Two Bills on Naturopathy in Tennessee this session

[liveonearth]

Looks like two different bills regarding naturopathic physicians have been introduced in TN.
http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=HB0723

THIS ONE DECRIMINALIZES MY PROFESSION

HB0722 by Niceley: Physicians and Surgeons - As introduced, removes the Class B misdemeanor offense of practicing naturopathy.

THIS ONE OFFERS LICENSURE

SB1630 by Beavers: Medical Occupations - As introduced, provides for the licensure of naturopathic physicians.

HERE'S THE HISTORY

Wikipedia has the history of how Naturopathy got to be illegal in TN and TX. It is because of the lobbying efforts of the AMA.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Naturopathic_Medicine

Did you know that only 26% of MD's in the US are members of the AMA?
I just heard that on NPR the other day, after Obama's speech to the AMA.

CONTACT INFO FOR REPRESENTATIVES

Rep. Frank S. Niceley
R-Knoxville
District 17 — Part of Jefferson and Knox Counties — Map

District address
1023 Creek Road
Strawberry Plains, TN 37871

Nashville address
113 War Memorial Building
Nashville, TN 37243-0117
Phone (615) 741-4419
Fax: (615) 253-0347

rep.frank.niceley@capitol.tn.gov

*******

Senator Mae Beavers
R-Mt. Juliet
District 17 — Cannon, Clay, DeKalb, Macon, Smith, part of Sumner, Trousdale, and Wilson Counties — Map

District address
2020 Hunters Place
Mt. Juliet, TN 37122

Nashville address
7 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, TN 37243-0217
Phone (615) 741-2421

sen.mae.beavers@capitol.tn.gov

Comments

followup on licensure bill

[liveonearth.livejournal.com]

I wrote to Rep Beavers to find out what was happening, and this is the response that I got:

Ms. Gryder:

Senator Beavers found that she didn't have the support for this bill this session and instead of letting it go to a vote and being killed, she did not run it. The bill can be brought back in the 2010 session that begins in January. We'll see what happens next year.

Patti Saliba
Office of Senator Mae Beavers
Chairman of Senate Judiciary Committee
7 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
615/741-2421 or 1-800-449-8366 x 12421
Fax: 615/253-0205

according to Michelle Clark

[liveonearth.livejournal.com]

TN just passed a bill that states selling supplements is not practicing Naturopathic Medicine. This is good for health food store owners. It also means that an ND can at least go there and open a health food store. We follow TN very closely and Karen Howard has develord many trusted contacts there.

There is a lot that can be done in TN to decrease the time before licensure and make it more friendly to NDs. Give me a call, and I will briefly talk you through the steps to licensure.

[machmed.livejournal.com]

This is indeed wonderful news, but...

LOL at a state actually criminalizing the practice of naturopathy in the year 2009. I had no idea. Is this actually common?

Yay for rednecks. They probably think it's witchcraft. Can they secede from the Union now, please? How painfully embarrassing.