Amy Rothenberg, ND: Licensure for Naturopathic Doctors.
I have been a practicing naturopathic doctor (ND) for the past 27 years, most of that time in Connecticut, where I enjoy the benefits and responsibilities of state licensure and a busy practice. Each day when I go to work, I get in the car in Massachusetts and drive about 30 miles to my office, because the state of Massachusetts, where I live, does not license NDs.
After 18 years of legislative effort, countless hours educating state senators and representatives with information about our training, education, scope of practice and more, the Massachusetts Legislature passed bill S.2377, an act relevant to the registration of naturopathy, and esteemed Governor Deval Patrick had the opportunity to sign it into law. Sadly, citing administrative difficulties, he chose to veto this bill last week. We will be back in the next session to address the administrative concerns!
