Monthly Payments Coming in 2010

By Carl Hangee-Bauer, ND, LAc
AANP President-Elect

I don't know about you, but I've always found it a bit of a financial stress for my business in January when my AANP membership renewal is due. With the last few weeks of December's cash flow slow due to the holidays and quarterly tax payments due in January on top of all my other bills, it can be tough to find the funds to renew my AANP membership for the entire year. That's why I'm happy to see the AANP move to a new dues structure where one can make monthly membership payments over the course of the year. Starting December 1, 2009, the monthly payment option will be made available to all AANP members. One can still pay upfront and receive a 16% discount, or stretch out their payments over the year to keep their cash flow running smoothly. I already do this with my state naturopathic and acupuncture associations and have found it to be an easy way to keep up my membership and support the important work of my professional associations.

There are more benefits to AANP membership than ever before. The popularity of www.naturopathic.org, the AANP web site, has soared 400%, with traffic to "Find an ND" increasing 30% in the past year. If you haven't checked out the members page on Practice Development, please do so; there are many articles geared to helping you grow and maintain successful practices. Politically, The AANP has joined the debate on health care to make sure that the message is heard that true health care reform is not just about changes in the insurance system. With AANP input, the definition of naturopathic medicine has been dramatically revised by the US Department of Labor to more accurately reflect our profession. We are involved in coalitions with other health professional associations with common goals as well as the Coalition for Patients Rights to combat the AMA's efforts to limit our licensing and scope of practice. In the past year, the AANP has worked with American Health Journal to develop a 7-part PBS series on naturopathic medicine, launched a national public relations campaign, and the new Natural Medicine Journal. I could go on but I think you get my point: The AANP is working hard for you to be the successful naturopathic physicians you are trained to be and we need your active participation so we can meet our mutual goals.

In 2010, we will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the AANP. I attended the first convention in Scottsdale back in 1986, became one of the first members of the AANP, and have maintained my membership ever since. I strongly believe that my participation along with hundreds of others have helped this organization and profession grow in ways we could not have imagined back then. Membership renewal notices will be sent out soon. I encourage you to join the AANP, get involved, and help guide the naturopathic profession for the next 25 years.

DC FLI Report

Written by Michael Cronin, ND, AANP President

But you must remember, my fellow-citizens, that eternal vigilance by the people is the price of liberty, and that you must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing.  It behooves you, therefore, to be watchful in your States as well as in the Federal Government. 

- Andrew Jackson, Farewell Address
March 4, 1837

The AANP had its 9^th DC Federal Legislative Initiative May 7, 2012. It was attended by nearly 140 NDs and students with 529 visits organized.  Our goal is to find legislative allies to work with to improve federal recognition of NDs which will empower our state legislative efforts.  

Our legislative asks at the DC FLI were simple and straight forward. We asked legislators to write a letter on our behalf urging Secretary Sebelius, of the Department of Health and Human Services, to include naturopathic physicians in all HHS programs.  When NDs are recognized by HHS, jobs for NDs in community health centers, tuition forgiveness and federal programs may begin to open up. We also requested legislators to contact Secretary Shenseki and recommend that NDs be included in the Department of Veterans Affairs programs. We could still use your help. Please take action and contact your Members of Congress today!

The Affordable Care Act enables the “inclusion of licensed naturopathic physicians as full participants in all federal initiatives and programs relating to citizen access to health care is in alignment with the federal government’s goals concerning access to health care.” Implementation of Articles 2706 (non-discrimination), 3502 (medical homes), and 5101 (workforce) would increase choice, potentially leading to citizens choosing less costly interventions and providing greater access to those clinicians capable of providing those interventions.  NDs can play an important role in addressing the national shortage of primary care providers which is expected to significantly worsen in the immediate future.

Good work is being done with your membership dollars. We recently saw a great success with the inclusion of NDs in the Indian Health Services Loan Repayment Program.

NDs are a small but effective community with a large mission. The AANP needs more members so that we can do more. Help the naturopathic profession’s progress by asking your colleagues to join our AANP.

