California poised to allow licensed naturopathic physicians to prescribe and do minor procedures

Sixteen states currently license naturopathic physicians as medical practitioners, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. One of these states - California - is moving a bill that would expand the scope of practice of licensed NDs to allow them to prescribe certain low-risk pharmaceuticals (Class IV, V, and unclassified drugs), perform superficial skin treatments (for lacerations, lesions, abrasions), and order a wider range of medical imaging. Naturally, the medical establishment in California opposes this bill, though it admits there is a shortage of physicians in the state. For more information: http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/WorkForce/51917?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2015-06-04&eun=g218319d0r