A. A doctor of naturopathic medicine may dispense a natural substance, a drug, except a schedule II controlled substance that is an opioid, or a device to a patient for a condition that is being diagnosed or treated by the doctor if:

Terms Used In Arizona Laws 32-1581

  • Board: means the naturopathic physicians medical board. See Arizona Laws 32-1501
  • Controlled substance: means a drug, substance or immediate precursor in schedules I through V of Title 36, Chapter 27, Article 2 or the rules adopted pursuant to Title 36, Chapter 27, Article 2. See Arizona Laws 32-1501
  • Direct supervision: means that a physician who is licensed pursuant to this chapter or chapter 13, 17 or 29 of this title:

    (a) Is physically present and within sight or sound of the person supervised and is available for consultation regarding procedures that the physician has authorized and for which the physician remains responsible. See Arizona Laws 32-1501

  • doctor: means a natural person who is licensed to practice naturopathic medicine under this chapter. See Arizona Laws 32-1501
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • including: means not limited to and is not a term of exclusion. See Arizona Laws 1-215
  • Natural substance: means a homeopathic, botanical, nutritional or other supplement that does not require a prescription pursuant to federal law before it is prescribed, dispensed or otherwise furnished to a patient and that is prescribed by a physician who is licensed pursuant to this chapter to enhance health, prevent disease or treat a medical condition diagnosed by the physician. See Arizona Laws 32-1501
  • Naturopathic medicine: means medicine as taught in approved schools of naturopathic medicine and in clinical, internship, preceptorship and postdoctoral training programs approved by the board and practiced by a recipient of a degree of doctor of naturopathic medicine licensed pursuant to this chapter. See Arizona Laws 32-1501
  • Nurse: means a person who is licensed pursuant to chapter 15 of this title. See Arizona Laws 32-1501
  • Physician: means a doctor of naturopathic medicine who is licensed pursuant to this chapter. See Arizona Laws 32-1501
  • Process: means a citation, writ or summons issued in the course of judicial proceedings. See Arizona Laws 1-215

1. The doctor is certified to dispense by the board and the certificate has not been suspended or revoked by the board.

2. The natural substance, drug or device is dispensed and properly labeled with the following dispenser information:

(a) The dispensing doctor’s name, address and telephone number and a prescription number or other method of identifying the prescription.

(b) The date the natural substance, drug or device is dispensed.

(c) The patient’s name.

(d) The name and strength of the natural substance, drug or device, directions for proper and appropriate use and any cautionary statements for the natural substance, drug or device. If a generic drug is dispensed, the manufacturer’s name must be included.

3. The dispensing doctor enters into the patient’s medical record the name and strength of the natural substance, drug or device dispensed, the date the natural substance, drug or device is dispensed and the therapeutic reason.

4. The dispensing doctor keeps all prescription-only drugs, controlled substances and prescription-only devices in a secured cabinet or room, controls access to the cabinet or room by a written procedure and maintains an ongoing inventory of its contents.

B. Except in an emergency, a doctor of naturopathic medicine who dispenses a natural substance, drug or device without being certified to dispense by the board is subject to a civil penalty by the board of not less than three hundred dollars and not more than one thousand dollars for each transaction and may be prohibited from further dispensing for a period of time as determined by the board.

C. Before dispensing a natural substance, drug or device pursuant to this section, the treating doctor shall give the patient or the patient’s legal guardian a written prescription and must inform the patient or the patient’s legal guardian that the prescription may be filled by the prescribing doctor or the pharmacy of the patient’s choice. If the patient chooses to have the medication dispensed by the doctor, the doctor must retrieve the written prescription and place it in a prescription file kept by the doctor.

D. A doctor of naturopathic medicine shall provide direct supervision of a nurse or attendant involved in the dispensing process. For the purposes of this subsection, "direct supervision" means that a doctor of naturopathic medicine is present and makes the determination as to the necessary use or the advisability of the natural substance, drug or device to be dispensed.

E. The board shall enforce this section. The board shall adopt rules regarding the dispensing of a natural substance, drug or device, including the labeling, recordkeeping, storage and packaging of natural substances, that are consistent with the requirements of chapter 18 of this title. The board may conduct periodic inspections of dispensing practices to ensure compliance with this section and applicable rules.

F. This section does not prevent a licensed practical or professional nurse employed by a doctor of naturopathic medicine from assisting in the delivery of natural substances, drugs and devices in accordance with this chapter.

G. Before prescribing or dispensing a mineral to a patient, the treating physician shall perform necessary clinical examinations and laboratory tests to prevent toxicity due to the excessive intake of magnesium, calcium and other minerals. The board shall adopt rules necessary for the safe administration of minerals. These rules shall require prior certification of a physician who prescribes or dispenses minerals to a patient.

H. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Device" means an appliance, apparatus or instrument that is administered or dispensed to a patient by a doctor of naturopathic medicine.

2. "Dispense" means the delivery by a doctor of naturopathic medicine of a natural substance, drug or device to a patient and only for a condition being diagnosed or treated by that doctor, except for free samples packaged for individual use by licensed manufacturers or repackagers, and includes the prescribing, administering, packaging, labeling and security necessary to prepare and safeguard the natural substance, drug or device for delivery to the treating doctor’s own patient.