SB 25-032

Senate Bill 25-032 in Colorado updates the requirements for naturopathic doctors by expanding their ability to prescribe certain medications and adding new educational and certification requirements. The bill allows these doctors to prescribe a wider range of drugs, including some controlled substances, but restricts them from prescribing antipsychotics or ketamine without special approval and from treating individuals under 18 years old with prescription medicines. Naturopathic doctors must complete additional training in pharmacology and pass specific exams to be eligible for the expanded formulary. This bill has been signed into law, meaning these new requirements are now enforceable.

Official Summary

The bill clarifies that the existing naturopathic doctor formulary (existing formulary) includes prescription classes of medicines and clarifies what the practice of naturopathic medicine includes. In addition, the bill creates a new formulary for certain naturopathic doctors, which new formulary includes: All legend drugs, other than schedule I or II controlled substances or devices identified in the federal "Controlled Substances Act"; For a naturopathic doctor with a federal drug enforcement administration registration, anabolic steroids listed on schedule III of the "Uniform Controlled Substances Act of 2013"; and All drugs listed on schedules IV and V of the "Uniform Controlled Substances Act of 2013", except for benzodiazepines, oncological chemotherapeutics, and narcotics (new formulary). Before obtaining, dispensing, administering, injecting, ordering, or prescribing any of the medicines or devices included in the new formulary, a naturopathic doctor who is registered with the department of regulatory agencies (department) must provide proof of: Completion of 12 hours of pharmacological continuing education pertinent to or reflective of the naturopathic formulary; Passage of the elective pharmacology examination of the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations; or Licensure in good standing in another state that has equivalent prescribing authority. A naturopathic doctor who does not provide such proof is limited to the medicines and devices contained within the existing formulary. The bill prohibits a naturopathic doctor from prescribing: A medicine or device to an individual under 18 years of age; or Antipsychotics or ketamine to an individual of any age unless recommended by the naturopathic medicine advisory committee and approved by the director of the division of professions and occupations in the department (director). The bill requires an individual applying for issuance, renewal, or reinstatement of a registration as a naturopathic doctor on or after September 1, 2025, to pass a pharmacology examination administered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners or a nationally recognized, director-approved successor entity. Upon passage of the exam, the individual is able to obtain, dispense, administer, inject, order, or prescribe any of the medicines or devices included in the new formulary. For the renewal of a naturopathic doctor's registration on or after June 1, 2026, the bill requires a naturopathic doctor to complete 8 hours per year of continuing education in pharmacology. Lastly, the bill prohibits a naturopathic doctor from administering intravenous therapy without first being certified by a nationally recognized, director-approved entity. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Related Legislation