Bill > HB1093

This bill establishes the Louisiana Board of Naturopathic Medicine and outlines the practice of naturopathic medicine in the state. It transfers the existing Louisiana Naturopathic Medicine Examining Board to the Louisiana Department of Health and creates a new Chapter in state law defining terms like "naturopathic medicine," "therapeutic substance," and "minor office procedure," which refers to limited surgical care on superficial tissues. The bill details the composition and duties of the new board, including its authority to license naturopathic doctors, establish educational and examination standards, and set ethical guidelines. Licensed naturopathic doctors, referred to as "Naturopathic Doctors" or "N.D.s," will be authorized to perform physical examinations, order and interpret laboratory and diagnostic imaging studies, and prescribe, administer, and dispense certain drugs and therapeutic substances, including controlled substances with specific limitations. The bill also clarifies what constitutes a "minor office procedure" and sets requirements for licensure, continuing education, and the use of protected titles, while allowing traditional naturopaths and other natural healers to continue offering non-medical wellness services with clear disclosure of their credentials and limitations.