Virginians Should Have All the Options

By: THERESA COLLIER TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST | Times-Dispatch
Published: January 31, 2009

The past 30 years have seen an extraordinary increase in consumer demand for safe, effective, and cost-efficient natural health care. Naturopathic medicine has emerged as the health care profession best suited to meet this demand. Although it almost disappeared in the mid-20th century because of the popularity of drugs and surgery, naturopathic medicine still offers safe, effective natural therapies as a vital part of the U.S. health care system in the 21st century.

On Monday, legislators are scheduled to decide the fate of a bill to license naturopathic doctors (N.D.s) in the Commonwealth of Virginia. House Bill 1820 represents an important step toward a health care model responsive to the needs of citizens and reflective of the consensus of experts across the country calling for a system with greater emphasis on wellness and prevention. Passage of this bill will confer tremendous benefits, both in the improved health and quality of life of our citizens, and in economic advantage to the state.

In states where N.D.s are licensed, they have proven to both improve health and well-being, and save money.

In June 2008, the non-profit Washington Health Foundation issued its biannual Healthiest State Report Card. The following facts emerge from the data:

Of the 10 healthiest states, seven license N.D.s.

Of the 10 least healthy states, zero license N.D.s.

In Vermont, a state that licenses N.D.s and requires insurance reimbursement for naturopathic medical services, the Vermont Automobile Dealers Association employed a corporate wellness program designed by Bernie Noe, N.D. This program not only reduced the incidence of diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity, and smoking in the 4,300 covered participants, it also saved the association a total of $1.4 million in health expenditure and absenteeism, in just two years. The return on investment was $8.20 for every $1 spent.

NATUROPATHIC doctors are educated at four-year, accredited medical schools, recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. They study the same basic and clinical medical sciences as their conventional peers. In addition, they are trained in naturopathic modalities: nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy, and physical medicine.

In the 15 states and the District of Columbia where they are licensed, naturopathic doctors are recognized as general medical practitioners. They offer a unique service to the public and to the health care community in that they bridge the gap between conventional and holistic medicine. Since their treatments are both grounded in tradition and guided by the latest scientific research, naturopathic doctors can be trusted to deliver medicine that is not only "natural," but also safe and effective.

This important bill, once signed into law, would increase access to qualified, quality caregivers; provide a reliable resource to the conventional medical world regarding nutrition, drug-nutrient interactions, drug-herb interactions, and establish referral networks for collaborative care; curb the current shortage in general medical practitioners; and provide relief to medically underserved areas of this state.

FORMER SURGEON General Richard H. Carmona, M.D. says, "Our current health care system is a 'sick care' system with perverse incentives . . . .We need a paradigm shift that moves our nation to one that embraces health and wellness through appropriate prevention strategies, and builds an infrastructure that begins to reward health care providers who want to keep our citizens healthy."

Consideration of HB 1820 is an important opportunity for Virginia to move toward just this sort of proactive, sustainable health care model, founded in prevention and wellness. The time has come for the sensible health care changes signified by the licensure of naturopathic doctors. Legislators should vote yes for HB 1820.

Theresa Collier, N.D., is president of the Virginia Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Contact her at (804) 744-4927 or bewell@cavtel.net. Find out more at www.vaanp.org.