Last week, the WSMA submitted formal comments laying out our opposition to a scope of practice expansion requested by the Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians currently under review by the Washington State Department of Health. In our comments, we correct several misrepresentations by the naturopathic association in its proposal and urge the Department of Health to strongly oppose all elements of the proposal that would compromise the safety of our patients and the effectiveness and quality of care delivered in our state. Read the WSMA comment letter, submitted on behalf of our nearly 13,000 physician and physician assistant members.
Thank you to all physicians, PAs, and health care stakeholders who engaged with our calls to action on this issue to join the WSMA in opposition to this proposal. The Department of Health closed its public commenting period on the naturopath's proposal this week. The next step in the process will be a hearing in the spring. We will keep members apprised of new developments closer to that time.