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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
naturopathic physicians; drug administration
Purpose
Allows a naturopathic physician, by expanding the definition of drug, to intravenously administer antibiotics, antivirals and antifungals.
Background
Naturopathic physicians are licensed and regulated by the Naturopathic Physicians Medical Board (Board). The practice of naturopathic medicine is a medical system of diagnosing and treating diseases, injuries, ailments, infirmities and other conditions of the human mind and body, including by natural means, drugless methods, drugs, nonsurgical methods, devices, physical, electrical, hygienic and sanitary measures and all forms of physical agents and modalities.
Naturopathic physicians may dispense a natural substance, a drug, except a schedule II controlled substance that is an opioid, or a device to a patient for a condition that is being diagnosed or treated by the physician if: 1) the physician is certified to dispense by the Board without suspensions or revocation; 2) the natural substance, drug or device is dispensed and properly labeled with outlined information; 3) the dispensing physician enters into the patient's medical record the name and strength of the natural substance, drug or device dispensed, the dispense date and the therapeutic reason; 4) the dispensing physician keeps all prescription-only drugs, controlled substances and prescription-only devices in a secured cabinet or room, controls access to the cabinet or room and maintains an ongoing inventory of its contents.
Under the Naturopathic Physicians Statute, the term drug excludes:
1) the intravenous administration of prescription drugs, except for vitamins,
chelation therapy, drugs used in emergency resuscitation and stabilization, minerals
and nutrients; 2) controlled substances listed as schedule I or II controlled
substances, except morphine, any drug that is reclassified from schedule III to
schedule II after January 1, 2014 and any homeopathic preparations that are
also controlled substances; 3) cancer chemotherapeutics classified as prescription
drugs; and
4) antipsychotics (A.R.S. §§ 32-1501
and 32-1581).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Expands the definition of drug, under the naturopathic physicians statute, to include the intravenous administration of antibiotics, antivirals and antifungals.
2. Makes technical changes.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 2, 2026
JT/NRG/ci