The Utah Legislature has approved a bill that would allow naturopathic physicians to prescribe transdermal or buccal testosterone (but not injectable esters of testosterone). The “Hormone Restoration Amendments” (HB-108) passed the Utah Senate on March 9, 2009 and the Utah House on February 10, 2009. Placing the risks of testosterone in perspective, Rep. Paul Ray stated, “I’ve been married 17 years and too much estrogen scares me a heck of a lot more than testosterone.” Utah will become the fifth state to grant prescriptive rights for testosterone to naturopathic physicians when the bill is signed by Gov. Jon Huntsman. Utah joins Arizona, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington as the only other states where naturopathic physicians can prescribe testosterone (”Bill will allow naturopathic doctors to prescribe testosterone,” March 5, 2009).
The “Hormone Restoration Amendments” were opposed by the Utah Medical Association and the Utah Health System Pharmacy who expressed their antagonism towards compounding pharmacies during debates. The Utah Health Insurance Association was also concerned that the bill would force insurance companies to cover naturopathic physician-prescribed testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
The Utah Association of Naturopathic Physicians was well-informed and knowledgeable regarding testosterone and federal steroid laws. The representatives for the Utah Medical Association and the Utah Health System Pharmacy were not; their testimony was inaccurate and misleading with respect to steroid law and steroid side effects. The UMA sent a non-medical expert to present their case opposing the bill. Read more
