The Wisconsin November 2010 election resulted in Republicans gaining control over all three branches of government. Democrats previously held the majority. The Wisconsin Health Freedom Coalition (WIHFC) changed lobbyists and retained a highly respected lobbying firm, the Essie Kammer Group and Patrick Essie and his staff provide WIHFC with many resources and input for our legislation.

WIHFC is poised to introduce the Consumer Access to Wellness Choices legislation during the 2011 to 2012 session. The consumer access to wellness bill will protect the rights of herbalists, naturopaths, homeopaths, and natural health care practitioners to practice without being charged with practicing medicine without a license and will protect consumer access to these practitioners.

With Diane Miller’s expertise, Wisconsin has a draft and is ready to go. Senator Terry Moulton (R) came forward and has expressed his desire to become the lead sponsor on this legislation for WIHFC.

Spring 2010, Wisconsin successfully defeated a very restrictive Dietitian Licensing bill (AB440, S115) that would have been a direct infringement on free speech. Wisconsin leaders worked hard to educate legislators about the broad array of health care services that would be negatively impacted by the Dietitian licensing bill. In addition, they were prepared to introduce a health freedom bill to protect consumer access to traditional practitioners.

In 2008 and 2009, the Wisconsin Health Freedom Coalition also defeated a dietitians’ bill with their lobbyist. At the end of November, 2009 WHFC members met with Susan Gingerich for an afternoon of grassroots lobbying training. The slides for that meeting are available for any state.

The Dietitian bills would make it illegal for unlicensed persons to practice nutrition care services, which are defined very broadly to include much of what nutritional consultants and nutrition practitioners do that are not licensed currently. The health freedom community will remain mobilized to defeat any such bills.