650402 To clarify the scope of responsibilities for naturopathic physicians, to establish a requirement for annual review of the formulary listing, and to add a definition for the term “natural remedies

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

 

NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING

 

The Director of the Department of Health (Department), pursuant to the authority set forth in the District of Columbia Health Occupations Revision Act of 1985, effective March 25, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-99; D.C. Official Code § 3-1201.01, et seq. (2001)), and Mayor’s Order 98-140, dated August 20, 1998, hereby gives notice of his intent to take final rulemaking action to adopt the following amendments to Chapter 52, “Naturopathic Medicine,” of Title 17, “Business, Occupations, and Professions,” of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR) in not less than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice in the D.C. Register.

 

The purpose of the amendments is to clarify the scope of responsibilities for naturopathic physicians, to establish a requirement for annual review of the formulary listing, and to add a definition for the term “natural remedies”.

 

Chapter 52, NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE, of Title 17, BUSINESS, OCCUPATIONS, AND PROFESSIONS, is amended as follows:

 

Section 5210, LAWFUL PRACTICE, is amended by amending paragraph (b) of subsection 5210.2 to read as follows:

 

5210.2          (b)           Order, perform, review and interpret the results of diagnostic procedures
                                      commonly used by physicians in general practice, including:

                                    (1)        Physical and orificial examinations;

                                    (2)        Electrocardiograms;

                                    (3)        Diagnostic imaging techniques;

                                    (4)        Phlebotomy;

                                    (5)        Clinical laboratory test and examinations; and

 
                                    (6)        Physiological function tests.

 

A new Subsection 5210.5 is added to read as follows:

 

5210.5             The Board, in consultation with the Advisory Committee on Naturopathic Medicine, may issue and update annually a formulary listing of natural remedies authorized to be used in the practice of naturopathic medicine.

 

Section 5299, DEFINITIONS, is amended by adding the following definition after the definition of the term “Board”:

 

Natural remedy - a substance wherein the active ingredient is derived from plant, animal, mineral, or fungal sources; or any substance found in nature, and which may also contain common pharmaceutical excipients, that is used in a general naturopathic medical practice.

 

All persons desiring to comment on the subject of this proposed rulemaking should file comments, in writing, no later than thirty (30) days after the date of the publication of this notice in the D.C. Register.  Comments should be sent to Kenneth Campbell, Department of Health, Office of the General Counsel, 899 North Capitol Street, N.E., 4^th Floor, Washington, D.C., 20002.  Copies of the proposed rules may be obtained from the Department at the same address during the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.