The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 25-032, seeks to expand the prescribing authority of naturopathic doctors in Colorado by introducing a new formulary and establishing specific educational and regulatory requirements.
Key Provisions:
Expansion of Prescribing Authority:
New Formulary Includes:
All legend drugs, excluding Schedule I or II controlled substances as defined by the federal Controlled Substances Act.
For naturopathic doctors with federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration, anabolic steroids listed on Schedule III of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act of 2013.
All drugs on Schedules IV and V of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act of 2013, except benzodiazepines, oncological chemotherapeutics, and narcotics.
Educational and Certification Requirements:
Before utilizing the new formulary, naturopathic doctors must provide proof of:
Completion of 12 hours of pharmacological continuing education relevant to the naturopathic formulary.
Passing the elective pharmacology examination of the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations.
Holding a license in good standing from another state with equivalent prescribing authority.
Applicants for registration, renewal, or reinstatement on or after September 1, 2025, must pass a pharmacology examination administered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners or an approved successor entity.
Starting June 1, 2026, registered naturopathic doctors are required to complete 8 hours of pharmacology continuing education annually.
Practice Limitations:
Prohibits prescribing medications or devices to individuals under 18 years of age.
Restricts prescribing antipsychotics or ketamine unless recommended by the Naturopathic Medicine Advisory Committee and approved by the Director of the Division of Professions and Occupations.
Forbids administering intravenous therapy without prior certification from a nationally recognized, director-approved entity.
This legislation aims to enhance the scope of practice for naturopathic doctors, providing them with a broader range of treatment options while ensuring patient safety through stringent educational and regulatory standards.
Summary
The bill clarifies that the existing naturopathic doctor formulary
(existing formulary) includes prescription classes of medicines and clarifies what the practice of naturopathic medicine includes. In addition, the bill creates a new formulary for certain naturopathic doctors, which new formulary includes:
•
All legend drugs, other than schedule I or II controlled substances or devices identified in the federal Controlled Substances Act;
•
For a naturopathic doctor with a federal drug enforcement administration registration, anabolic steroids listed on schedule III of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act of 2013; and
•
All drugs listed on schedules IV and V of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act of 2013, except for benzodiazepines, oncological chemotherapeutics, and narcotics (new formulary).
Before obtaining, dispensing, administering, injecting, ordering,
or prescribing any of the medicines or devices included in the new formulary, a naturopathic doctor who is registered with the department of regulatory agencies (department) must provide proof of:
•
Completion of 12 hours of pharmacological continuing education pertinent to or reflective of the naturopathic formulary;
•
Passage of the elective pharmacology examination of the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations; or
•
Licensure in good standing in another state that has equivalent prescribing authority.
A naturopathic doctor who does not provide such proof is limited
to the medicines and devices contained within the existing formulary.
The bill prohibits a naturopathic doctor from prescribing: •
A medicine or device to an individual under 18 years of age; or
•
Antipsychotics or ketamine to an individual of any age unless recommended by the naturopathic medicine advisory committee and approved by the director of the division of professions and occupations in the department (director).
The bill requires an individual applying for issuance, renewal, or
reinstatement of a registration as a naturopathic doctor on or after September 1, 2025, to pass a pharmacology examination administered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners or a nationally recognized, director-approved successor entity. Upon passage of the exam, the individual is able to obtain, dispense, administer, inject, order, or prescribe any of the medicines or devices included in the new formulary.
For the renewal of a naturopathic doctor's registration on or after
June 1, 2026, the bill requires a naturopathic doctor to complete 8 hours per year of continuing education in pharmacology.
Lastly, the bill prohibits a naturopathic doctor from administering intravenous therapy without first being certified by a nationally recognized, director-approved entity.
