2017 Legislative Session Bills
3/27/17 Update
Chiropractic/Naturopathy
Allows chiropractic physicians and naturopathic physicians to provide release for athlete who sustained concussion or is suspected of sustaining concussion.
For more information as to why this is a bad idea.
NATUROPATHY
Practice expansion bill. Current law allows naturopaths to surgically repair and care for superficial lacerations and abrasions and benign superficial lesions and to remove foreign bodies located in superficial structures. Bill would allow any surgery "that poses little risk to the life of the patient and can be safely performed in an office setting, as further defined by rule." Whether these vague criteria are met would be determined by the Oregon Board of Naturopathic Medicine, which requested the bill.
Repeals provision establishing peer review committee for purpose of evaluating complaints against naturopathic "physicians" and making recommendations to Oregon Board of Naturopathic Medicine about those complaints.
The bill would repeal SECTION 1. ORS 685.205:
"The Oregon Board of Naturopathic Medicine shall appoint a peer review committee consisting of five members. The peer review committee shall evaluate complaints against naturopathic physicians which are referred to it by the board, and make recommendations to the board regarding those complaints. The board exercises ultimate authority and control over all complaints considered by the committee, approving or disapproving the recommendations of the committee."
The reason for this is unclear, but the bill was introduced at the request of Governor Kate Brown on behalf of the Board, indicating that concern for public safety, as opposed to protection of naturopaths, is not a rationale.
For more information on the Oregon Board of Naturopathic Medicine.
"Limits requirements and standards insurer may establish for credentialing naturopathic physicians."
In committee. See blog entry Oregon naturopaths want to dumb down insurer credentialing requirements for details