September 2011: Fiscal Year 2010 and Conflict with the AAFP

 

At the AANP’s Annual Meeting of the Association, held in conjunction with the AANP Convention, Treasurer Corey Resnick, ND, provided the following written report on our finances:

 

The Association’s finances continued to be well-managed in 2010 and the AANP remains on solid financial footing. The 2010 year-end Balance Sheet showed Total Assets of $698,161, Total Liabilities of $296,046 and Total Equity of $402,115. Actual Total Income for 2010 came in very close to the amount budgeted. Total Expense was a little below Budget, resulting in a small surplus for the year. Click here to read the report in its entirety.

 

 

Over the past few years, licensed naturopathic physicians have made dramatic progress in expanding scope of practice and advancing their roles as primary care providers. Success, it is said, can breed contempt, as evidenced by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) report on action taken during its Congress of Delegates meeting, calling for “the Academy to oppose any expansion of naturopaths' scope of practice that is not strictly supported by their training, such as extending them liberal prescribing authority or permitting them to perform work/school physical exams or surgery. And in no case, said the delegates, should these individuals be granted ‘primary care physician’ status.” 

 

The debate appears to have been fueled by a great deal of misinformation and misunderstanding resulting in apparent consensus that “training is woefully limited and varies widely from state to state.” This is yet another example of how organized conventional medicine is out of touch with today’s integrative approach to health care. Naturopathic doctors across the country work closely with family practice doctors to ensure continuity and quality care is provided to patients. State legislators agree, and designate NDs as primary care in many states. The AANP will be seeking to dialogue with AAFP on this topic soon. In the meantime, a review of the 2005 Journal of Family Practice and the article entitled “Naturopathy: What can patients expect” is reflective of what is possible with open dialogue.