Thursday, February 5, 2009

Health Freedom Updates, Monthly Column by Kim Sharples, HHP, 2008 Alumni

Happy February!

Many states have started their legislative sessions and are going strong. Make sure you check your state update to see if there is anything new.

I have also set up a health freedom website so you can see what is new. To access it, email me at: kimberlysharples@msn.com.

I also have the yahoo group set up so that you will receive important alerts as they are released. To join, just send a blank email to: FYHF-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

We all have friends, relatives, customers, etc. in other states. This is a good way to pass along information to people.

Please remember that each state has different laws and regulations regarding what you can and cannot do when it comes to complementary and alternative health care.

There are currently six states that have health freedom laws. These are: Minnesota, California, Rhode Island, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Idaho. If you live in one of these states, you need to know the laws regarding health freedom, what you can and cannot do, and what disclosures you may need to provide to your clients.

There are 15 states and the District of Columbia that license or regulate naturopathic physicians. If your state is one that regulates naturopathic physicians, you need to know what that law says in regards to what you can and cannot do. These states are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia. Minnesota just passed a registration bill for naturopathic physicians that should take effect July 1, 2009.


NATIONAL HEALTH FREEDOM ORGANIZATIONS
For questions or more information about health freedom in your state, please feel free to contact me: kimberlysharples@msn.com or (719) 390-1979.

HEALTH FREEDOM INFORMATION

CANADA
The Canadian Parliament adjourned for the summer without debating or passing bills C-51 and C-52, which could have overturned long-standing legal precedent protecting Canadians’ health freedom. For more information, click here.

CALIFORNIA
Prop 65 is proposed regulation that wants to classify all beneficial nutrients with above-RDA potencies as cancer-causing agents unless proven otherwise.
For more information, please go to this website.

COLORADO
A monopolistic naturopathic physician bill has been introduced that we are opposing. This is HB 09-1175 and you can view it by clicking HERE.

If you haven't joined the CO4HFG yahoo group, we need you to do that. If you know other health freedom supporters, we need them to join as well. There are thousands of people to contact, and it makes it much easier if we only have to send one email that goes to everyone. You can join by sending a blank email to:CO4HFG-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Or, send your email address to Kim at kimberlysharples@msn.com and she will add you to this yahoo group, which will allow you to automatically receive health freedom emails. This is a very important way to help support health freedom in Colorado. Please pass this information on to others. This is how we will notify you about HB 09-1175 and other bills, so please join.

We also have a website: www.co4hf.synthasite.com.

For those who do not have Internet access, an updated message number has been setup for your convenience. We will leave messages to keep you informed of important information and legislation. This is available 24/7. Just dial (641) 715-3900 and enter code 9357483#. You may also leave a message at this number and someone will return your call.

CONNECTICUT
Connecticut Health Freedom Coalition. Email Craig Respasz at: crepasz@hotmail.com.

IDAHO
Just when we thought Idaho was settled, Senate Bill 1425 was introduced by the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare on February 11, 2008. The bill, as introduced, would have transformed the law from what was an agreeable, accommodating law under which all natural health practitioners benefited, to a restrictive licensing law favoring “naturopathic physicians.” The bill progressed quickly through the Senate and The Coalition jumped into the fray with both feet to protect the language in the bill that allowed for multiple pathways to licensure. With the help of the Idaho Coalition for Natural Health and others, the bill was amended, thus minimizing the effect on the law in Idaho. We will continue to monitor the activities of the Board of Naturopathic Medical Examiners as they work towards promulgation of rules.

For more information, contact Boyd at: boydlandry@naturalhealth.org. You can also visit the website for Idaho CNH at: http://www.naturalhealthidaho.org.

IOWA
Iowa introduced Health Freedom language in 2008, but was not successful. To learn more about the Iowa Health Freedom Coalition, you can access their website: www.iowahealthfreedom.org.

