2005 Vermont Code - § 4125. — Director; duties

§ 4125. Director; duties

(a) The director, with the advice of the advisor appointees, shall:

(1) Provide general information to applicants for licensure as naturopathic physicians.

(2) Administer fees collected under this chapter.

(3) Administer examinations.

(4) Explain appeal procedures to naturopathic physicians and applicants for licensure and complaint procedures to the public.

(5) Receive applications for licensure under this chapter, issue and renew licenses and revoke, suspend, reinstate or condition licenses as ordered by an administrative law officer.

(6) Refer all disciplinary matters to an administrative law officer.

(b) The director, with the advice of the advisor appointees, may adopt rules necessary to perform the director's duties under this section. Rules regulating the role of naturopathic physicians may include rules relating to a special license endorsement to practice naturopathic childbirth and rules relating to a special license endorsement authorizing naturopathic physicians to prescribe, dispense, or administer prescription medications pursuant to this chapter. As adopted under this chapter:

(1) Rules for naturopathic childbirth endorsement shall specifically address and define scope and practice standards, including what constitutes uncomplicated childbirth, risk-assessment criteria, informed consent, education requirements, peer review, and maintaining practice data and records, and shall require every licensed naturopathic physician practicing naturopathic childbirth to develop a written plan for consultation, emergency transfer, and transport;

(2) Rules for naturopathic prescription medicine endorsement shall specifically address and define scope and practice standards, including education requirements and maintaining practice data and records, and shall require every licensed naturopathic physician seeking a prescription medicine license endorsement to pass a test provided by the director and administered in consultation with the Vermont department of health.

(c) At least annually, the director, with the advice of the advisor appointees, shall review and update the formulary of prescription medicines naturopathic physicians may use in a manner consistent with their scope of practice and training, subject to the approval of the commissioner of health. Nonnatural substances found to be substantially safer in treatment or without which a patient's primary care would be compromised may be added to the formulary. The formulary shall include prescription medicines necessary for naturopathic practice and naturopathic childbirth. (Added 1995, No. 171 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1997, No. 40, § 49(a); 2001, No. 129 (Adj. Sess.), § 35, eff. June 13, 2002; 2003, No. 60, § 22; 2005, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 48.)