Many states have started their legislative sessions and are going strong. Make sure you check your state update to see if there is anything new.I have also set up a health freedom website so you can see what is new. This website address is: www.fyhf.synthasite.com.
I also have the yahoo group set up so that you will receive important alerts as they are released. Just send a blank email to: FYHF-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
We all have friends, relatives, customers, etc. in other states. This is a good way to pass along information to people you know in other states.
Please remember that each state has different laws and regulations regarding what you can and cannot do when it comes to complementary and alternative health care.
There are currently six states that have health freedom laws. These are: Minnesota, California, Rhode Island, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Idaho. If you live in one of these states, you need to know the laws regarding health freedom, what you can and cannot do, and what disclosures you may need to provide to your clients.
There are 15 states and the District of Columbia that license or regulate naturopathic physicians. If your state is one that regulates naturopathic physicians, you need to know what that law says in regards to what you can and cannot do. These states are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia. Minnesota just passed a registration bill for naturopathic physicians that should take effect July 1, 2009.
For questions about health freedom in your state, contact Kim Sharples at kimberlysharples@msn.com or call (719) 390-1979. Kim Sharples, HHP, was the 2008 ACHS Famous Alumni of the Year.
For state-by-state information, CLICK HERE.
ALASKA
Alaska has introduced a Naturopathic Physician bill, SB70: http://www.aksenate.org/index.php?bill=SB70
For more information, contact Boyd Landry at boydlandry@naturalhealth.org.
CALIFORNIA
Prop 65 is proposed regulation that wants to classify all beneficial nutrients with above-RDA
potencies as cancer-causing agents under unless proven otherwise.For more information, please go to this website: http://www.thenhf.com/press_releases/pr_12_may_2008.html
There is also California Health Freedom Coalition: www.californiahealthfreedom.com and
California Citizens for Health Freedom: www.citizenshealth.org or email: frank@citizenshealth.org.
HAWAII
House bill 1196 has been introduced. This bill has amendments to the Naturopathic Physician Act. For more information, contact Boyd Landry at boydlandry@naturalhealth.org.
IDAHO
Idaho has a bill, S1014 that will repeal the Naturopathic Physician Licensing Act. This has passed the Senate and is now in the House. For more information about Idaho, contact Boyd at: boydlandry@naturalhealth.org or info@naturalhealthidaho.org. You can also visit the website for Idaho CNH at: www.naturalhealthidaho.org.
ILLINOIS
HR0095 creates a task force on the licensure of Naturopathic Physicians: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=0095&GAID=10&GA=96&DocTypeID=HR&LegID=44565&SessionID=76
For more information, contact Boyd Landry at boydlandry@naturalhealth.org
IOWA
From Iowa Health Freedom Coalition: Our work for 2009 has already begun. Our website improvements include a PayPal button that will make donating or renewing membership a breeze. Check it out at: http://www.iowahealthfreedom.org/join.html.
We now have a Speakers Bureau where groups can request a speaker on many topics relating to health freedom, access to holistic wellness, and current laws or legislation relating to holistic, integrative wellness. Please visit the site and line up a speaker for your event.
IHFC will have a booth at the Iowa Holistic Expo, March 14th and 15th at the Polk County Convention Center. This was a wonderful event last year and this year promises to be as well. Please plan to attend! More information can be found at: http://www.edgelife.net/expos/iowa/index.htm
As we shape our activities for the year, we want to hear from you: your concerns, your experiences, and your questions. The more we know about what is going on throughout Iowa, the better we can serve you. Please be our eyes and ears! And we will be a more effective representative for you at the Capitol. We are also expanding our organization and are looking for people to fill leadership roles or just help out; let us know if you’d like to join us and what you are interested or willing to do. Our email: info@iowahealthfreedom.org.
We have introduced the Iowa Access to Wellness bill once again in the Iowa Legislature. It has not been assigned a bill number yet, but look for an update soon! Or check the website in the next week or so: http://www.iowahealthfreedom.org.
MARYLAND
Alternative Health care bill HB 1380 has been introduced. Here is the link to view the bill : http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/bills/hb/hb1380f.pdf.
You may find contact info and email of the HGO committee and Senate EHEA committee members. It will be very useful to send an e-mail to these members in support of the bill. Ask your friends to do the same.
Senators by name: http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/05sen/html/senal.html
You may want to track the bill for next few weeks for hearing dates.
HGO committee members
http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/com/05heal.html
Delegates by name: http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/hseal.html
Members of the Senate EHEA committee
http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/05sen/html/com/02eco.html
MISSOURI
The Coalition for Natural Health was able to stop attempts made to attach amendments to bills moving through legislature last year. House Bill 750 has been introduced and relates to the practice of naturopathic medicine: http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills091/biltxt/intro/HB0750I.htm.
For more information, contact Boyd Landry at boydlandry@naturalhealth.org.
NEVADA
SB 69 creates the Board of Complementary Integrative Medical Examiners: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/75th2009/Bills/SB/SB69.pdf.
For more information contact Boyd Landry: boydlandry@naturalhealth.org.
NEW MEXICO
A Health Freedom bill, HB 664, has been introduced in New Mexico: http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/_session.aspx?chamber=H&legtype=B&legno=%20664&year=09
And also the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine bill, HB 492: http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/_session.aspx?chamber=H&legtype=B&legno=%20492&year=09
For more information contact Boyd Landry: boydlandry@naturalhealth.org or the NMCAAMP website at www.nmcaamp.org.
