Protect Holistic Health: OPPOSE HB408

Initial Public Hearing Monday, March 27 at 1:00.

What is SB 408?

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 practioner 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.