(February 2010)
On February 3, 2010, Senators John McCain and Byron Dorgan introduced S. 3002, a bill entitled, The Dietary Supplement Safety Act. The ostensible purpose of the bill is to make dietary supplements "safer," despite the fact that dietary supplements are already hundreds of times safer than either prescription or over-the-counter drugs.
Contact your Senators now.
(November 2009)
AANP has issued a technical response to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine's (NCCAM) strategic plan for 2010 to 2015.
Read the response.
(October 2009)
AANP has asked Senator Baucus to include a clause that would prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage of a class of licensed health care providers.
Read the letter. To send a similar message to your Senators,
click here.
(August 2009)
AANP, in conjunction with the Coalition for Patient Rights, has asked that AHRQ include data about healthcare proviers other than MDs and DOs in a study on patient choice.
Read AANP's comments.
(June 2009)
AANP learned yesterday that on June 23, health and wellness champion Senator Harkin (D-IA) agreed to submit an amendment for inclusion in the Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee health care reform bill. This provision would allow for the inclusion of all licensed health care practitioners to participate in the program offerings currently contained in the bill.
Read the full update.
(May 2009)
On May 28, 2008, The Coalition for Patient’s Rights sent a letter to President Obama about the vital roll that healthcare providers other than doctors of medicine or osteopathy (i.e., MDs or DOs) play in our nation’s health care system. These professions were created to fill the gaps in service and to provide other benefits not offered by MDs or DOs, including a higher degree of personalized care, specialty services, greater accessibility and increased affordability.
Read the full letter.
(April 2009)
On April 14, 2009, the AANP has made a submission to the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research, recommending that their outcomes and best practices research includes the evaluation of alternative systems of healthcare.
Read the full document.
(March 2009)
The AANP has responded to hearings on Integrative Health Care organized by Senators Harkin and Mikulski.
Read the letter.
(February 2009)
On February 24, 2009, Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) introduced a concurrent resolution on wellness, H. Con Res. 58 , co-authored by AANP. The resolution calls for the inclusion of wellness programs in reforms to the health care system. Ask your representative to sign on as a co-sponsor to support our effort.
(January 2009)
The AANP has obtained summaries contained in the final version of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, otherwise known as the Economic Stimulus Package. Read more and link to the summaries.
(January 2009)
Over the past 60 days AANP has been working diligently to create a formal submission to the Obama Health Care Transition team detailing our recommendation for comprehensive reform. Read the full submission.
Read AANP's response to the selection of Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle to lead HHS.
Read an update from Executive Director Karen Howard on healthcare reform efforts currently underway. Click here to submit your thoughts to the Obama Transition team, or click here to congratulate newly elected/reelected Members of Congress. Read the statement.
Read a message from AANP Lobbyist Jan Lipsen of Counselors for Management about opportunities for advocacy during the presidential transition. Or click here to congratulate your elected Representatives, educate them on the special role naturopathic doctors can play treating chronic illness, and ask them to support H. Con. Res. 406. Read the full statement.
Read Executive Director Karen Howard's response to the 2008 Election results and AANP's goals for the 111th Congress and the new administration. View our response.
On July 31, 2008, Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) introduced a concurrent resolution on wellness, H. Con. Res. 406 , co-authored by AANP. The resolution calls for the inclusion of wellness programs in reforms to the health care system. Please ask your representative to sign on as a co-sponsor to support our effort.
On July 31, 2008, the U.S. House and Senate passed amendments to the Higher Education Act, reauthorizing the act for the next five years and preserving the School as Lender program. Read the full announcement and link to the conference report.
On June 4, AANP president Lise Alschuler was interviewed on WOR Radio 710 HD, on the program WOR Health Talk with Dr. Ronald Hoffman. Lise discussed her book Definitive Guide to Cancer: An Integrated Approach to Prevention, Treatment and Healing, as well as how to use natural therapies to achieve optimum health. Listen to the interview.
The AMA House of Delegates considered at their June 15, 2008 meeting, Resolution 303 to restrict the use of "Doctor," "Resident," and "Residency" to MDs, DOs and Dentists. The resolution targets the growing number of nurses who are obtaining advanced degrees (including that of Doctor) and specialty training. Intended or not, resolution 303 clearly excludes naturopathic physicians, along with Doctors of Nursing, from using the title of Doctor, even though they receive their degrees from accredited institutions. Read the full statement.
On May 8, 2008, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions held a hearing entitled Cancer: Challenges and Opportunities in the 21st Century. AANP submitted written testimony emphasizing the role of preventative medicine. Read the testimony.
