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Bill would clarify grounds for discipline of naturopathic doctors and add confidentiality, misconduct standards
Summary
House Bill 3,042 A would update statutory grounds for discipline by the Oregon Board of Naturopathic Medicine, add plain‑language misconduct and confidentiality violations, and make substandard care a violation regardless of whether patient injury occurred; public hearing set May 1 and work session scheduled May 13.
The Senate Committee on Health Care held a public hearing May 1 on House Bill 3,042 A, a bill to modernize and clarify the statutory grounds under which the Oregon Board of Naturopathic Medicine may deny, suspend or discipline a licensee. The changes would become operative on Jan. 1, 2026.
Marybeth Baptista, executive director of the Oregon Board of Naturopathic Medicine, told the committee Oregon has more than 1,200 licensed naturopathic doctors and among the broadest scopes of naturopathic practice in the country. She said the board investigates roughly 40 complaints a year and brings about eight formal discipline cases annually; in 2024, 11 licensees were disciplined and the board conducted 39 investigations.
Baptista described the bill’s principal changes: replacing language that referred to “fraud or deception” in licensing with clearer phrasing about “making misleading, deceptive, or fraudulent representations”; explicitly adding engaging in sexual misconduct and failing to maintain required confidentiality as grounds for discipline; and clarifying that providing substandard care — whether by deliberate or negligent action or failure to act — is grounds for discipline regardless of whether a patient injury occurred.
The executive director said the intent is to modernize language, increase transparency for patients and licensees, and set clearer expectations for professional conduct. Baptista told the committee that the original draft included two sections that generated opposition from parts of the naturopathic community; those sections were deleted and the bill’s remaining provisions, she said, have support, including from the Oregon Association of Naturopathic Physicians.
Baptista also described the board’s investigatory process: complaints may come from patients, other clinicians, insurers or the board itself; the board investigator has subpoena power and compiles records and witness interviews for the board’s bimonthly meetings. She cited ORS provisions governing complaint intake and investigations.
The committee closed the public hearing on HB 3,042 A and scheduled a work session for Tuesday, May 13.