If you read this, please drop me a note at mjcronin@earthlink.net.

Michael Cronin, ND

AANP President

Staying in the Country

By Jaclyn Chasse, ND
2013 AANP Board Member

We’ve just come off of a busy time. I live in NH, a swing state, so we had been inundated with political ads, mostly negative ads slinging mud at the other side.  I was looking forward to the negativity ending, but it seems that since President Obama’s re-election, there is still a palpable tension among Americans. There is frustration, disappointment, and anger among Romney supporters. Meanwhile, there is a large proportion of Democrats who are filled with relief, gratitude, and excitement at what’s in store in America’s near future. I don’t want to get too much into politics, but I bring this up because I also hear one question which I greatly appreciate—the quiet voice asking, “We are where we are. Now, how are we going to move forward?”

I think this question represents our times, and it is one of the great challenges of being alive, being in relationship. In the naturopathic community, we actively embrace the commonalities between us—our love of patient relationship, our respect for the whole person, for individualized medicine, and our undying curiosity in figuring out the human body. However, we also are challenged by our different perspectives. Should we try to integrate more into the current medical model or should pharmaceuticals or hydrotherapy dominate a patient’s treatment plan?

I am so excited to join the AANP Board of Directors, and come to it with that quiet voice asking, “How are we going to move forward?” I was so pleased to attend my first AANP board meeting and see that question resonate with the members of the board. I can share with you that although there are differing opinions among board members, communication happens in a respectful, thoughtful, and productive way. The way I wish it could happen on a larger, national level within our legislative houses. Dissenting opinions, delivered respectfully.  I feel so grateful to be a part of such a thoughtful group. I also feel grateful that the future of the AANP is in their hands. I am confident that the diversity of members’ ideas and ideals will be represented there, and that the Board will continue to move the association in a direction that meets the needs of the members it serves.

Since the election, I’ve seen Facebook posts of acquaintances’ saying, “Forget it, I’m leaving the country.” That’s not what we need. If you have not been wholly satisfied with the work of the AANP, you shouldn’t “leave the country” either. We need your voice and for you to provide feedback through the member survey, and to connect with a board member to share your ideas, share your solutions, and share your time to make the organization and our profession better. In joining the Board, I am choosing to have an open-door policy. Please share your thoughts and most importantly, your ideas, to make this the best organization it can be.

Reflections from the Board of Directors

By Sara Thyr, ND

Bastyr University. Copyright © 2010. All Rights Reserved.

I was in Seattle in November for my last meeting with the Board of Directors of the AANP. It was an unusual mix of emotion for me. I have felt ready to be free of the substantial time commitment for some time now, but felt the melancholy creep in well before the end of the meeting.

The largest change in the years that I have been on the Board is moving from a reactionary board to a visioning board. Rather than putting out fires and throwing money at the crisis du jour, we are looking into the future and planning in a way that can only benefit the growth of our profession.

All of the governance documents are available for your perusal on the AANP website (you must be logged-in to view). If you haven’t already seen what we’ve been up to for the last few years, it will be worth your time to take a look. Your voice and involvement in your national association makes it all work. It should be evident from the ends and measures that we have set forth that we do this work for everyone in the profession (actually, everyone in need of healthcare in our country).

Looking at the future and where the Board sees the profession down the road is quite exciting. Everyone in the United States will know what a naturopathic physician is and have the opportunity to utilize naturopathic medicine for their healthcare. Can you see it?

I went to school at Bastyr University and graduated over 10 years ago. Being back on campus and seeing how it has grown in the years I have been gone was incredible. We stayed in the “village” – the LEED-platinum certified dorms on campus. They are beautifully designed and a much-needed advancement over previous dorm life. The herb garden has emerged to be a fixture on campus that is quite a bit more than the little circle of plants that was started when I was there. The students have more tools to study anatomy and other topics. Even though we were just there on a weekend, it was evident that much has improved. And with that growth and change will come great leaders in the profession. Not only do we have a student Board member, but we also had the President of the NMSA (Naturopathic Medical Students Association) present. With their input we can move towards better tools for graduates and our profession. The AANP Board will continue to grow, visioning and leading the profession with the best, most adapted tools that we and our staff can conjure.

