URGENT: Public Comments SB 408
Due by 1PM March 29, 2023
SB 408 puts the OHA (Oregon Health Authority) above all health care provider licensing boards in Oregon. The OHA is comprised of unelected bureaucrats and they should not have supreme control of the professional scope of practitioners (and subsequently our ability to choose how we care for our bodies).
SB 408 Summary: Directs Oregon Health Authority to establish process to receive and review health care profession scope of practice requests and impact statements.
A “scope of practice” outlines what a health care practitioner is permitted or required to do.
A “scope of practice request” is basically a complaint and request to change. The committee hearing these “requests” would have the power to change the scope of practice for an entire health care profession!
HOW could this hurt us?
The changes of scope (limitations and requirements) could easily include disallowing the recommendations of all types of holistic medical care such as herbal remedies, lifestyle changes, homeopathics, off-label medications, bodywork, etc., etc.
Practitioners could be required to do certain things to maintain their licenses, such as perform certain medical procedures for everyone or prescribe only “approved” care. This curtails a practioner’s professional best judgement based on thorough reviews of scientific literature and each patient’s unique health and history.
This attempt to censor and circumvent medical care is a step towards one-size-fits-all, standardized medical care. It could eliminate our ability to make informed choices about medical care for ourselves and our children.
Pharmaceutical companies could grow stronger, as holistic and natural remedies could easily become “forbidden” due to an OHA recommendation.
WHO could this affect?
The first proposed amendment targets these professions (and consequently their patients):
Physicians
Physician assistants
Podiatric physicians and surgeons
Naturopathic physicians
Optometrists
Psychologists
Chiropractors
Direct entry midwives
Acupuncturists
This concept could easily be expanded to include more professions and be used to control access to many holistic modalities:
Massage therapists
Homeopaths
Any natural or holistic health care practitioner or approach
Voice your opposition to SB408 NOW!
Call and email members of the Senate Health Committee, listed here: http://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/…/Commit…/SHC/Overview
Submit written testimony before 1pm Weds 3/29 http://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/…/2023-03-27-13-00…
Register to testify at the hearing in person or remotely by 12:30 3/27 http://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/…/Meas…/Overview/SB408 Click “Register to testify” below “Measure History” section.
Details, updates, and more at UniteOregonNow.com