Historically complementary and alternative healing practitioners have had to work under the radar because they run the risk of being charged with practicing without a license.  Safe Harbor Exemption laws protect consumer access to these practitioners and the broad range of health care and healing practitioners, such as herbalists, traditional naturopaths, homeopaths, body workers, and culturally specific healing practices, which are not currently regulated by the states and that do not rise to the level of concern requiring state oversight, certification, registration, or licensure.

At the meeting Diane Miller will explain Safe Harbor Practitioner Exemption law, which states already protect complementary and alternative health care options, and how to get involved in working on getting a Safe Harbor legislation introduced in your state.   

Safe Harbor Exemption bills protect access to health care practitioners who do not hold state occupational licenses and are currently practicing in the public domain.  Eleven states now protect consumer access to these practitioners on some level, including Oklahoma, Idaho, Minnesota, Rhode Island, California, Louisiana, New Mexico, Arizona (limited exemption for homeopaths only), Colorado, Nevada, and Maine.  Fifteen additional states have introduced similar legislation within the past ten years.  More states are preparing to do so in the future.