NORTH CAROLINA
From North Carolina Citizens for Healthcare Freedom: Citizens For Healthcare Freedom (CHF) has been working to protect your rights to natural and complementary healthcare in North Carolina since 1995. This year, CHF will be working with North Carolina legislators to pass the Consumer Health Freedom Act.
What is the Consumer Health Freedom Act? An amendment to the NC medical licensing law to protect the right to choose nutritional supplements and access alternative, holistic, complementary, or natural health providers or practitioners. The legislation would protect the right of health care providers to offer their services legally and safely, without fear of being prosecuted for "practicing medicine without a license" in NC.
For more information on this proposed legislation and CHF, visit: www.ncchf.org.
Support us! It's imperative we raise funds immediately to cover the costs and expenses needed to pass The Consumer Health Freedom Act in the 2009-2010 Legislative Session. CHF is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization supported solely by membership dues and donations. All donations are 100% tax deductible. Please support our vision of a health freedom state and a sustainable community by becoming a CHF member or by making a donation. To join or contribute with a credit card, visit our website: www.ncchf.org.
OHIO
There are 2 health freedom organizations in OHIO: The Ohio Health Freedom Coalition (www.ohiohealthfreedom.org) and the Ohio Sunshine Health Freedom Coalition.
1. The Ohio Health Freedom Coalition was originally formed in 2004; OHFC is a nonprofit organization that advocates for changing Ohio law to allow for greater access to complementary and alternative health care services. OHFC’s members believe that complementary and alternative health care options should be available to members of the public, that citizens should have the freedom to select the practitioner who delivers them and that the state should not prohibit access to natural health services.
Just in time for the New Year the Ohio Institute of Energetic Studies & Bodywork is hosting a FREE Holistic Health Expo in Cleveland, Ohio and Columbus, Ohio. Come out and meet our Executive Director, Sara Donlon. For more information or questions regarding the Ohio Health Freedom Coalition please call: (614) 888-7351.
2. Ohio Sunshine Health Freedom Coalition (www.ohiosunshinehealthfreedom.info). To learn more, please contact Linda Murray (hertouch@juno.com).
OKLAHOMA
Health Freedom Action Network: contact information: information@oklahomahealthfreedom.org or their website: http://www.oklahomahealthfreedom.org.
OREGON
Oregon Health Freedom Website: www.oregonhealthfreedom.org or
email: john@oregonhealthfreedom.org.
VIRGINIA
Virginia Chapter of Certified Natural Health Professionals: HB1744 Natural Health Care Providers bill (Health Freedom Bill) has been tabled by the Health, Welfare and Institutions committee. What exactly does this mean for us? Over the last few weeks, I have been talking with Delegate Pogge and others to decide what action we can take with a tabled bill. We have decided that for the present time we should not do anything with it, not because we don't want it passed, but the likelihood of passing it this year is slim. We just don't have enough support.
So, here is what we need to do in preparation for next year:
-Form local constituent groups for each of the delegates and senators to educate them about the need for a Health Freedom Bill.
-Arrange for your group to meet face to face with your delegate and senator to let them know your concerns to pass a Health Freedom Bill in the 2010 legislative session and build a relationship with them over this next year. It's an election year for delegates so helping them with their campaign could put you in a position of favor. If they know you personally they are more willing to help you out.
-Arrange a meeting with local supervisors/city council, mayor etc to educate them of the need for a Health Freedom Bill and ask them to contact the delegates and senator that serve their district.
Your local officials know these delegates and senators and have influence.
-Talk with other groups or individuals that may have an interest in our cause; Home school groups, holistic minded groups, your clients.
I am willing to help educate and train the leaders of the constituent groups so they in turn can educate and motivate their groups. I am also willing to go with you when you speak with your representatives. Our message to our officials must unify, so teamwork is a must. If
we are going to be successful we will need many leaders to reach each of the 100 delegates and 40 senators. If you are interested in being a team leader please contact me, let's move forward together.
Sharon E. Hrichak for
Virginians for Health Freedom, a project of the Virginia Chapter of Certified Natural Health Professionals
P.O. Box 316, Chesterfield, VA 23832-0005
WASHINGTON STATE
There are several bills in Washington:
HB 1638 refers to Colon Hydrotherapy: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1638&year=2009
HB 2007 pertains to Naturopathic Doctors:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2004&year=2009
For information on these bills, contact Boyd Landry boydlandry@naturalhealth.org.
Health Freedom: The bill was heard on the Senate floor on Friday, January 30. It has been assigned a number: Senate Bill 5755 2009-10. The best way to easily stay updated is to use the following website address: www.leg.wa.gov/legislature and use the "Bill Search" tab near the top of the page (enter 5755).
According to the website: The "short title" of our bill is "Concerning alternative health care practitioners" In reading SB5755 as it is posted on the website, Section 1 says: "This act may be known and cited as the health care choice act."; The direct-access URL is: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5755&year=2009.
After the bill was heard, it was referred to the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee. The next step for our bill is that it will have to be scheduled for a hearing before the H<C Committee. Senator Karen Kaiser is the chair of this committee. Our discussions with her have not been promising; she does not intend to hear the bill. That would kill it for this session. We need to convince her to hear the bill. What people can do-call/write their senators and members of the Senate Health Committee. Contact Kaiser requesting that she hear the bill.
For more information, go to the Washington Health Freedom website: http://healthfreedomwa.org/ or email: healthfreedom.wa@gmail.com or call (360) 357-6263.
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