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House panel advances SB 11-78 after floor amendment to safeguard naturopathic accreditation and access
Summary
The Arizona House advanced Senate Bill 11-78 as amended after floor changes updating the definition of an approved naturopathic school. Supporters said the measure preserves patient access and provider supply; opponents warned it could expand scope into antibiotics and bypass federal accreditation concerns.
Representative Bliss moved the committee recommendation for Senate Bill 11-78 and introduced a floor amendment that updates the definition of an approved school of naturopathic medicine to address recent changes in federal accreditation recognition.
The amendment’s sponsor, Representative Patty Contreras, told the House the co‑amendment “updates the definition of an approved school of naturopathic medicine” and framed the change as a proactive step to protect patient access and provider supply in Arizona’s naturopathic workforce.
Representative Liguori challenged the amendment on training and patient‑safety grounds, arguing that “with antibiotics and antifungals, they are not routine treatments” and that prescribing such medicines requires “deep clinical training, including diagnosing infections, managing complications, and knowing when to escalate care.” Liguori said recent federal action — the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity’s vote against renewing recognition for the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education — raised “serious concerns about oversight and educational quality” and warned the amendment could sidestep those federal accreditation problems.
In closing, Representative Bliss urged colleagues to view the bill as an access‑to‑care measure, saying the state needs “teams of all different levels, all different training” and that naturopathic physicians “are part of the team.” Bliss said opponents’ concerns had been addressed in supporting materials provided to members and that the amendment and bill would help protect both patients and the profession.
The House adopted the Bliss floor amendment by voice vote and, when the committee of the whole rose to report, recommended that SB 11-78 as amended receive a do‑pass recommendation. The clerk recorded the committee’s action and the measure will be carried forward to the engrossing process.
The debate centered on two competing concerns: protecting patient safety by ensuring clinical training and oversight for prescriptive authority, and preserving access to care and pathways to licensure for naturopathic practitioners amid changes in federal accreditation.
