tHE HISTORY OF THE
NATURAL THERAPIES ASSOCIATIONS
The Neurotherapy and Biofeedback Certification Board (NBCB) changed their bylaws in in 1996 to also become an association for the purpose of offering group pricing to biofeedback professionals for professional (malpractice) insurance. The insurance company provided malpractice insurance to NBCB members for $150.00 US a year and to non-members for $300 US a year.
This insurance package and pricing was negotiated by NBCB founder and former insurance company executive John Gilbert and his executive secretary Rita Baker. It was really an ingenious insurance program based on a strong professional ethics program that virtually eliminated malpractice lawsuits based on practicing medicine or psychotherapy without a license.
During 2005 reinsurance companies became concerned about a US Federal Trade Commission ruling that it was a conflict of interest for associations to also certify their members in the professions served by the association. Together the presidents of Stratus Insurance, Phoenix Underwriting and Dr. Gilbert, then the executive director of NBCB, formed the Biofeedback Association of North America (BANA) to provide malpractice and general liability insurance to NBCB, NTCB and BCIA certified biofeedback professionals. Shortly thereafter NBCB merged into NTCB for financial reasons and Dr. Gilbert was elected to be the president of NTCB for 2007.
Dr. Gilbert and Stratus Insurance continued to negotiate with the reinsurance industry to provide malpractice and general liability insurance for other professions closely related to the biofeedback industry. On June 3, 2008, the day of a full solar eclipse, the insurance company agreed to extend coverage to other alternative health care professions through a new association to be called The Natural Therapies Association of North America (NTANA).
The founders of BANA formed NTANA for the purpose of providing the same benefits to qualified professionals in the specified healthcare professions. BANA and NTANA continue to offer these same services to qualified biofeedback professionals.
NTANA was formed for the purpose of providing malpractice and general liability insurance for healthcare professionals that could not be included in the biofeedback insurance program provided by BANA. Those professions include acupressure, alternative healthcare, aromatherapy, auricular therapy, biofeedback, detoxification coaching, homeopathy, life enhancement, massage therapy, natural therapies, naturopathy, nutrition, pain management, peak performance, reflexology, shiatsu, spiritual healing, stress management and related therapies.
In 2008 NTANA, BANA and the Medical Biofeedback Association and Credentialng Board (MBACB) all merged with the International Medical Association for Natural Therapies (IMANT). All four organizations formed an umbrella company Natural Therapies Associations (NTA) to maximize benefits and reduce costs. NTA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the natural therapies professions. The executive officers for NTA provide the secretarial, financial and other services for each of the member organizations.
Also in 2008 the International Association for Certified Detoxification Therapists (IACDT) joined the Natural Therapies Associations to obtain better benefits and lower costs.
During 2009 NTA expanded operations by forming new groups to provide benefits for most of the developed and developing world through:
NTA AustralAsia and Southeast Asia (NTAAA)
NTA Europe, Western Asia, Middle East and Africa (NTAEU)
NTA Central and South America (NTACSA)