About The Colorado Association of Naturopathic Doctors

CoAND History: 26 years of promoting natural medicine in Colorado

1984

  • CoANP founded.

1989

  • Colorado State Acupuncture registration Law passed.

1992

  • CoANP Sunrise application for regulation written and submitted in July.

1993

  • Lobbyist, Jim Lee hired by CoANP. (Lobbyist for Acupuncturists and Massage Therapists).
  • Sunrise review process—the report deemed there was no demonstrated harm to the public by not licensing NDs and recommended against regulation.
  • The joint Sunrise/Sunset committee recommended regulation. (August 1993)
  • Lobbyist, Jim Lee quit due to conflict of interest with trial lawyers.

  • Lay midwives licensed. (Lobbyist for midwives—Leo Boyle)

1994

  • Greg Romberg and the Jefferson Group hired as CoANP new lobbyist.
  • HB94-1022 —Naturopathic Healthcare Practice Act. Bill introduced which would provide regulation and licensing of ND's by a Naturopathic Board of Examiners. Rep. Russell George and Sen. Elsie Lacey as bill sponsors.
  • Bill taken to House HEWI committee, where it died.

1995

  • Leo Boyle and Greg Romberg continue as lobbyists for CoANP. Representative George continues as bill sponsor.
  • HB1176 —Title protection Act. Introduced. Instead of licensing and regulating this bill simply would have granted NDs licensed in other states an exemption from the Colorado Medical Practice act allowing them to practice without violating current law.
  • HEWI Committee action on the bill: Postponed indefinitely.

1997

  • DORA application/report replaces Sunrise Committee review, an 18-month review process is instituted instead. A second Sunrise application is submitted.

1998

  • DORA Sunrise Review Report is released and is very positive about the profession but the committee concluded there was no need for regulation to protect Colorado citizens. There were inadequate cases of harm.
  • Coalition for Natural Health responds in opposition to DORA report. 
  • Mr. William Betzner sets up various boards and sells invalid Colorado licensing certificates, conferring invalid credentials to naturopaths in Colorado .

1999

  • The Colorado Attorney General sends Mr. Betzner a cease and desist letter January 29, 1999 ordering him to halt his production of invalid credentials.
  • The Colorado Medical Society (CMS) and other allied health professions support HB1051 when it is introduced. This was a naturopathic licensing bill called ‘registration' for Naturopathic Physicians.
  • Rep. George is third time bill sponsor and now Speaker of the House.
  • The bill carries through the House HEWI committee. It went on to a full House vote and passed through 48-16.
  • The bill moved on to appropriations where it also passes, then to Senate HEWI committee where it died.
  • The Coalition for Natural Health brought people to the hearing at the capitol, creating an impression of naturopathic in fighting. Many of the people who came were under the false impression that the bill would outlaw the use of natural therapies by anyone but a naturopathic doctor.

2003

  • The CoANP lobbyists remained as watchdogs and were alerted by CMS that the Health Freedom Act might possibly be introduced in Colorado , November 2003.
  • Acupuncture practice law changed from ‘registration' to license status.
  • The President of the CoANP, contacted the state Department of Regulation (DORA) regarding Brian O'Connell, a self-identified ‘naturopathic doctor' without any record of having attended a recognized doctoral program of naturopathy. DORA contacted the Colorado attorney general's office and an official from that office notifies the CoANP that there's “nothing they can do.”

2004

  • According to the Colorado Rocky Mountain News, Brian O'Connell, who claimed to be a naturopath, was arrested in May and charged with practicing medicine without a license, criminal impersonation, and assault following the death of one of his patients.

    • The CoANP writes and submits the current DORA Sunrise application to continue to proceed towards potential legislative activity to regulate qualified naturopathic doctors.

    • The CoANP continually submits breaking news to DORA into 2005

2005

  • The Colorado Citizens for Health Freedom announces their intention to submit the “Health Freedom Access Act” as an exemption from the medical practices act in Colorado .
  • On October 14 th the Colorado Department of Regulatory agencies (DORA) released its review of the 2004 sunrise application. It “concludes that the evidence supports regulation of naturopathic physicians in Colorado . The three options proposed include licensure, title protection, or exemption from the medical practices act.”

More information on the 2005 DORA report..>>

2006

  • Brian O’Connell convicted of negligent homicide in the 2003 death of 18 year old Sean Flanagan and sentenced to 13 years.
  • Colorado Skeptics—Linda Rosa RN filed complaint with DORA against all CoANP members.  No action taken, as the complaint was non-specific, no actual harm was demonstrated, and both DORA and the Colorado medical board lacked jurisdiction to regulate NDs.

2007

  • HB_1192—Rep. Jeanne Labuda (D) introduced HB 1192, a licensure bill.  Sen. Suzanne Williams (D) co-sponsored.  It was postponed indefinitely in the House HHS committee.

2008

  • DORA Sunrise Review Report released in early January concluding: "since harm can be caused by naturopathic practitioners engaging in certain types of practice, a licensing scheme, by any label, should be implemented, since it would offer the greatest level of regulatory protection."  2008 DORA report..>>

  • Idaho repealed naturopathic licensing law due to inclusion of non-CNME “naturopaths” on regulatory board who began to issue licenses to similarly trained “naturopaths.”  

  • HB 1062—Rep. Jeanne Labuda and Sen. Suzanne Williams introduced HB 1064, a licensure bill.  Rep. Anne McGihon, the chair of the HHS committee, suggested a “strike below amendment” establishing a task force instead of the full licensure bill after observing the bill was likely to die in committee.


  • New lobbyist, Kristen Thomson hired in fall to work with Greg Rhomberg. 


  • New rules regarding Sunrise applications adopted by DORA.  Professions seeking regulation must have minimum number of potential applicants and recommendations of previous sunrise report shall stand unless significant changes within the profession have occurred since previous review.

2009

  • Name Change of association to Colorado Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CoAND) in order to comply with the Colorado Consumer Protection Acts allowing the use of the title “Doctor” with a USDE accredited doctoral level degree and the Medical Practice Act which limits use of the title of “physician” to MDs and DOs

  • HB1175 (ND regulatory bill) passed out of House with vote 45-5.  Killed in Senate HHS committee.

  • Lobbyist Kristin Thomson hosts statewide strategy session for future legislative efforts.

2010

  • Lobbyist Kristen Thomson is rehired for the year and works to implement the strategy created during the summer and fall of 2009 and begins to develop relationships with other CAM groups. 

  • Nature’s Sunshine and Diane Miller introduce Health Freedom Bill (HB10-1371).  The CoAND worked with this group to find mutually acceptable language modelled after a similar bill in Maryland bill that did not include ND titles, scope, or the word “naturopathy.” 

  • The Colorado MPA is renewed containing an amendment proposed by DORA allowing the medical board to issue cease and desist orders to anyone found by the board to be practicing medicine without a license in Colorado and aid in the prosecution of these practitioners

  • MMJ providers licensed

 

 
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