Page last updated 19 Dec 2019
Action alert
None.
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Contact your Maine Senate and Assembly representatives and voice your opposition to legitimizing the practice of naturopathy.
Not sure what to say? Check out these tips for speaking with lawmakers from the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Sign the petition Naturopaths are not doctors: stop legitimizing pseudoscience
Scope of practice
Title: May use the title doctor
Prescription drugs: May prescribed some non-controlled legend substances including topical antiseptics, contraception (but not intrauterine devices), local anesthetics, vaccines, thyroid gland, topical steroids, hormones excluding testosterone, and few others.
- Naturopaths are required to maintain a collaborative agreement with a physician who reviews the prescribing practice of the naturopath on a quarterly basis for a period of one year. The naturopath is required to keep a record of prescriptions to be reviewed with the physician. This collaborative agreement must be reported to the board and is required for licensure.
- Maine naturopathic formulary
Controlled substances: May not prescribe controlled substances.
IV administration: Not allowed
Diagnostic tests: May perform diagnostic tests excluding endoscopy and examinations requiring infusion, injection, inhalation or ingestion of medications to perform tests. Can order, but not interpret, diagnostic imaging exams.
Minor office procedures: Not defined.
Spinal manipulations: May perform manipulations.
Childbirth/ midwifery: Not defined.
Vaccine waiver: Not defined.
Naturopathic assistants: Not defined.
Maine statues naturopathic licensing and scope of practice
Continuing education requirements
According to the Standards for Continuing Professional Education for Acupuncturists and Naturopathic Doctors (amended November 4, 2013), naturopaths are required to completed 25 hours in continuing education annually. Seven of these hours must be in pharmacology.
However, the Board of Complementary Health Care website states that naturopaths are required to complete 37 hours annually.
History
Naturopaths have been licensed in Maine since 1996.
House Bill 393 Scope expansion bill failed in 2017. Bill would have allowed naturopaths to prescribe “naturally occurring medications.”
How to file a complaint
Naturopaths are regulated by the State of Maine’s Board of Complementary Health Care Providers. Navigating through the Board’s website to locate information for filing a complaint is difficult. The complaint process is reviewed in this document. The complaint process is completed online. While anonymous complaints are accepted, they are highly discouraged. The board warns that it is unlikely to investigate an anonymous complaint. Anyone may file a complaint.
Link to the online complaint form
Under licensing board, select “naturopathic doctor.”