Maine Association of Naturopathic Doctors

Yes, we’re real doctors. To practice in Maine, NDs must be graduates of one of four in-residence, doctoral-level naturopathic medical schools accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. Graduates of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine are also eligible. These schools require more than 4,000 hours of education and training. We are educated in the same basic Western medical sciences as MDs, including physiology, microbiology, immunology, gastroenterology, obstetrics, and more, as well as areas specific to Naturopathic Medicine.

Naturopathic Doctors are distinguished by our unique approach to wellness. We seek to find and treat the underlying causes of illness, rather than simply managing symptoms. We respect and treat the whole person.

Some NDs in Maine have general practices, while others specialize in one or two areas of Naturopathic Medicine. Though we practice in different ways, common tools of the profession include clinical nutrition, supplemental nutrients, botanical medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, and health counseling.

Yes. NDs have been licensed since 1996 to practice Naturopathic Medicine by the State of Maine’s Complementary Health Care Providers Board. We must pass rigorous professional board exams before we are eligible to be licensed.

Yes. NDs in Maine refer patients to Medical Doctors, surgeons, specialists and emergency services when they are best suited for the task at hand. On the flip side, MDs, DOs, and others often refer patients to us for a variety of reasons.

Yes. NDs often use technology such as medical imaging (Ultrasound, MRI, X-Ray), blood work and other laboratory testing to diagnose health problems. We are also able to prescribe some conventional medications, such as antibiotics and hormones, when they are necessary or indicated, although we prefer to use other methods that support the body’s resources and have fewer side effects.

Some NDs also offer advanced testing for food allergies, hormone imbalance, imbalances in the gastrointestinal tract, Lyme disease, genetic mutations, and other underlying causes of chronic illness.

The Good News: The federal Affordable Care Act requires insurance companies to cover services from licensed healthcare providers, including NDs in Maine, and we are seeing progress on that front. Maine Community Health Options, Anthem BlueCross, and Cigna all have Naturopathic Doctors in-network. However, this doesn’t mean that all NDs choose to be in-network, so please ask your local provider if you intend to use insurance.

Here’s the not-so-great news: Many insurance companies have been slow to comply, and some have not complied at all, including Harvard Pilgrim and Aetna.

Here’s what you can do: Ask your insurance company if office visits and other services from a licensed Naturopathic Doctor are covered. If the answer is no, you can register a complaint. Tell them federal law supports your right to choose healthcare providers. You can also get a billing summary from your ND, and send it to your insurance company with a request for reimbursement. NDs in Maine recognize that many of our patients pay out of pocket, so we strive to keep our services affordable and to offer individualized payment plans that suit the needs of your family.

Extra time spent with patients is one of the hallmarks of Naturopathic Doctors. This reflects our belief that health is a product of physical, emotional, environmental, and other factors. In order to understand those factors and to create an individualized plan, good communication and plenty of face time are essential. An initial visit might last an hour or more, and follow-up visits usually last between 30 and 60 minutes.