved-drugs-off-label","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6690105-42559001eb527591a00358e8c675af41/orig.mp4?Expires=1769778793&Signature=im0sO-n0~5Bsh-4CI3YWn7yl5fZmhzG6fZ5GtX6JpDetC67bOTbYmS5opXbdXaM2NHT9TCx2S5scK9EOEALJUZaL-YzGIxuDJDrWr1~A3luepd5Anu07X2Z~~Tzl2gGq7NRiV7GMe3gY6Y0d~3obAb2J~G7sdxPkYd8BBCiLLVdyQcNQX29hfmearlouEhPjzfWyJ0tVMw5YTGGXjFCkuvg~1pSxGjBmPOKaIBJCFGLedGSJQekYUOZuomNrSOWX6aDptX06fC29XWdbSi3MQbzNwou0WIx0uy~OEUuU3j~4LbUNcTR0~cleWczKIE1PD3hh3n8wndSb-oqSVz8j0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Labor, Health & Social Services Committee on Monday voted to advance House Bill 164, a measure that would protect prescribers and pharmacists who prescribe or dispense U.S. Food and Drug Administration‑approved drugs for off‑label uses from certain disciplinary actions.

The bill’s sponsor, Representative Gary Brown, said the measure “codifies what is going on now” by authorizing prescribers and pharmacists to use FDA‑approved drugs for off‑label indications so long as they act within their scope of practice. The committee passed the bill, as amended with a severability clause, by a committee roll call the clerk summarized as 7 yes, 1 no and 1 excused.

Supporters said the bill protects clinicians and patient choice. Jason Caswell, a family physician who testified in favor, described cases during the COVID‑19 pandemic when pharmacists refused to fill prescriptions and doctors faced employment consequences for prescribing off‑label treatments. “If you, as a prescriber, explain the options, risks, benefits, alternatives, and then a patient chooses that therapy … who are you or anyone to stand in the way of that?” Caswell told the committee.

The bill text permits prescribers to lawfully prescribe FDA‑approved prescription drugs for off‑label indications and authorizes pharmacists to dispense such drugs pursuant to a valid prescription order. It also provides that prescribers and pharmacists shall not face adverse action from health‑related licensing boards or employers “solely on the basis” of prescribing or dispensing an FDA‑approved drug for an off‑label indication, and states that related recommendations or opinions “shall not be considered unprofessional conduct.”

Sponsor’s carve‑outs and rulemaking

Representative Brown described several carve‑outs included in the bill. The bill excludes substances listed as Schedule I or Schedule II under federal law or the Wyoming Controlled Substance Act of 1971. It also excludes prescriptions “intended to transition a minor” (as described in the bill text) and prescriptions “intended to induce an abortion,” language the sponsor said mirrors separate laws or pending litigation the Legislature has addressed in prior sessions. The bill directs the Board of Medicine, Board of Nursing, Board of Pharmacy and other licensing boards to adopt rules necessary to implement the statute.

Board of Medicine counsel and others who advised the committee characterized the proposal largely as codifying longstanding practice. Kevin Bonham, executive director of the state Board of Medicine, told the committee the board has not taken licensure action against physicians for off‑label prescribing during his tenure, including during COVID, and that the board continues to judge practice by standard‑of‑care, informed consent and patient safety principles. Bonham also flagged a provision (described in testimony as starting on page 5, subsection B) that he said was unclear in its current wording and could have unintended consequences.

Public testimony and concerns

Physicians and other witnesses largely supporting the bill described employment or pharmacy refusals during the pandemic as the rationale for statutory protections. Retired physician assistant Patrick Lucas and OB‑GYN Dr. Willard M. Woods described prescribing hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin to patients and said they faced obstacles from employers or pharmacies. Tony Decklever of the Wyoming Nurses Association cautioned that employers rely on internal policies and that administrators have authority to enforce facility policy; he said employers and facilities need mechanisms to respond when staff violate internal policies.

Opponents included an on‑line witness from Wyoming United for Freedom who called the bill’s abortion‑related exclusion a political statement and urged opposition. The Board of Medicine advised lawmakers about the possibility of unintended legal consequences and the need for clearer drafting.

Amendment and action

The committee adopted a severability amendment offered by Chairman Rodriguez Williams; the amendment states that if any provision is found invalid by a court the remaining provisions remain in effect. Representative Guggenmoss moved the bill forward; Representative McCann seconded. The committee roll call on the amended bill was reported as 7 yes, 1 no and 1 excused and the bill was advanced to the House floor. The committee also directed the relevant licensing boards to promulgate implementing rules.

Why it matters

If enacted, HB 164 would change the statutory risk environment for prescribers and pharmacists in Wyoming by creating an express immunity from professional discipline for off‑label prescribing and dispensing of FDA‑approved drugs, subject to the bill’s exceptions and the scope‑of‑practice limits licensing boards may define by rule. The change would most directly affect primary‑care clinicians, specialty prescribers, pharmacists and patients who seek off‑label drug therapies.

Committee discussion and next steps

Committee members questioned the bill sponsor on why the measure was needed now, how it interacts with existing employer policies and whether carve‑outs could expose the statute to legal challenges tied to ongoing litigation over abortion and gender‑affirming care. The committee voted to advance the amended bill; sponsor Representative Brown will carry it to the House floor. The licensing boards named in the bill will be responsible for rulemaking to implement the law if it becomes statute.","House Labor, Health & Social Services Committee on Monday voted to advance House Bill 164, a measure that would protect prescribers and pharmacists who prescribe or dispense U.S. Food and Drug Administration‑approved drugs for off‑label uses from certain disciplinary actions.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee takes more testimony on proposed naturopathic licensure; board structure, scope and exclusions draw debate

House committee approves bill shielding prescribers, pharmacists who use FDA‑approved drugs off label