** COLORADO ALERT** 

NOV. 9, 2009

Mr. Landry had a family emergency and we need to change the date of the Health Freedom Meeting to the following week - Wed. November 18th at 11:00 am. at Sweet Tomatoes
 
Please RSVP To Joanie....
 
thank you for understanding and we hope to see you there.
 
Boyd Landry, Executive Director at Coalition for Natural Health, is flying in for an informational Health Freedom Meeting.  Mr. Landry was instrumental in helping to defeat the Naturopathic Physician bill this past session.  He will give us an update and we will discuss possible options for the upcoming session. We need your help - so we hope you will take the time to attend this meeting.

Please RSVP to Joanie (303) 798-1469 or doctorjoanie@q.com, so we will know how many tables to reserve for our group.

Please forward to all those interested in helping Health Freedom in Colorado:

Boyd Landry, Executive Director at Coalition for Natural Health, is flying in for an informational Health Freedom Meeting.  Mr. Landry was instrumental in helping to defeat the Naturopathic Physician bill this past session.  He will give us an update and we will discuss possible options for the upcoming session. We need your help - so we hope you will take the time to attend this meeting.

Please RSVP to Joanie (303) 798-1469 or doctorjoanie@q.com, so we will know how many tables to reserve for our group.

MAY 21, 2009

APRIL 8, 2009

MARCH 31, 2009

MARCH 25, 2009

Colorado Health Freedom Supporters:

 We need your help!

 HB 1175, the monopolistic naturopathic doctor bill, has been assigned to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.  This bill could be heard as early as next Wednesday, April 1^st. 

When we have a definite date and time, we will send an email out to the CO4HFG yahoo group and post it on our website: www.co4hf.synthasite.com

 Please call, fax and/or email the members of this committee and ask them to OPPOSE HB 1175. It is always best if you can write a personal letter, but if you are unable to do so, we have provided a one page paper that you can use to fax to the committee members. 

 If you are not a member of the yahoo group, please send a blank email to:

Co4hfg-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

 Senate Health and Human Services Committee Members:

 SENATOR   PHONE  FAX              EMAIL

HONORABLE SENATOR _________________________________________________

FAX: __________________________________________   DATE:_______________

OPPOSE HB 09-1175

·       I believe that HB 1175, as passed by the House, will criminalize the practice of 16,000 providers of natural health care in Colorado.

·       Consumers will lose access to complementary and alternative health services provided by thousands of natural health care providers.

·       HB 1175 creates an economic environment whereby “naturopathic doctors” from select schools will be the only providers of complementary and alternative health care.

·       Colorado loses millions of dollars in income and sales tax revenue if HB 1175 passes the legislature.

As a Colorado Citizen, I am asking you to Vote NO on HB 1175.

Address                     City                                                      Zipcode

Phone number                                                                                                                  & Email

(For a better copy of this letter, go to the FILES section of the yahoo groups, or request one by emailing : kimberlysharples@msn.com )

MARCH 23, 2009

MARCH 13, 2009

The NP bill (HB 1175) passed in the Appropriations Committee hearing today.  The bill will now be heard on the house floor, probably next week.  We will be getting a letter ready with  more information sent out ASAP. 

MARCH 5, 2009

HB 1175 will be heard in the House Appropriations Committee on Friday, March 13th at 7:30 a.m.

At this time, we suggest that you email or call the Appropriation Members listed below and ask them to vote No on HB1175.   It is important that we make our voice known!!!

You can attend the hearing if you wish, but no one can speak at this hearing.  I have been told that you can also listen online.

Here are some suggested points to address when asking these Appropriation Members to vote No on HB 1175:

-      Vote NO on HB 1175 because this bill would continue to grow the size of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies at a time when other more deserving state agencies are suffering massive cuts and jobs are being lost in droves in the private sector. 

-      If you are a practitioner:  please emphasize to the Representative that you live in Colorado and you have been practicing for ____ years, and as a Coloradoan you believe you will be adversely impacted if HB 1175 passes the House Appropriations’ Committee. 

-      Forward and Print these emails to your friends, family, clients and customers and ask them to contact these Appropriation members to request that they vote NO on HB 1175.

-      We had heard that we were outnumbered by the Naturopathic Physicians in the Health and Human Services committee.  Please help us to send a clear message to the Appropriation Committee that there are thousands of Coloradoans that want them to vote NO on HB 1175.

Thank you for your help and support!!!

Friday, March 13

7:30 a.m.

