The Bureau of Naturopathic Medicine is slated for elimination under Governor Schwarzenegger’s latest budget proposal.
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Description:
February 3, 2009
Dear Supporter of Naturopathic
Medicine,
I am writing to you with some very sobering news. The
licensing body for California Naturopathic Doctors is slated for elimination
under Governor Schwarzenegger’s latest budget proposal. The California
Naturopathic Doctors Association has been working very hard over the last month
to deal with this problem through direct discussion with the Governor’s office
and other legislators. We have made significant inroads but now we need your
help. A significant outcry from the public at this point will aid our cause.
Below is a list of
Frequently Asked Questions that will help you understand the situation.Included is information and instructions on
how you can help to preserve this essential medicine in the state of California.
How did this happen?
Like the nation as a whole, California
is in a huge budget crisis. The government is estimating a $41 billion deficit.
In an effort to reduce the deficit, Governor Schwarzenegger is making deep cuts
everywhere. His budget proposal also calls for measures aimed at decreasing the
size of government and includes the elimination of the Bureau of Naturopathic
Medicine. No provision is made in his plan for any alternative process for the
licensing or management of NDs in California. As yet, we do not know what this
will mean for us but this could represent a serious threat to our ability to
practice and to be your Doctor.
What is the Bureau of Naturopathic Medicine?
The Bureau of Naturopathic Medicine administers the
Naturopathic Doctors Act passed into law in 2003. The Bureau’s main functions
are
Issuing
licenses to NDs
Disciplining
licensed NDs found to have caused injury to patients
Pursuing
unlicensed individuals who call themselves NDs
The Bureau of Naturopathic Medicine is within the Department
of Consumer Affairs, along with comparable bodies for Medical Doctors,
Osteopaths, Acupuncturists and many other professional groups.
How much does the bureau cost?
The Bureau of Naturopathic Medicine is actually self-funding,
and is therefore budget neutral. This was a requirement in order to get the
Bureau up and running after The Naturopathic Doctors Act passed. We even had a
small reserve last year. Unfortunately, however, this is not just about the
money. The Governor believes that smaller government will be more efficient and
cheaper overall.
Were there any other reasons given?
The Bureau of Naturopathic Medicine is the second smallest
bureau in California.Although our
profession is growing swiftly (250% in the last 3 years), we are still only 350
doctors. Also, there have been no claims against NDs by the public. While this
is clearly a good sign, it also suggests to the Department of Consumer Affairs
that the Bureau may not be necessary to protect the public, which is the
primary purpose of the Bureau in their eyes.
Where can I find the actual recommendations from the
Governor’s office?
What has the CNDA (California Naturopathic Doctors
Association) done so far?
The CNDA and its lobbyists have been working tirelessly on
strategy, producing background and educational materials, and preparing
comprehensive ‘packages’ for everyone we meet with. We have met several times
in person and on the phone with
The
Naturopathic Bureau Chief
Senior
staff at the Department of Consumer Affairs
Senior
staff members of the Governor’s administration
Members
of the Business and Professions Committee
Other
important legislators and their staff
Do you have a lawyer?
·Yes, the CNDA has retained legal counsel that
specializes in health care law. They have produced a brief that identifies the
legal challenges that could be raised if the Bureau were eliminated. We shared
these findings with the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Governor’s
office, and will provide them to legislators.
What will the CNDA do next?
Our immediate plans are as follows:
Garner
as much political support as possible in both the senate and assembly. We
had a Lobby Day on Monday, February 2nd where groups of our NDs
met with dozens of legislators.
Secure
a main legislator who will serve as our chief “champion” (as Senator
Burton was with our initial legislation in 2004)
Prepare
to deal with potential opposition
Raise
money to support these costly efforts (lobbyist, legal counsel, PR,
support materials, etc.)
Continue
to meet with relevant parties
Continue
to explore legal defense
Encourage
you to write emails and to visit your legislators, asking them to oppose
this proposal and educate them on what Naturopathic Medicine has done for
you.
Can I contact California
legislators directly?
Yes, if you are a resident in California,
we encourage you to write to your state legislators. You can do this in a
couple of ways:
The quickest and easiest way to do this
is to use our automated system where there is a pre-written letter that
can be personalized by you.You
simply go to the link below and you will see the letter and the editable portion
where you can write your own note, and then you fill-in your name and
address and submit it.Your letter
will automatically go to your correct representatives based on your
address.This is the website link
to do this:http://capwiz.com/naturopathic/issues/alert/?alertid=12551186.
Or you
can directly write your legislators a personal letter and mail it to their
office. The last page is an example
of a letter you can write, and personalize it with your own experience.
You
can call or meet with your legislators and ask them to oppose the
elimination of the Bureau of Naturopathic Medicine.
If you don’t use our automated
system, to find out who represents you in the state legislature please
visit:http://192.234.213.69/lmapsearch/framepage.asp.Remember that each geographic area
will have two representatives – one from the senate and one from the
assembly.
If you are going to call or meet
with your legislator, we suggest that you contact Katherine Kleine at (executive@calnd.org)
or our Legislative Committee Chair Marco Vespignani, ND (drmarco@calnd.org)
to get a copy of our talking points.
How else can I help?
You
can donate money to the CNDA. Our efforts will cost a minimum of $50,000,
but will likely be double that. The Executive Committee of the CNDA has
already donated $3000 and directly secured another $2000. But we need much
more!
You
can help us raise more money! Ask friends, and relatives to support our
ability to stay in business. Talk to Katherine Kleine or Fundraising Chair
Simon Barker, ND (drbarker@calnd.org) if you have ideas
or connections that you think will be fruitful.
To make a donation, please go to
the www.calnd.orghomepage and click on the big yellow “Donate”
button.You can also send checks
to:
CNDA, 600
S. Lake Ave., Ste. 308, Pasadena, CA91106
