STATE OF WISCONSIN
NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE EXAMINING BOARD
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IN THE MATTER OF RULEMAKING : PROPOSED ORDER OF THE
PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE : NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE
NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE : EXAMINING BOARD
EXAMINING BOARD : ADOPTING RULES
: (CLEARINGHOUSE RULE )
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PROPOSED ORDER
An order of the Naturopathic Medicine Examining Board to create Nat Med 1 to 6, relating to naturopathic doctors.
Analysis prepared by the Department of Safety and Professional Services.
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ANALYSIS
Statutes interpreted:
Statutory authority:
Explanation of agency authority:
Section 15.08 (5) (b), Stats., states that an examining board “[s]hall promulgate rules for its own guidance and for the guidance of the trade or profession to which it pertains and define and enforce professional conduct and unethical practices not inconsistent with the law relating to the particular trade or profession.” Section 227.11 (2) (a), Stats., states that “[e]ach agency may promulgate rules interpreting the provisions of any statute enforced or administered by the agency, if the agency considers it necessary to effectuate the purpose of the statute…” Section 227.21 (2), Stats., states that “an agency may, with the consent of the attorney general, adopt standards established by technical societies and organizations of recognized national standing by incorporating the standards in its rules by reference to the specific issue or issues of the publication in which they appear, without reproducing the standards in full.” Section 466.03 (1), Stats., states that the Naturopathic Medicine Examining Board shall establish administrative rules to determine a code of ethics governing professional conduct, standards of practice, continuing education requirements, and examination standards. Section 466.03 (2), Stats., states that the Naturopathic Medicine Examining Board may establish administrative rules to further interpret s. 466.01 (6) (a) and (c) to identify diagnostic, therapeutic, or other practices or procedures that may be used by naturopathic doctors; prohibit diagnostic, therapeutic, or other practices; establish character and fitness requirements for initial licensure or renewal of a license and evidence required to demonstrate satisfaction of such requirements; establish physical and mental competency requirements for initial licensure or renewal of a license and evidence required to demonstrate satisfaction of such requirements; establish evidence of professional competency requirements for initial licensure or renewal of a license including evidence relating to an applicant’s licensure status in other states; establish additional clinical, practical, or residency requirements for initial licensure; and adopt minimum malpractice insurance requirements for naturopathic doctors and limited-scope naturopathic doctors. Related statute or rule:
None.
Plain language analysis:
The objective of the proposed rules is to implement the statutory changes from 2021 Wisconsin Act 130, which created the Naturopathic Medicine Examining Board. The act allows for the licensure, discipline, and practice of naturopathic doctors and limited-scope naturopathic doctors. The board is creating all Administrative Code chapters necessary to establish provisions for the practice, licensing, and conduct of naturopathic doctors and limited-scope naturopathic doctors. Summary of, and comparison with, existing or proposed federal regulation:
N/A.
Summary of public comments received on statement of scope and a description of how and to what extent those comments and feedback were taken into account in drafting the proposed rule:
The Naturopathic Medicine Examining Board held a preliminary hearing on the statement of scope for this rule at its February 17, 2023 meeting. The following comment from Dr. Sara Norris, Legislative Chair of the Wisconsin Naturopathic Doctors Association, was received:
“The Wisconsin Naturopathic Doctors Association (WNDA) is a non-profit, membership organization advocating for naturopathic medicine in Wisconsin. WNDA fully supports the timely creation and adoption of rules governing the practice of naturopathic medicine and the licensure of naturopathic doctors (NDs) in Wisconsin.
The passage of 2021 Act 130 created the Naturopathic Medical Examining Board (NMEB) to provide oversight of NDs, uphold the ethical standards of naturopathic medical practice, determine penalties for non-compliance, and ensure NDs are physically, mentally, and professionally competent. The licensing of NDs in Wisconsin will increase public safety, increase access to qualified providers, and give the public greater choice in their own health care. The role of the NMEB is identical to other professional boards of other licensed professions and WNDA urges the use of existing professional boards in the health care field (such as the Pharmacy Examining Board) as a model for the NMEB.
WNDA asks that the promulgated rules preserve the ability for the NMEB to interpret the practices identified under the bill, that are included and excluded from the practices and procedures, that may be used by an ND without expanding the scope of practice of an ND or a limited license ND.
