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Testimony Advocating Naturopathic
Coverage under Medicare

National Association of Naturopathic Physicians (N.A.N.P.), 1970

In 1970, as part of its effort to gain inclusion of naturopathic treatment under Medicare, the National Association of Naturopathic Physicians provided a written report to the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance. The report was presented by Charles Orlando Pratt, lobbyist for the National Health Federation, at a hearing held on September 17, 1970. This page presents the cover letter and a table of contents of the main body of the report.
 

 

National Association of Naturopathic Physicians

Portland, Oregon, September 10, 1970.

 
Hon. Tom Vail,
Chief Counsel, Senate Finance Committee
New Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. Vail:

At the request of Mr. Charles Orlando Pratt, Washington General Counsel for the National Association of Naturopathic Physicians, the following brief, respecting naturopathic medicine is being submitted to the Senate Finance Committee for study during the forthcoming hearings on H.R. 17550.

The brief was prepared by the National Association of Naturopathic Physicians at the request of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare in 1968, for use in its study to determine the feasibility of including the services of licensed practitioners performing health services in Independent practice (Part B of Title XVIII of the Social Security Act).

At the present time the licensed professions of chiropractic and naturopathy are not included within the framework of the Social Security Act. Consequently, the elderly citizens of the United States who desire health-care service other than that offered by orthodox medicine are denied such service unless they pay for the privilege out of meager pension funds or personal savings.

According to reliable reports by various agencies, there is a tangible lack of licensed health-care practitioners to adequately care for the health needs of our ever increasing community of elderly people.

The National Association of Naturopathic Physicians feels that the inclusion of ALL licensed practitioners in the Supplementary Medical Insurance program would be of considerable help in closing the gap that now exists in health-care delivery because of the evident lack of trained personnel.

The inclusion of ALL licensed purveyors of health-care service in the Social Security Act should not entail any increase in cost to the program since they offer alternative service rather than additional service.

The NANP is appreciative of this opportunity to present our case to the committee.

Sincerely,

J. W. NOBLE, N.D.

National Association of Naturopathic Physicians -- Outline for Study of Services of Practitioners Performing Health Services in Independent Practice

I. Organization: National Association of Naturopathic Physicians

A. Structure
B. Activities
C. Association relationship with other health practitioners
D. Code of ethics

II. The Discipline

III. Practitioner

IV. Education

A. Accreditation procedure for schools of training programs
B. Trends in education
C. Enrollment by classes since 1960
D. Recruitment technique of schools

V. Title XVIII (Medicare)

A. Recommendations to the Congress for changes in the Social Cecurity act to broaden health coverage for people 65 or over, and priorities for such changes in service
B. What is the demand for the services of naturopathic practitioners by persons 65 or over?
C. Projection of the future needs of, and demands for, the services of naturopathic physicians by persons 65 or over -- in 1975 -- in 1980.

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