LOUISIANA
Louisiana’s focus this year was to introduce a total Health Freedom Bill in the 2008 Louisiana Legislative Session. They held a statewide membership meeting in March with 3 excellent speakers: Senator Sharon Weston Broome (Sponsor of the bill), Dr. John Baker, head of LSU Law School (health freedom advocate), and Boyd Landry, Executive Director of CNH.

They also held several statewide meeting to attract new members as well as enlighten the member that reside outside the Baton Rouge area of their intentions to introduce a bill in this year’s 2008 session; as well as meeting with legislators at the Capitol Rotunda several times.

They hired a Lobbyist to work with us to amend Acts 655 and 334, which were bills we passed in the 2006, and 2005 sessions. With lobbyist Kathy Chittom and Senator Broome’s influence, they were able to pass a bill in this year’s 2008 Legislative Session. The Governor signed the bill into law at the end of June (Act No. 524). They now feel as though Louisiana finally has a Total Health Freedom Bill.

Their board meets the last Monday of each month, and they have a conference call number for those who cannot attend in person.

If you live in Louisiana and would like to help, please contact Cynthia Reed, ND, President of the Louisiana Health Freedom Coalition at (225) 756-8400 or herbs-etc@cox.net.

MARYLAND
Maryland introduced a health freedom bill in 2008, but it was not successful. Contact Dr. Mishra for more information regarding Health Freedom in Maryland: mishra13505@yahoo.com.

MINNESOTA
A Naturopathic Physician registration bill was passed in Minnesota that will not go into effect until July 1, 2009. You can read about this bill and work group here.

Another group has formed in Minnesota--Minnesota Advocates for Complementary and Alternative Practices, MNACAP. The President is Katie Murphy, and you can email her at: 4healinginsights@comcast.net.

MONTANA
The Montana Health Freedom Coalition is moving forward with legislation in the 2009 Legislative session. The chair of the Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs committee, Senator Joe Balyeat, volunteered to sponsor the bill. He is a strong advocate for health freedom and a supporter of alternative and complementary health care.

Montana has introduced SB 287--the Consumer Health Freedom and Access Act. It can be tracked on the legislative website: www.leg.MT.gov.

We are excited as there are many positive things happening with the bill right now, including that six of the 11 Senate committee members are either sponsoring or co-sponsoring the bill. Things are looking good and we'll keep you posted.

The hearing is scheduled for Monday, February 9 at 9 a.m. If you know people in Montana, encourage them to contact the committee and their legislator NOW. More information about that can be found on our website; click on the "Advocacy" page: http://www.montanahealthfreedom.org.

Contact Deb Kimmet at: deb@debkimmet.com.

NEW JERSEY
A Dietitian/Nutritionist Licensure bill has just been introduced in New Jersey and been referred to the Senate Commerce Committee. This bill could limit nutritional advice to only those dietitian/nutritionists licensed by the state of New Jersey. You can view the bill here. Please contact Kimberly Sharples: kimberlysharples@msn.com.

NEW YORK
There were three restrictive bills introduced in New York, which could have prohibited traditional naturopaths from practicing. Boyd Landry with CNH worked at killing these bills and they are monitoring legislation for the remainder of 2008 and into 2009. You can contact Boyd Landry for more information: boydlandry@naturalhealth.org.

NORTH CAROLINA
There was restrictive naturopathic medicine bills introduced this year in NC. Fortunately, these bills died in committee. The North Carolina Citizens for Healthcare Freedom has a health freedom bill introduced and they are hoping for it to be heard in the long session, starting in January. At this time they need assistance with signing petitions (on their website), volunteering and donations. For more information, you can go to their website: www.ncchf.org. Their contact person is Claiborne Holtzman: Claiborne@ncchf.org.