LSB-A Appropriations

HB 1063 Summers--In-state Tuition Parent Moves For Job

HB 1130 Gardner B.--Sales Tax Collection By County Gov

HB 1133 Sonnenberg--Setting Fees For License Plates

HB 1137 Judd--Gambling And Refund Intercepts

HB 1160 Miklosi--Secure Electronic Voter Information

HB 1175 Curry--Regulate Naturopathic Doctors

HB 1199 Scanlan--Healthy Forests Vibrant Communities Act

HB 1205 Looper and Balmer--Voting By Overseas Armed Forces

HB 1222 Ferrandino--Administration Of Appropriated Moneys

HB 1244 Casso--PUC Deregulate Trucking Motor Carriers

APPROPRIATION REPRESENTATIVE MEMBERS TO CONTACT:

John “Jack” Pommer        jack.pommer.house@state.co.us    
 (303)866-2780

Mark Ferrandino              mferrandino@yahoo.com             
(303)866-2911

Joel Judd                        repjoeljudd@joeljudd.com             
(303)866-2925

Andrew Kerr                              andy.kerr.house@state.co.us           
(303)866-2923

Elizabeth McCann            beth.mccann.house@state.co.us      
  (303)866-2959

Sal Pace                           sal.pace.house@state.co.us         
  (303)866-2968
 

February 13, 2009

Unfortunately, HB 1175 passed 6 to 4 in HHS committee yesterday. There were amendments added, but some attorneys feel that they are too ambiguous and are not adequate. Those of you who shop at Vitamin Cottage/Natural Grocers - you might want to know that Heather Isley from Vitamin Cottage testified in FAVOR of this bill, as she has also done in the past. The next step is Appropriations Committee. You may want to send a thank you to those who opposed this bill. We will update you soon with how to proceed next.   Thank you to all who attended! This is how members voted:
MOVED:	McGihon
MOTION:	Moved to refer amended House Bill 09-1175 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 6-4 roll call vote.
SECONDED:	Gagliardi
		VOTE
	Acree	No
	Gerou	Yes
	Green	Excused
	Kefalas	Yes
	Kerr J.	No
	McGihon	Yes
	Nikkel	No
	Primavera	Yes
	Swalm	No
	Gagliardi	Yes
	Riesberg	Yes

February 3, 2009

COLORADO FOR HEALTH FREEDOM
www.co4hf.synthasite.com

We need your help!

1. We are attaching a one page letter that we are asking everyone to sign and fax and email to members of the House Health & Human Services Committee, opposing HB 09-1175, the monopolistic naturopathic doctor bill.  If you have time to call and voice your opinion, that would be very helpful as well.  If you are able, take a moment and write a personal email or letter asking these committee members to vote NO on HB 09-1175.   The list of committee members are listed below.

2. If you are a practitioner or owner of a store or clinic, please print these forms out and ask your clients and customers to complete them.  You can then fax them over yourself, thereby insuring that they are completed and sent in.  This would be a tremendous help!

3. Email this information to everyone in Colorado.  A comment was made that they don’t feel there are really that many natural health practitioners in Colorado.  We need to make our voice heard!  Remember, this also affects customers, clients and consumers, so pass this on to everyone who also uses natural remedies, such as herbs, tinctures, homeopathy, aromatherapy, etc.

4. Attend the hearing on Thursday, February 12^th at 1:30 p.m. in Denver.  We will gather in the Capitol Cafeteria at 12:30 p.m.  Please wear RED clothing if possible. Let’s show the legislators that this is indeed important to Colorado!  WE NEED YOU THERE!!!! 

5. If you haven’t joined the CO4HFG yahoo group – we need you to do that.  If you know other health freedom supporters, we need them to join as well.  There are thousands of people to contact and it makes it MUCH easier if we only have to send one email that goes to everyone.  You can join by sending a blank email to: CO4HFG-subscribe@yahoogroups.com  OR send your email address to Kim at kimberlysharples@msn.com and she will add you to this yahoogroup and you will automatically receive health freedom emails.  This is a very important way to help support health freedom in Colorado!  Please pass this information on to others!

6. Donate! Supporting health freedom not only takes time, but also money.  If you can help financially, it would be greatly appreciated.  This can be done as a one-time donation, or as a monthly donation. 

 HOUSE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE MEMBERS

There is only one fax number for the House – so if you are faxing information,

please make sure you write the Representatives name on the fax you are sending.

That fax number is:  303-866-2218

Riesberg, Jim                             Cap: 303-866-2929                    E-mail: jim.riesberg.house@state.co.us

Gagliardi, Sara                            Cap: 303-866-2962                    E-mail: sara.gagliardi.house@state.co.us

Acree, Cindy                          Cap: 303-866-2944                    E-mail: cindy.acree.house@state.co.us

Gerou, Cheri                           Cap: 303-866-2582                    E-mail: cheri.gerou@gmail.com

Green, Gwyn                          Cap: 303-866-2951                    E-mail: gwynithgreen@yahoo.com

Kefalas, John                            Cap: 303-866-4569                    E-mail: john.kefalas.house@state.co.us

Kerr, James E "Jim"                    Cap: 303-866-2939             E-mail: james.kerr.house@state.co.us

McGihon, Anne L.                    Cap: 303-866-2921             E-mail: anne.mcgihon.house@state.co.us

Nikkel, B.J.                               Cap: 303-866-2907             E-mail: rep.nikkel@gmail.com

Primavera, Dianne                     Cap: 303-866-4667             E-mail: representativeprimavera@yahoo.com

Swalm, Spencer                     Cap: 303-866-5510             E-mail: spencer.swalm.house@state.co.us

 If the one page paper to fax and email to committee members doesn't come through correctly, please send an email to kimberlysharples@msn.com and she can email it to you.

