Is There a Demand?
More than 80 million Americans turn to complementary and/or alternative medicine every year. (Institute For Health and Healing at California Pacific Medical Center, March 2002)
A Harvard Medical School survey found that 68 percent of adults have used at least one form of CAM therapy. (Annals of Internal Medicine, August 2001)
Is Naturopathic Medicine Cost-Effective?
Yes, because it focuses on prevention, patient involvement, noninvasive methods and appropriate use of technology.
The Vermont Auto Dealers Association Wellness Program provides access to Naturopathic Medicine for their members and estimated a reduction in total health care costs by almost $1,500,000 in just one year. Insurance premiums dropped for the first time the following year instead of the usual annual increase.
A landmark study released in September 2004 at a congressional hearing found potential cost savings resulting from daily use of calcium and folic acid could save $15 billion in health care costs. (Dietary Supplement Education Alliance, Health Impact Study). An even more recent study released June 2007 reports that supplementation with "calcium, Vitamin D, folic acid, omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs), and lutein with zeaxaanthin by select populations could save more than $24 billion in health care costs." Learn more
Why Do We Need Licensure in Florida?
Licensure will allow NDs to practice as trained, namely to diagnose and treat disease using naturopathic principles.
Licensure sets minimum standards for the educational and training qualifications for being a qualified naturopathic doctor so that the public can make informed choices regarding their natural healthcare.
Floridians deserve access to highly trained, licensed Primary Care Physicians who provide safe, regulated, less invasive alternatives to typical conventional medical treatments.
Integrative medical clinics have been opened around the country, focusing on the best of naturopathic and conventional medicine, for the purpose of promoting wellness and disease prevention. We need them here in Florida too.
Increase the choices of health care for consumers in Florida. Through Federal programs, NDs are able to practice on Native American Reservations and in some Impoverished Communities already. But for most Floridians, this growing form of health care is not currently available and requires them to travel to other states for access to safe and complete natural health care.
Florida has had Naturopathic licensure since the early 1900's, but no longer has an acting board to give new licenses. There are only 5 remaining licensed Naturopathic Physicians. We must pass new legislation in order to meet the growing demand for safe, natural health care.
Many Naturopathic Treatments cost substantially less. Saving our country millions of dollars a year by preventing common debilitating diseases.
Additionally, licensing naturopathic doctors provides for regulation of the profession and increased public safety in accessing the services of naturopathic doctors. Lack of regulation means that any person may refer to themselves as a Naturopath or Naturopathic Physician. Untrained practitioners have caused the death of several people in North Carolina, Colorado and California already.
There are currently over 600 diploma mill practitioners claiming to be ND's in Florida.
Keep Florida safe and healthy. We can not wait any longer. We need your help .
What can I do to help Floridians get access to NDs?
Donate! Any amount, large or small, will help with licensing efforts.
Sign up for legislative updates and find out when your support is critical for providing licensure.
Join the FNPA . We have Professional and Citizen Memberships available. You will receive our eNewsletter with
Legislative Updates as well as Health Tips on the latest researched natural health information.
Choose Naturopathic Medicine for yourself. The more you know, the healthier you and your family will be. Find an ND
Tell your Senators and Representatives you deserve access to all safe and effective health care options. Write your legislators
Demand safety and education from your health care providers.
Tell a friend about Naturopathic Medicine and the FNPA.