07-02-2009, 10:17 AM
Aloha!
I've been doing a lot of calling and emailing around today, voicing my support for the Naturopathic Doctor Bill SB420. This is just one of the 65 bills Governor Lingle has set aside to be vetoed – but it’s one of the most important bills as it addresses the healthcare crisis we are in at the present moment.
While Naturopathic Doctors are licensed as primary care physicians in this state, they are limited in what they can do. They carry all the liability the western Doctors do, but their scope is extremely limited.
I appreciate being given the chance to ask you all to take the time to consider this manner, and hopefully, get involved. By writing to the Governor, we can show her our support of these dedicated physicians. We can help educate her as to what they can do for us. As a group, we can change her mind, and pass this bill into law!
There is a very limited window of opportunity to make a difference here. Call, email, fax or write a letter! Get your voice heard out there at the capitol. The following is a quote from the Governor, in regards to why she opposes this bill:
"Naturopathic practitioners may not have sufficient training in the medical and surgical evaluation of patients to perform minor surgeries, nor in the pharmacology, physiology, and related basic sciences to safely prescribe pharmaceutical products."
It's obvious from reading this quote, that our Governor is not as well versed in the educational qualifications of Naturopaths. Nor is she aware that it's not a common practice for Naturopaths to prescribe pharmaceuticals!!!
Should she veto SB420, we still have a chance to get it overturned. Contact local government officials, radio stations, newspapers, etc.
It's important that we get the message out there to ALL of those that represent us as a people. We CAN make a huge difference here, folks!!
Thanks so much for your time. I would not ask for your help unless we needed it!
Mahalo,
Cathine Wingate
punacat@gmail.com
Ps. If you would like a "sample letter" to use as a template, please refer to the very bottom of this post. I’ve included one to help you create one of your own, or simply cut and paste it to your own email and add your name to it. Thank you again.
For our Governor:
Email: governor.lingle@hawaii.gov orgov.policy@hawaii.gov
Fax: (808) 586-0006
Mail: Office of the Governor
Hawai‘i State Capitol, Executive Chambers
Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813
The following are email links, categorized for ease of use. Each link will take you to a home page where you can look for the person who represents your district. I personally have called the offices and am following up with an email. These people are very important - if the Governor does indeed veto this bill, it is our state representatives and senators that will make the decision as to whether they will fight to over turn it. They are on our side in this matter, but we need to let them know how important this is!
For state Representatives:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/hous...embers.asp
For state Senators:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/info...sendir.asp
For local government councilors:
http://www.hawaii-county.com/council/districts.htm
Other political heavies:
http://inouye.senate.gov/Home/Home.cfm
http://akaka.senate.gov/public/index.cfm
http://www.neilabercrombie.com/
http://hirono.house.gov/
Also consider the local papers:
Hawaii Tribune:
http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/share/letters/
930.7323
Big Island Weekly:
jstockton@bigislandweekly.com
930.8668
Sample Letter:
Dear Governor Lingle,
Re: SB420 REGARDING NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE
I am writing in support of bill SB420, which would expand the scope of practice for approximately one hundred actively licensed naturopathic physicians residing in the state of Hawai’i. After viewing the submitted objection statement, it is my belief that the intent to veto is due to a lack of understanding of both the training that naturopathic physicians receive and of the checks and balances put in place to regulate them in this state.
Naturopathic physicians are trained at accredited 4-year post-graduate medical schools as primary care physicians. Their education in the basic medical sciences is equivalent to that of standard allopathic medical schools. Their training bridges a gap between traditional and modern medical practices, focusing first and foremost on prevention of disease. This includes proper nutrition, lifestyle choices, and overall general health guidance. In addition to these low-force interventions, they also receive the training necessary to provide primary care when natural methods of treatment fail or are inappropriate. This includes education and training in pharmaceutical drugs, minor office procedures, and parenteral therapies that is equivalent and comparable to that of other primary care physicians. Naturopathic physicians must pass a national board examination to obtain licensure in the state of Hawai’i, where they are licensed as primary care physicians and currently contribute to an estimated 250,000 office visits per year. However, current laws are highly limiting and place an unnecessary burden on other physicians, who must be referred to for a variety of patient needs.
In regards to the letter of objection, the current amendment to the original bill should be cited. This bill was amended “requiring that rules adopted, amended, or repealed by the Board establish standards of practice, care and ethics; require licensees to complete educational courses and training for parenteral therapy; establish requirements for parenteral therapy; and establish requirements for examination on minor office procedures”. The appointed Board of Examiners in Naturopathy was put in place to act as the regulating body for naturopathic physicians. As noted in SB420, they will not only decide which pharmaceutical drugs practitioners are trained to properly administer, but will set requirements for any additional educational requirements in areas that they feel necessary for the safety of the general public and to update current practitioners.
In various other states naturopathic physicians are authorized for a full scope of practice as they are trained for, and have shown to be responsible and competent doctors. They play a key role in providing primary care services for the community. By being trained in both preventative and conventional medicine, naturopathic physicians are an invaluable asset to the healthcare system. They are highly skilled medical practitioners and to not utilize their full skills in this time of serious healthcare workforce shortage is to do a grave disservice to all citizens of Hawai’i. I urge you to not veto this measure. Mahalo.
