HB3439 • 2025

Requires individual and group health benefit plans and benefit plans offered by the Public Employees' Benefit Board and the Oregon Educators Benefit Board to reimburse services provided by naturopathic physicians within the scope of their practice if the services are reimbursed when provided by licensed physicians, physician associates or nurse practioners.

Labor

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Representative Nosse,, Helfrich,, Andersen, Representative Boice,, Gamba,, Grayber,, Javadi
Last action: 2025-06-27
Official status: In House Committee
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Requires individual and group health benefit plans and benefit plans offered by the Public Employees' Benefit Board and the Oregon Educators Benefit Board to reimburse services provided by naturopathic physicians within the scope of their practice if the services are reimbursed when provided by licensed physicians, physician associates or nurse practioners.

Digest: Makes insurers pay naturopathic doctors the same as a doctor, PA or NP when they do the same work.

What This Bill Does

Digest: Makes insurers pay naturopathic doctors the same as a doctor, PA or NP when they do the same work.
(Flesch Readability Score: 67.3).
Requires individual and group health benefit plans and benefit plans offered by the Public Employees' Benefit Board and the Oregon Educators Benefit Board to reimburse services provided by naturopathic physicians within the scope of their practice if the services are reimbursed when provided by licensed physicians, physician associates or nurse practioners.
Requires reimbursement paid to a naturopathic physician in independent practice to be in the same amount as reimbursement paid to a physician, physician associate or nurse practioner.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2025-06-27 House
In committee upon adjournment.
2025-04-08 House
Recommendation: Do pass with amendments, be printed A-Engrossed, and be referred to Ways and Means.
2025-04-08 House
Referred to Ways and Means by order of Speaker.
2025-04-01 House
Work Session held.
2025-03-04 House
Public Hearing held.
2025-02-27 House
Public Hearing held.
2025-02-13 House
Public Hearing cancelled.
2025-01-30 House
Referred to Behavioral Health and Health Care.
2025-01-28 House
First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.

Official Summary Text

Digest: Makes insurers pay naturopathic doctors the same as a doctor, PA or NP when they do the same work. (Flesch Readability Score: 67.3).
Requires individual and group health benefit plans and benefit plans offered by the Public Employees' Benefit Board and the Oregon Educators Benefit Board to reimburse services provided by naturopathic physicians within the scope of their practice if the services are reimbursed when provided by licensed physicians, physician associates or nurse practioners. Requires reimbursement paid to a naturopathic physician in independent practice to be in the same amount as reimbursement paid to a physician, physician associate or nurse practioner.
Relating to: Relating to naturopathic physicians.
Current location: In House Committee

