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Senate Bill S 1200, Indian Bureau to Consider Naturopathic Doctors
1-23-08. The U.S. Senate is in the process of considering the addition of licensed Naturopathic
Doctors to the Indian Health Bill. Background: At present, Medical Doctors and Osteopathic
Doctors are eligible for medical school tuition re-imbursement if they agree to work for 4 years
on a Native American reservation, one of the most underserved populations in the U.S. At present,
licensed Naturopathic Doctors, whose education and training are comparable to that of MDs and DOs,
are not eligible to participate, despite the fact that in almost every calendar year, positions
for badly needed doctors go unfilled in many Native American communities due to a lack of interested
MD/DO applicants. Naturopathic doctors, meanwhile, are eager for an opportunity to fill these positions.
Because of the holistic philosophy and natural treatment methods used by Naturopathic doctors, their
approach to health care is more in harmony with the traditional culture of most Native American
communities. Naturopathic doctors serving Native American populations is a perfect fit.
What You Can Do
Write your U.S. Senators and ask them to include Naturopathic Doctors in the Indian Health Bill to permit
them to be elegible for the tuition re-imbursement program! Tell anyone you know in the media or with connections
in government or politics.
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