The Colorado legislature gave final approval this week to a bill to regulate NDs. The bill now goes to Gov. John Hickenlooper for final approval. Gov. Hickenlooper has not announced whether he’ll sign the bill, but members of the Colorado Association of Naturopathic Doctors are optimistic that he will. The Governor has 30 days to sign the bill.

The bill would make Colorado the 17th state to regulate NDs. NDs are also regulated in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

CoAND overcame strong opposition from the Colorado Medical Society and others to get the bill passed by the Colorado General Assembly and the Senate.

According to CoAND President Denise Clark, “Members of the association pulled together like never before to achieve this amazing outcome. Most importantly, many Coloradans who may have been reluctant previously to visit a naturopathic doctor will now benefit from access to whole person, prevention-oriented care.”