HR0095

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, According to data published in  1990 and again in 
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1997 in the Journal of the American Medical Association by 
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David Eisenberg, MD of Harvard Medical School, over 40% of 
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Americans use at least one alternative therapy; over 70% of the 
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patients using alternative therapies in Dr. Eisenberg's study 
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did not disclose this use to their medical doctors; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The provision of complementary and alternative 
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therapies is increasing by practitioners who have varied to no 
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training, testing, or legitimate certification; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In recognizing the demand for natural medicine, 
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the challenge for regulators is to identify those practitioners 
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who have the appropriate education and training to safely 
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practice complementary and alternative therapies; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Naturopathic physicians are among the highest 
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trained practitioners in the broadest scope of complementary 
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and alternative medicine; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Prior to 1987, naturopathic physicians were 
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eligible for licensure in Illinois under the Medical Practice 
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Act; and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, Legislative recognition in the form of State 
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licensure creates a climate for patients to trust the 
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credentials of naturopathic physicians providing complementary 
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and alternative therapies; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Fifteen states, the District of Columbia, and the 
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U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands 
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have licensing laws for naturopathic physicians; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The licensing of naturopathic physicians assures 
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the public of a high standard of education and training of 
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these practitioners while providing consumers access to 
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evidence based natural therapies; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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there is created the Task Force on the Licensure of 
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Naturopathic Physicians within the Department of Financial and 
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Professional Regulation to (i) evaluate whether the standards 
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of naturopathic medical education and training are adequate to 
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protect the public and (ii) make recommendations as to the 
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extent to which regulation of naturopathic physicians will 
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benefit the health of the citizens of Illinois; and be it 
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further

 
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    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall be composed of the 
 


 






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Chairperson of the House Registration and Regulation 
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Committee, who shall serve as the Task Force Chairperson; the 
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Minority Spokesperson of the House Registration and Regulation 
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Committee; 3 members of the House of  Representatives appointed 
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by the Speaker of the House; and 2 members of the House of 
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Representatives appointed by the Minority Leader of the House; 
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and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall hold hearings to 
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determine the public demand for appropriately educated and 
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trained naturopathic physicians and the risk and detriment to 
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the public welfare in the absence of regulation;   the Task Force 
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shall also examine naturopathic medical education institutions 
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in order to establish the adequacy of naturopathic medical 
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education and training; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall present a written 
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report of its findings to the House of Representatives no later 
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than December 31, 2009.