I've been doing a lot of calling and emailing around today, voicing my support for the Naturopathic Doctor Bill SB420. This is just one of the 65 bills Governor Lingle has set aside to be vetoed – but it’s one of the most important bills as it addresses the healthcare crisis we are in at the present moment.
While Naturopathic Doctors are licensed as primary care physicians in this state, they are limited in what they can do. They carry all the liability the western Doctors do, but their scope is extremely limited.
I appreciate being given the chance to ask you all to take the time to consider this manner, and hopefully, get involved. By writing to the Governor, we can show her our support of these dedicated physicians. We can help educate her as to what they can do for us. As a group, we can change her mind, and pass this bill into law!
There is a very limited window of opportunity to make a difference here. Call, email, fax or write a letter! Get your voice heard out there at the capitol. The following is a quote from the Governor, in regards to why she opposes this bill:
"Naturopathic practitioners may not have sufficient training in the medical and surgical evaluation of patients to perform minor surgeries, nor in the pharmacology, physiology, and related basic sciences to safely prescribe pharmaceutical products."
It's obvious from reading this quote, that our Governor is not as well versed in the educational qualifications of Naturopaths. Nor is she aware that it's not a common practice for Naturopaths to prescribe pharmaceuticals!!!
Should she veto SB420, we still have a chance to get it overturned. Contact local government officials, radio stations, newspapers, etc.
It's important that we get the message out there to ALL of those that represent us as a people. We CAN make a huge difference here, folks!!
Thanks so much for your time. I would not ask for your help unless we needed it!
Mahalo,
Cathine Wingate
punacat@gmail.com
Ps. If you would like a "sample letter" to use as a template, please refer to the very bottom of this post. I’ve included one to help you create one of your own, or simply cut and paste it to your own email and add your name to it. Thank you again.
For our Governor:
Email: governor.lingle@hawaii.gov orgov.policy@hawaii.gov
Fax: (808) 586-0006
Mail: Office of the Governor
Hawai‘i State Capitol, Executive Chambers
Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813
The following are email links, categorized for ease of use. Each link will take you to a home page where you can look for the person who represents your district. I personally have called the offices and am following up with an email. These people are very important - if the Governor does indeed veto this bill, it is our state representatives and senators that will make the decision as to whether they will fight to over turn it. They are on our side in this matter, but we need to let them know how important this is!
For state Representatives:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/hous...embers.asp
For state Senators:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/info...sendir.asp
For local government councilors:
http://www.hawaii-county.com/council/districts.htm
Other political heavies:
http://inouye.senate.gov/Home/Home.cfm
http://akaka.senate.gov/public/index.cfm
http://www.neilabercrombie.com/
http://hirono.house.gov/
Also consider the local papers:
Hawaii Tribune:
http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/share/letters/
930.7323
Big Island Weekly:
jstockton@bigislandweekly.com
930.8668
Sample Letter:
Dear Governor Lingle,
Re: SB420 REGARDING NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE
I am writing in support of bill SB420, which would expand the scope of practice for approximately one hundred actively licensed naturopathic physicians residing in the state of Hawai’i. After viewing the submitted objection statement, it is my belief that the intent to veto is due to a lack of understanding of both the training that naturopathic physicians receive and of the checks and balances put in place to regulate them in this state.
Naturopathic physicians are trained at accredited 4-year post-graduate medical schools as primary care physicians. Their education in the basic medical sciences is equivalent to that of standard allopathic medical schools. Their training bridges a gap between traditional and modern medical practices, focusing first and foremost on prevention of disease. This includes proper nutrition, lifestyle choices, and overall general health guidance. In addition to these low-force interventions, they also receive the training necessary to provide primary care when natural methods of treatment fail or are inappropriate. This includes education and training in pharmaceutical drugs, minor office procedures, and parenteral therapies that is equivalent and comparable to that of other primary care physicians. Naturopathic physicians must pass a national board examination to obtain licensure in the state of Hawai’i, where they are licensed as primary care physicians and currently contribute to an estimated 250,000 office visits per year. However, current laws are highly limiting and place an unnecessary burden on other physicians, who must be referred to for a variety of patient needs.
In regards to the letter of objection, the current amendment to the original bill should be cited. This bill was amended “requiring that rules adopted, amended, or repealed by the Board establish standards of practice, care and ethics; require licensees to complete educational courses and training for parenteral therapy; establish requirements for parenteral therapy; and establish requirements for examination on minor office procedures”. The appointed Board of Examiners in Naturopathy was put in place to act as the regulating body for naturopathic physicians. As noted in SB420, they will not only decide which pharmaceutical drugs practitioners are trained to properly administer, but will set requirements for any additional educational requirements in areas that they feel necessary for the safety of the general public and to update current practitioners.
In various other states naturopathic physicians are authorized for a full scope of practice as they are trained for, and have shown to be responsible and competent doctors. They play a key role in providing primary care services for the community. By being trained in both preventative and conventional medicine, naturopathic physicians are an invaluable asset to the healthcare system. They are highly skilled medical practitioners and to not utilize their full skills in this time of serious healthcare workforce shortage is to do a grave disservice to all citizens of Hawai’i. I urge you to not veto this measure. Mahalo.