Please deliver a copy to each of the following Representatives: Riesberg, Gagliardi, Acree, Gerou, Green, Kefalas, J. Kerr, McGihon, Nikkel, Primavera, Swalm

OPPOSE HB 09-1175

The AANP (American Association of Naturopathic Physicians)/CNME (Council on Naturopathic Medical Education) graduates have been attempting to pass exclusionary and monopolistic legislation for the past ten years to take complete control of the naturopathic profession in Colorado as well as the entire country.  The CNME Naturopaths refer to themselves as “Naturopathic Doctors”.   This select group of ND’s seek to register only themselves (the few practitioners who attended several “chosen” schools) and exclude an estimated 16,000 “Traditional” Naturopathic Doctors and alternative natural healers in Colorado and force them to abandon their careers and severely limit consumer choice.

HB 09-1175 defines Naturopathic Medicine as “a system of health care for prevention, naturopathic diagnosis and naturopathic treatment of human health conditions, injury, and disease; the promotion or restoration of health; and the support and stimulation of a patient’s inherent self-healing processes through patient education and the use of naturopathic physical modalities and remedies.” HB 09-1175 defines Naturopathic Remedies as “the use of food, extracts of food, nutraceuticals, vitamins, amino acids, minerals, enzymes, botanicals and their extracts, homeopathy, and all dietary supplements.” (See page 4 of HB 09-1175)

Traditional Naturopathic Doctors and Natural Health Practitioners subscribe to these definitions and practice naturopathy within the parameters of these definitions, with the exception of diagnosis.  By defining Naturopathic Medicine and Naturopathic Remedies in HB 09-1175 as stated above, the proponents continue to place all Natural Health Practitioners, including Traditional Naturopaths, in peril. A first offense violation of this bill is a Class 2 misdemeanor, punishable by up to 12 months in prison and $1000 fine.  For the second and any subsequent offenses, the person commits a Class 6 felony, punishable by up to 3 years in prison and $100,000 fine. (See page 27)

Please OPPOSE the monopolistic and exclusionary legislation of these select ND’s from the CNME schools (Bastyr, Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, National College, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine).  They seek to destroy consumer choice and health freedom in Colorado! 

OPPOSE HB 09-1175

Address                                                                                                                           City                                                      Zipcode

Phone number                                                                                                                  Email

Naturopathic Physician Bill introduced

HB 09-1175

First Hearing is Thursday, February 12

1:30 p.m.

Room LSB-A Health & Human Services

HB 1175 Curry--Regulate Naturopathic Doctors

Please plan on attending this hearing at the Capitol.

More information will be coming on our plan of action to oppose the bill.

You can view the bill here:

http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2009a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/EED6C188F451AFB38725754700782701?Open&file=1175_01.pdf

Hello Colorado Health Freedom Supporters!

We are gearing up for the 2009 legislative session.  In the event an unfavorable bill is introduced, we need to be ready to react.

We need your help!

• If you haven’t joined the CO4HFG yahoo group – we need you to do that.  If you know other health freedom supporters, we need them to join as well.  There are thousands of people to contact and it makes it MUCH easier if we only have to send one email that goes to everyone.  You can join by sending a blank email to: CO4HFG-subscribe@yahoogroups.com  OR send your email address to Kim at kimberlysharples@msn.com and she will add you to this yahoogroup and you will automatically receive health freedom emails.  This is a very important way to help support health freedom in Colorado!  Please pass this information on to others!

• We need EVERYONE to call fax and/or email legislators when we need to defeat or pass a bill.  If at all possible, it is essential to have your presence at the Capitol during hearings.  Your participation has a huge impact with legislators and how they will vote.  

• There are many other ways to volunteer.  Please let us know if you are willing to help protect health freedom in Colorado by helping any way.
  
  

• Donate! Supporting health freedom not only takes time, but also money.  If you can help financially, it would be greatly appreciated.  This can be done as a one-time donation, or as a monthly donation. 

To donate to Colorado For Health Freedom, please send a check made out to:
Colorado Coalition for Natural Health
and mail to: 

CO4HF - Attn: Joanie Coffey
9923 Deer Creek St
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

The group, HEALTH FREEDOM FOR ALL, is graciously donating $5 for each book ordered from them.  Please see page for  book order form regarding costs and ordering information.

For more information contact one of the steering committee members:

• Joanie Coffey- doctorjoanie@q.com - 303-798-1469

• Sheryl Strom - nana4health@comcast.net - 303-904-4532

• Kimberly Matteo - dr.matteo@yahoo.com - 720-335-6556

• Kimberly Sharples - kimberlysharples@msn.com - 719-390-1979