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

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…