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
A-Engrossed
House Bill 3439
Ordered by the House April 8
Including House Amendments dated April 8
Sponsored by Representatives NOSSE, HELFRICH, ANDERSEN; Representatives BOICE, JAVADI
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability standards.
Digest: Makes insurers pay naturopathic doctors the same as a doctor, PA or NP when they do
the same work. (Flesch Readability Score: 67.3).
Requires individual and group health benefit plans and benefit plans offered by the Public
Employees’ Benefit Board and the Oregon Educators Benefit Board to reimburse services provided
by naturopathic physicians within the scope of their practice if the services are reimbursed when
provided by licensed physicians, physician associates or nurse practioners. Requires reimbursement
paid to a naturopathic physician in independent practice to be in the same amount as reimbursement
paid to a physician, physician associate or nurse practioner.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to naturopathic physicians; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 243.144 and
243.877.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
Section 2 of this 2025 Act is added to and made a part of the Insurance Code.
SECTION 2. (1) As used in this section:
(a) “Health benefit plan” has the meaning given that term in ORS 743B.005.
(b) “Independent practice” means a practice at which a naturopathic physician bills
insurers for services provided by the naturopathic physician using the:
(A) Diagnosis and procedure codes applicable to the services;
(B) Naturopathic physician’s own name; and
(C) Naturopathic physician’s national provider identifier.
(c) “Naturopathic physician” has the meaning given that term in ORS 685.010.
(d) “Nurse Practioner” has the meaning given that term in ORS 678.010.
(e) “Physician” has the meaning given that term in ORS 677.010.
(f) “Physician associate” has the meaning given that term in ORS 677.495.
(2) An individual or group health benefit plan that reimburses the cost of a service pro-
vided by a physician, physician associate or nurse practitioner shall reimburse the cost of
the same service provided by a naturopathic physician if the service is within the scope of
practice of the naturopathic physician.
(3) An individual or group health benefit plan shall reimburse the cost of a service pro-
vided by a naturopathic physician who is in an independent practice in the same amount and
using the same payment methodology as the reimbursement paid under the plan to a physi-
cian, physician associate or nurse practitioner providing the service in the same setting and
geographic area.
NOTE: Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [ italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 955
A-Eng. HB 3439
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(4) An insurer may not reduce the reimbursement paid to a physician, physician associate
or nurse practitioner in order to comply with this section.
(5) This section is exempt from ORS 743A.001.
SECTION 3.
ORS 243.144, as amended by section 9, chapter 17, Oregon Laws 2024, is amended
to read:
243.144. Benefit plans offered by the Public Employees’ Benefit Board that reimburse the cost
of medical and other health services and supplies must comply with the requirements for health
benefit plan coverage described in:
(1) ORS 743A.058;
(2) ORS 743A.140;
(3) ORS 743A.141;
(4) ORS 743B.256;
(5) ORS 743B.287 (4);
(6) ORS 743B.420;
(7) ORS 743B.423;
(8) ORS 743B.601;
(9) ORS 743B.810;
(10) ORS 743A.325; [and]
(11) ORS 743A.051 (2)(c)[ .]; and
(12) Section 2 of this 2025 Act.
SECTION 4.
ORS 243.144, as amended by sections 9 and 10, chapter 17, Oregon Laws 2024, is
amended to read:
243.144. Benefit plans offered by the Public Employees’ Benefit Board that reimburse the cost
of medical and other health services and supplies must comply with the requirements for health
benefit plan coverage described in:
(1) ORS 743A.058;
(2) ORS 743A.140;
(3) ORS 743A.141;
(4) ORS 743B.256;
(5) ORS 743B.287 (4);
(6) ORS 743B.420;
(7) ORS 743B.423;
(8) ORS 743B.601;
(9) ORS 743B.810; [and]
(10) ORS 743A.325[ .]; and
(11) Section 2 of this 2025 Act.
SECTION 5.
ORS 243.877, as amended by section 11, chapter 17, Oregon Laws 2024, is amended
to read:
243.877. Benefit plans offered by the Oregon Educators Benefit Board that reimburse the cost
of medical and other health services and supplies must comply with the requirements for health
benefit plan coverage described in:
(1) ORS 743A.058;
(2) ORS 743A.140;
(3) ORS 743A.141;
(4) ORS 743B.256;
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A-Eng. HB 3439
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(5) ORS 743B.287 (4);
(6) ORS 743B.420;
(7) ORS 743B.423;
(8) ORS 743B.601;
(9) ORS 743B.810;
(10) ORS 743A.325; [and]
(11) ORS 743A.051 (2)(c)[ .]; and
(12) Section 2 of this 2025 Act.
SECTION 6.
ORS 243.877, as amended by sections 11 and 12, chapter 17, Oregon Laws 2024, is
amended to read:
243.877. Benefit plans offered by the Oregon Educators Benefit Board that reimburse the cost
of medical and other health services and supplies must comply with the requirements for health
benefit plan coverage described in:
(1) ORS 743A.058;
(2) ORS 743A.140;
(3) ORS 743A.141;
(4) ORS 743B.256;
(5) ORS 743B.287 (4);
(6) ORS 743B.420;
(7) ORS 743B.423;
(8) ORS 743B.601;
(9) ORS 743B.810; [and]
(10) ORS 743A.325[ .]; and
(11) Section 2 of this 2025 Act.
SECTION 7.
(1) Section 2 of this 2025 Act applies to health benefit plans issued, renewed
or extended on or after the effective date of this 2025 Act.
(2) The amendments to ORS 243.144 and 243.877 by sections 3 to 6 of this 2025 apply to
benefit plans issued, renewed or extended on or after the effective date of this 2025 Act.
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