Performance Audit and Sunset Review: State of Arizona Naturopathic Physicians Medical Board

The State of Arizona Naturopathic Physicians Medical Board licenses naturopathic physicians and issues certificates to these physicians, medical assistants, and students participating in training programs. The Board should strengthen its licensing policies and procedures to better ensure that applicants meet all licensing and certification requirements. The Board should also continue to include paper renewal applications in its audits of continuing medical education and develop an electronic mechanism to track its compliance with licensing time frames. Because the executive director investigates complaints but also has authority to dismiss complaints, the Board should have policies establishing when such dismissals are appropriate and have the executive director report on complaint-related actions. In addition, the Board should adopt policies and procedures to guide its disciplinary decisions and timely complaint processing. Finally, the Board should improve the timeliness and accuracy of the information it provides to the public.