The level of reporting on processes, the work plan, the budget and how well we are meeting our goals has substantially improved with changes and additions to the AANP staff over the years. The involvement in state licensing has increased and the connections for all legislative efforts have improved since my earliest days on the Board, largely thanks to the work of Executive Director Karen Howard, lobbyist Jan Lipson, outgoing Board member Michelle Clark, and now, our new legislative liaison, Gene McGill. Let’s not forget the countless volunteers in every state who work exceptionally long hours in order to make it all happen and improve our profession.

What will I miss the most about the being on the AANP Board? Well, I have had the great pleasure of serving with some truly remarkable people in our profession. In my experience from working at the state level from New Hampshire to California, I know of no other profession who has so many brilliant, caring and committed leaders. So I will miss being around these great minds, working arm-in-arm with them, and seeing that powerful impact we can have on the future of naturopathic medicine when we roll our sleeves up and move towards our goals.

I know that I leave the Board in capable hands. It is an exciting time to be involved and to see our profession expand its reach, just as the Bastyr’s herb garden expanded its reach. But as the last minutes of the meeting rolled by, I found myself just a little bit glum that it will be my last one for some time.

The Future of the AANP

By Carl Hangee-Bauer, ND, LAc
AANP President

Fall has been a busy time for the AANP Board. After the dust settled from the convention and things relaxed for a bit, attention turned to identifying goals and priorities for the 2011-2012 work plan and budget.

Sounds exciting, huh? Actually, it’s some of the most important work that the AANP Board does. It requires that Board members think strategically, surveying the landscape for political and social trends, considering the future of healthcare reform, understanding readiness in states close to licensure, listening to feedback and the experience of our naturopathic physician members, and bringing that back to the table as we discuss and deliberate.

While the Board discusses these topics throughout the year, the formal start to our planning began at the August Board meeting. We examined programs that are currently underway and ranked programs such as marketing and public relations, state and federal affairs, fundraising, and others in order of importance to the ends and the goals of the AANP. The staff, led by Karen Howard, took this preliminary feedback and constructed the first draft of our next 2-year work plan and budget, getting further feedback from a Board survey that took a closer look at these initial ranking and programs.

This past weekend the Board held its Fall meeting on the beautiful campus of Bastyr University. Most of our time was spent discussing and debating the various details of the proposed 2011-2012 work plan. All of this, by the way, is done with keen attention to how to best serve our membership.

Let me give you some insights of the Board approved work plan.

Far and away the biggest priority is directed toward membership issues such as member benefits and professional success, programs such as the convention and membership services, and tools and resources for membership support including the AANP website.

State and Federal Affairs are a very big piece of the work plan. Facilitation of licensing in more states, inclusion in federal programs for the naturopathic profession under healthcare reform, engaging in strategic partnerships with like-minded organizations to effect change, and training our physicians and naturopathic students at the DC FLI – all are pieces in this very complex work.

Next, our Executive Director will take the work plan and assign budget categories to each area of emphasis for Board review and approval. This will be a very challenging step. While the AANP has weathered the economic downturn quite well compared with other associations, the economy has nonetheless impacted us. The budget will be very tight, and it will be a challenge to meet all of our goals. It is likely that choices will have to be made based on the key goals, priorities and programs we’ve identified.

I tell you all of this so you can understand some of the work that goes on behind the scenes and see why it is so important to be a member of your national association. The AANP is a member-driven organization that represents you in the halls of Congress and to the American people. It supports state licensing efforts and facilitates communication amongst various organizations within the naturopathic profession. It supports research and data collection to better inform others of our work. It provides top-notch continuing education with many of the thought leaders of our profession. It brings unity to our community of doctors and students in every state in the US and other countries.

Please join us as we move into the future by joining or renewing your AANP membership and letting your voice be heard.