National Health Freedom Action:
2023 Year In Review
NHFA envisions an America
where all people can have access to the practitioners and products they need on their healing journey, and all are free to make their own health decisions, for themselves and their families.
During 2023, attacks on our health rights continue. But the good news is progress is being made! People are getting involved. Health freedom advocates in states across the nation not only continue to push back against ongoing attempts to infringe on our rights, they are moving forward with protective legislative solutions in a big way.
NHFA attorneys have assisted local groups in MA, VT, CA, OH, IL, SC, IN, PA, KS, FL, and MD working on right to refuse legislation that protects bodily autonomy.
NHFA attorneys are also assisting four states currently in the process of working towards the passage of Safe Harbor Practitioner Exemption Bills that would protect the right of complementary and alternative health care practitioners to practice and be accessible to consumers: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Florida, and Oregon.
Since 2020, 49 states across the nation
have filed over 1075 bills that explicitly PROTECT bodily autonomy. 29 of those states have passed a total of 75 new laws, plus 8 resolutions, that protect bodily autonomy in some way.
15 of those new laws were passed in 2023. We expect to see this trend continue and expand in 2024! Already new Right to Refuse bills for the next session are starting to pour in.
However, there are still many states where protective bills have not been passed into law. In many states coercive medical mandates are still happening today, and access to employment or education is still contingent on getting a particular vaccine; so our work to guide state groups that want to make changes to their laws to protect health freedom remains urgent.
Educational presentations are key to getting the word out.
NHFA and its sister organization, National Health Freedom Coalition (NHFC), gave many presentations about health freedom in 2023: Steven O’Connor gave radio interviews with Robert Scott Bell on the Robert Scott Bell show and with Ava Rockwell on the Rockwell School of Functional & Holistic Medicine radio show; Leo Cashman gave 2 interviews on One Life Radio on fluoride issues and EMF radiation; Julie Booras has been on CHD’s Good Morning show several times; and NHFA made presentations at many virtual and in-person events throughout the country. NHFA works to help people understand how laws impact their freedoms, and how they can become active in making changes for health freedom.
Virtual Presentations
World Health Congress 2023 Prague – Prague Czech Republic with Attorney Diane Miller, NHFA. Homeopathic Remedies and the Law – Diane Miller JD, NHFC/NHFA Law and Public Policy Advisor.
In-Person Conferences and Presentations
American Herbalist Guild Symposium – Granby, CO – October 2023 – Nate Gorman represented National Health Freedom Action.
International Ayurvedic Mega-Conference – Orlando, FL – October 2023 – Nate Gorman represented in person National Health Freedom Action and Diane Miller gave a virtual presentation
Trinity Health Freedom Expo – Tinley Park, IL – October 2023 – Attorneys Steven O’Connor and Diane Miller gave a joint presentation entitled “Shaping the Laws to Protect Health and Healing Rights.” Diane Miller was also on the Health Freedom Panel together with Robert Scott Bell, Jonathan Emord, Mark Richards Md, Dr. Brian Hooker, and Becky Cash.
16th International Herb Symposium – Norton, MA – June 2023 – Julie Booras and Nate Gorman represented National Health Freedom Action and got to meet former NHFA board member and famed herbalist, Rosemary Gladstar for the first time. Julie gave a brief talk about our Safe Harbor practitioner exemption work.
Health and Wellness Fall 2023 Show – Needham, MA – September 2023 – Julie Booras represented NHFA and NHFC.
Back to Basics Conference – Wellesley, MA – September 2023 – Julie Booras represented NHFA and The Right to Refuse Project.
Global Health Freedom Summit – Alexandria, MN – September 2023 – Board members Jeanne Handke and Lynette Albrecht represented NHFC and NHFA.
Weston A Price’s 23rd Annual Conference – Kansas City, MO – October 2023 was represented by Julie Booras and Steven O’Connor for NHFA and NHFC.
16th Annual Natural Health Expo – Marlborough, MA – November 2023 was attended by Julie Booras and Dr. Karen Moriarty, who were able to speak to hundreds of people about efforts in Massachusetts and across the nation to protect health rights. Julie gave a presentation entitled “Protecting the Future of Health Freedom.”
Children’s Health Defense 2nd Annual Rise & Resist Conference – Savannah, GA – November 2023 where Attorney Steven O’Conner and Julie Booras represented NHFA and NHFC.
We pledge to continue working for health freedom rights and to help people make policy changes that protect the fundamental right of all Americans to make their own health choices free from coercive tactics. We will not stop working for the freedom of each person to access what one needs on their health journey.
We could not do this important work without you! We are so grateful for your ongoing support.
-With Gratitude, The NHFA Team