Helpful Resources

Authority to Sign and Supervise

In Washington, NDs have statute-granted authority to oversee/supervise the following healthcare professionals:

In Washington, NDs have statute-granted authority to sign/certify the following documents:

Vital Records (including death certificates)

DEA Registration Information (including link to required OUD training)

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 enacted a new one-time, eight-hour training requirement for all DEA-registered practitioners, except veterinarians, on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders.

Access a database of FREE trainings that meet this requirement (and count as Category 2 CE credits for Washington-licensed NDs) HERE.

In order to prescribed controlled substances in Washington, your Naturopathic Physician License must indicate that you are "authorized for DEA registration." Current state law limits your prescriptive authority to "codeine and testosterone products that are contained within schedules III, IV, and V" - regardless of what is reflected on your DEA registration card.

Learn more and apply for registration at deadiversion.usdoj.gov.

Insurance and Billing Resources

The Insurance Commissioner is responsible for regulating insurers, including health insurers, in Washington State.

There are federal and state laws in place to protect patients from surprise medical costs. NDs must follow all applicable laws.

Telemedicine Resources (including link to required telemedicine training)

Board of Naturopathy Guidance

Our regulatory Board of Naturopathy (like most regulatory boards) defines the practice of medicine as occurring at the location of the patient. You must be licensed to practice medicine wherever the patient is and you must know and practice only to the legal scope of practice in that location. See here for additional guidance on the Appropriate Use of Telemedicine.

Required Telemedicine Training for Naturopathic Physicians

SSB 6061 went into effect on 1/1/2021 and requires that all healthcare providers who provide telemedicine services undergo mandatory training as soon as possible. The required training can be found HERE.

Telemedicine Parity

SB 5385 went into effect on 1/1/2021 and requires that telemedicine services (excluding audio-only phone calls) be reimbursed at the same rate as in-person medical care, provided that the care is medically necessary.