OHIO
The Ohio Sunshine Health Freedom Coalition has introduced a health freedom bill, H.B. 580. You can read the bill here. The OSHFC Steering Committee recorded a phone call updating the Ohio situation. If you would like to listen, please call (641) 715-3409 and enter PIN 288597#. They are also asking for help in calling, emailing, or faxing members of the committee that the health freedom bill is assigned to. To learn more, please contact Linda Murray: hertouch@juno.com or go to their website: www.ohiosunshinehealthfreedom.info.

TENNESSEE
Two identical restrictive licensing bills were entertained this session. Fortunately, both of these bills died in committee. They expect similar legislation to be introduced in 2009. For more information, please contact Boyd Landry at: boydlandry@naturalhealth.org.

TEXAS
The Texas health freedom bill author, Rep. Frank Corte, has filed HB 40, their 2009 health freedom bill. The bill text can be viewed at the following link: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us.

They also have discovered that the Texas Dietetic Association has hired a lobbyist to attempt to push through their exclusionary licensing agenda for the 2009 legislative session. They will need your help to defeat this legislation that could take away practitioners rights to give out nutritional advice.

There are installments of “WAKE UP AMERICA” on their website, on the right side under “Recent Posts.” Their website has been updated so please visit www.texashealthfreedom.com to see the “WAKE UP AMERICA” video series and other health freedom information.

Texas needs volunteers and donations--If you can help, please visit their website or contact Peter McCarthy at texascam@earthlink.net.

VIRGINIA
Health Freedom bill (HB1744) was introduced and heard in committee, but tabled. Unfortunately this means that the bill is dead but can be reintroduced at a later session.

Naturopathic Physician bill (HB1820) was heard on Monday, February 2 at 5:00 p.m.

Please check www.cnhpva.org or www.fyhf.synthasite.com for current updates.

Keep checking the websites for regular updates and action steps. We all want to make this happen in 2009, so please do your part. We can't do it without you!

Remember, a deluge of e-mails, faxes, letters, or calls from constituents will get the attention of the representative. I know because I'm married to a local representative and he takes action when the masses contact him.

Contact Sharon E. Hrichak C/O Virginians for Health Freedom, a project of the Virginia Chapter of Certified Natural Health Professionals, P.O. Box 316, Chesterfield, VA 23832-0005.

WASHINGTON
Washington has a health freedom bill introduced, Senate Bill 6886, and was referred to the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee. To read this bill, go to: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/.

Preserve your Freedom of Choice in health care! For more information, go to the Washington Health Freedom website: http://healthfreedomwa.org, email healthfreedom.wa@gmail.com, or call (360) 357-6263.

WISCONSIN
WIHFC is a Wisconsin nonprofit 501(c) 4 lobbying organization for social justice supporting an exciting new Consumer Health Freedom and Access Act in Wisconsin in the 2009 to 2010 legislative session.

Consumer Health Freedom and Access Act will ensure consumer choice by providing a safe harbor exemption for those doing non-licensed healing therapies as long as they follow guidelines of the bill. It also gives the consumer freedom to choose alternative practitioners and services desired. This is an exemption bill for everyone doing no harm.

WIHFC opposes the WDA (Wisconsin Dietetic Association) licensing bill (SB 394 & AB 742) that was defeated last session and will be re-introduced in the 2009 to 2010 session. The WDA bill would allow only licensed Dietitians trained by the ADA (American Dietetic Association) and a few other licensed professions to discuss nutrition. We see this as a freedom of speech issue. Food must remain in the public domain.

They ask that everyone call their lawmakers now. WDA mailed letters to every office in Madison. Have every client in your office/store call form your phone, and make them take action now. For those not aware of the WDA Licensure bill go to: http://wihfc.com/about_us.htm. Find your legislator: http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/waml/waml.aspx.

Check out our website: http://wihfc.com. Contact Syncha Maniscalco, Director WIHFC, synchaa@gmail.com or call (715) 452-5544.

Kimberly Sharples, HHP
Health Freedom Activist
kimberlysharples@msn.com
(719) 390-1979
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