Why It Matters
The Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges is making its first federal lobbying push at a pivotal moment for the profession. As a newcomer to Capitol Hill, the organization must educate policymakers on naturopathic medicine while navigating a Congress that has not historically focused on the issue.
The AANMC’s timing aligns with several converging policy trends. State-level momentum is accelerating—26 U.S. jurisdictions now regulate naturopathic practitioners. The nation faces a critical primary care shortage, with rural areas especially hard-hit. Consumer demand for integrative medicine has surged from 19.2 percent usage in 2002 to 36.7 percent in 2022.
Most importantly, higher education accreditation reform is reshaping federal policy. President Trump’s executive order on accreditation and Senator Jim Banks’s reintroduced "Fairness in Higher Education Accreditation Act" create legislative openings for the AANMC. By framing naturopathic education standards within broader accreditation debates, the organization can gain traction with education reform-focused policymakers.
The primary barrier: naturopathic medicine remains largely absent from congressional discourse and Medicare coverage.
By the Numbers
The AANMC has no prior federal lobbying history. It hired Vogel Group LLC to represent it before Congress and the Department of Education beginning in 2024. The firm has filed over 700 lobbying disclosures since 2018.
Three lobbyists comprise the team: Venicia Gray, Robert Emmett Cunningham III, and Ariel Gonzalez. None have prior congressional staff experience. Gray brings healthcare nonprofit expertise from March of Dimes Inc. and Philips Holding USA Inc.. Cunningham’s background centers on education policy with the School-Based Health Alliance. Gonzalez brings the most relevant experience, having represented the American Psychiatric Association and American College of Radiology Association.
Congressional records show no hearings or member communications specifically addressing naturopathic medical colleges, indicating policymakers need significant education on the issue.
The Agenda
The AANMC is targeting Congress and the Department of Education on "professional and educational certification of accredited naturopathic physicians." Key goals likely include ensuring federal recognition of the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education as the profession’s accrediting agency, standardizing professional standing nationwide, and potentially expanding federal healthcare program inclusion.
The timing aligns with ongoing congressional debates over higher education accreditation, particularly Senator Banks’s "Fairness in Higher Education Accreditation Act." This legislation could provide an opening to insert AANMC’s agenda into broader accreditation reform conversations.
Broader Context
The AANMC enters federal lobbying amid significant tailwinds in higher education policy. Senator Banks has reintroduced accreditation reform legislation, creating space for the AANMC to advocate for protections of specialized accreditors like the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education.
Naturopathic medicine remains absent from congressional discourse. No recorded congressional hearings or member communications specifically address naturopathic physician accreditation. The AANMC appears to be the only organization lobbying federally on this issue.
The profession faces challenges securing federal recognition and Medicare integration. Medicare currently does not cover naturopathic physician services. However, bipartisan support exists for expanding non-opioid pain management options, which could eventually benefit the profession.
Between The Lines
The most immediate opportunity stems from ongoing accreditation reform. President Trump’s executive order and Banks’s legislation create space for the AANMC to advocate for protecting specialized accreditors. The Department of Education is updating its accreditation handbook with relaxed review processes, creating regulatory flexibility the AANMC can leverage.
Bipartisan support exists for the "Alternatives to Prevent Addiction in the Nation (PAIN) Act," which seeks to expand non-opioid pain management options—a potential vehicle for future naturopathic medicine inclusion.
The association faces the foundational challenge of educating lawmakers about the profession from scratch.
Competitive Landscape
No other organizations are currently registered to lobby specifically on naturopathic physician accreditation and certification, giving the AANMC a unique opportunity to define the issue without coordinated opposition.
However, the AANMC’s objectives intersect with broader accreditation debates where other stakeholders are active. The Fairness in Higher Education Accreditation Act creates both opportunity and risk—it could provide an opening to advocate for CNME protection, but could also invite scrutiny of the organization’s standards.
Traditional medical organizations, while not currently lobbying against naturopathic accreditation, have historically opposed expanded scope-of-practice for non-physician providers.
The Bottom Line
The AANMC is launching its first federal lobbying effort at a moment of significant policy opportunity. The timing aligns with 26 states regulating naturopathic practitioners, a critical primary care shortage, surging consumer demand for integrative medicine, and active accreditation reform.
However, the AANMC faces a foundational challenge: naturopathic medicine barely registers in congressional discourse, and Medicare doesn’t cover naturopathic services. Success depends on positioning naturopathic education as meeting rigorous federal benchmarks while connecting the profession to broader healthcare access solutions.
Access the Legis1 platform for comprehensive political news, data, and insights.