Sen. Clint Penzo withdraws push to license naturopathic doctors after committee questions; sponsor to revise

Senator Clint Penzo, sponsor of Senate Bill 117, introduced the measure to the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee as an effort “to increase access to health care, lower costs, and provide choices for Arkansans,” saying the bill would allow licensure of naturopathic physicians in Arkansas.

The bill drew detailed testimony from Mamie Burris, who identified herself as a Vermont-licensed naturopathic doctor and an Arkansas-licensed acupuncturist. Burris described her training and clinical experience and urged the committee to “please vote in favor of SB 117 to license qualified naturopathic doctors in Arkansas.” She and other supporters said licensure would standardize training, protect patients from practitioners with minimal training, and expand access in underserved areas.

Opponents included Scott Smith of the Arkansas Medical Society, who told the committee, “we still have some pretty serious concerns about the bill,” citing vague language in the bill about what constitutes naturopathic education and concern over authority to order diagnostic imaging and laboratory testing. Committee members also pressed the sponsor on details including whether the bill would create a new licensing board and whether there are enough credentialed practitioners in-state to populate the proposed board.

Committee members asked several implementation questions. Senator Penzo said the bill as filed would create a new board (13 members appointed by the governor for six-year terms) after attempts to place naturopathic licensure under the Arkansas State Medical Board did not succeed. He also said the bill’s initial draft had included prescriptive authority, but he “removed it to make it more palatable,” and that prescriptive authority for naturopathic doctors could be reconsidered later depending on feedback.

Members asked the Department of Human Services (DHS) and Medicaid staff to provide a fiscal-impact statement because the bill authorizes ordering diagnostic imaging and laboratory studies — items for which Medicaid sometimes has caps or limits. Senator Penzo confirmed he will request and await fiscal information while he works with committee members on language and board placement.

After extended discussion, Senator Penzo moved the bill for passage and a second was noted. The sponsor then withdrew the motion and said he would “pull it down” and return with amendments; the committee did not take a final vote on SB 117. Penzo told the committee he will continue discussions about whether the proposed board should be placed under the Chiropractic Board or be otherwise consolidated before re-filing.

The committee recorded public testimony from several Arkansans who said naturopathic care had benefited them or family members. Medical society representatives and some senators urged tighter statutory language to define permissible tests, clarify board-member qualifications and preserve physician oversight for conditions beyond naturopathic training. The sponsor indicated willingness to narrow or clarify language and to pursue placement of the program under a different board if that eases implementation.

Next steps: Senator Penzo said he will request a DHS fiscal-impact statement and return with amendments; the bill was not advanced from committee at this hearing.