Panel reports bill to reestablish licensure, regulation of naturopathic doctors

Senate Bill 688, which would reestablish licensure and regulatory structure for naturopathic doctors in Florida, was reported favorably by the Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services after proponents and opponents offered competing testimony.

Sponsor Senator Rodriguez said the bill redesignates an existing chapter of Florida Statutes for naturopathic medicine, establishes a Board of Naturopathic Medicine and creates licensure-by-examination and licensure-by-endorsement pathways. The draft defines a naturopathic scope that includes specified diagnostic and natural-treatment modalities while expressly excluding prescriptive authority for legend drugs except where the bill explicitly provides otherwise.

Supporters — including naturopathic practitioners and patients — testified about care integration, prevention and reported personal clinical improvement; speakers said Floridians are already seeking out-of-state naturopathic care and that the bill would provide choice. Opponents, including an attorney and several medical associations waiving time, warned that the bill permits broad diagnostic authority without mandated postgraduate residencies, may allow unproven treatments and is not generally covered by insurers, exposing patients to out-of-pocket costs.

After debate the committee took a roll call and reported SB 688 favorably. If enacted, the bill would require rulemaking to define licensure, scope and disciplinary processes and would affect practice settings for naturopathic practitioners in Florida.