HB 3439
Requires individual and group health benefit plans and benefit plans offered by the Public Employees' Benefit Board and the Oregon Educators Benefit Board to reimburse services provided by naturopathic physicians within the scope of their practice if the services are reimbursed when provided by licensed physicians, physician associates or nurse practioners.
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Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
98%
Oppose
2%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill aims to ensure that health insurance plans, including those offered by the Public Employees’ Benefit Board and the Oregon Educators Benefit Board, reimburse naturopathic physicians for services at the same rate as licensed physicians, physician associates, or nurse practitioners when those services are comparable. The bill seeks to equalize reimbursement rates for naturopathic care, ensuring that it is treated similarly to other forms of medical treatment.
Key provisions
- Requires health benefit plans to reimburse naturopathic physicians for services within their scope of practice.
- Mandates reimbursement rates for naturopathic physicians be equal to those paid to physicians, physician associates, or nurse practitioners.
- Defines ‘independent practice’ for naturopathic physicians, including specific billing requirements.
- Specifies that reimbursement for naturopathic services should be based on the same payment methodology as other comparable services.
- Exempts the bill from certain insurance regulations.
- Applies to individual and group health benefit plans, as well as plans offered by the Public Employees’ Benefit Board and the Oregon Educators Benefit Board.
Who is affected
- Health insurance companies
- Individuals with health insurance plans
- Naturopathic physicians
- Public Employees’ Benefit Board
- Oregon Educators Benefit Board
Notable changes
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsors
Cosponsors
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Supporters of HB3439 advocate for passing this legislation to ensure fair reimbursement for licensed naturopathic physicians and improve access to primary care services in Oregon. They emphasize that naturopathic doctors provide essential, high-quality care with a focus on preventative medicine, yet are often undercompensated for their services. Proponents argue that fair payment would increase patients' ability to choose their doctors, support small businesses providing naturopathic care, and address the state's primary care provider shortage. Many testifiers share personal experiences highlighting the value of naturopathic medicine in addressing chronic conditions and promoting holistic health, while others stress the need for equal compensation to maintain access to affordable, patient-centered care for underserved populations.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Opponents of HB 3439 express concerns that mandating payment parity between naturopathic and medical doctors could compromise the quality and affordability of care, particularly for vulnerable populations. They argue that significant differences in education and training between naturopathic physicians and medical doctors render similar pay rates unjustified. Some that naturopathic physicians' qualifications are not equivalent to those of allopathic physicians, citing concerns about the scope of practice and potential impact on patient care. Others worry that payment parity would undermine credentialing processes and limit ability to account for provider qualifications, making it difficult to achieve cost containment objectives.