Bill to Amend Natural Medicine Regulations Advances to Full Senate

Bill No. 34-0244 amends Title 27, Chapter 4, Section 191 of the VI Code by citing specific modalities of naturopathic medicine and expands the requirements for gaining licensure as a naturopathic physician in the Territory. The bill, sponsored by Senator Genevieve R. Whitaker and Senator Marvin A. Blyden, will move on to the full body of the 34th Legislature for further consideration.

“The current law speaks to the measure of why and how naturopathic physicians are used and use naturopathic medicine,” said Sen. Whitaker during her introduction of the bill. “However, it does clearly state whose background skills and qualifications that are needed to carry this medicinal practice.”

Prior to the unanimous passage, testifiers from the Department of Health and naturopathic practitioners expressed reservations regarding the bill and cited a lack of input during discussions. DOH Commissioner Justa Encarnacion urged caution in advancing the bill and initially recommended the bill return to that committee.

“The Department supports the use of all approaches that add to comprehensive wellness,” said Encarnacion during her testimony on the measure. “However, the proposed modalities should be regulated with careful board oversight.” In addition, Encarnacion warned that all naturopathic treatment plans should coincide with opinions from a primary care physician to ensure the safety of patients.

After amending the bill, lawmakers would go on to pass the bill unanimously. However, the Rules and Judiciary Committee opted to hold a related bill, Bill No. 34-0243, in committee for further consideration.

Bill No. 34-0243, which Sen. Whitaker also sponsored proposed changes to the composition of the Board of Naturopathic Physicians, which currently operates under the DOH. The bill proposed amendments to Title 27, chapter 4, section 193(a)(2)(A) of the VI Code, which currently states:

“(A) Three members of the Board shall be licensed as naturopathic physicians under this chapter. One member of the Board shall be a physician, and one member shall be a pharmacist licensed to practice under the provisions of this title.”

Bill No. 34-0243 would require that the physician practice in the field of “integrative medicine” which encompasses both natural and traditional remedies. The bill would also replace the term pharmacist with language that read: “a member of the community who is versed in herbal and natural remedies by training or experience.”

Lawmakers expressed concerns over the abundance of boards within the Territory that have multiple vacancies and remain dormant as a result. Currently, three naturopathic physicians practice in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“We just keep creating boards and boards and boards and put them on the books and then we're not really filling these boards and we're not able to really move the needle and get things move in that respect,” said Senator Novelle E. Francis. “And I think that at some point, you know, there needs to be some consolidation.”

While three naturopathic physicians practice in the Territory at this time, that could grow if naturopaths had their own board, argued Dr. Wendy Coram-Vialet, a naturopathic physician from St. Thomas. Coram-Vialet noted that the practice often gets neglected with its current oversight from the DOH.

“At this point, I am open to suggestions,” said Coram-Vialet, “but with the understanding that naturopaths will have a voice.”

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Milton E. Potter, acknowledged the frustration of naturopaths who feel their practice gets sidelined without its own board.

“I share some of Senator Francis's concern about the multiple boards,” said Sen. Potter. “But I also can sit in the shoes of a naturopathic physician who may have the feeling as though you're being just stuck on some board where it's not a priority for the majority of the board.”

The 34th Legislature’s Rules and Judiciary Committee also forwarded several nominations to the full body of the Senate.

• Dr. Learie Lindsay to the VI Board of Medical Examiners
• Dr. William DeLeone to the UVI Research and Technology Park Board of Directors
• Gerson Martinez to the VI Aquaculture and Mariculture Commission
• Dale Brown and Carl “Carlos” Tesitor, Jr. to the VI Conservation District