October 2021 Report

Monthly reports share short summary highlights of tracked legislative bills and rules & regulations that have seen recent activity, as well as available board and state VMA updates. 

There are two report views available! This page shows reported items by activity type and topic. The October 2021 Quick View Report sorts the same reported items by jurisdiction. 

Download PDF Version of Report

Table of Contents

1. Legislative Activity

Note: Filtered into sections by bill status, then listed by bill topic in alphabetical order.

There is 1 passed bill, 3 introduced bills, no cross-overs, 2 hearings, and 1 dead bill.

1.1 Passed

Licensing/Telemedicine 

PA HB1861 With the Governor’s signing of HB 1861 (now Act 73 of 2021), licensing waivers that had been set to expire September 30 will remain active until March 31, 2022, unless action is taken to end them sooner. The bill extends several board waivers related to COVID until March 31, 2022, including the BPOA order that boards encourage telemedicine.  

1.2 Introduced

FL S0416 is a cremation bill. Veterinary clinics and pet stores that refer animals to cremation providers must provide a summary of their services. This bill has been introduced for the past few years. 

TX HB159 concerns the issuance of revenue bonds to fund capital projects at public institutions of higher education and the designation of certain appropriated funds allocated to those institutions. The bill includes $75 million for the construction of a clinical veterinary teaching and research complex at Texas A&M University. 

MA H4154 removes from the veterinary application language “good moral character” and replaces it with “lacks a criminal record or history of disqualifying convictions directly related to the duties or practices of a veterinarian 

1.3 Crossed Over

There are no cross-overs.

1.4 Hearings

MA S1322 directs the department to establish rules for kennels including staff qualifications, insurance, ratios, group sizes, etc. It also includes required training in animal behavior for staff employed.  It was heard on 09/28. 

MA S1341 was heard on 9/28. The bill provides non-economic damages with a cap of $30,000. The damages include, but are not limited, damages for the loss of comfort, protection, companionship, other special damages, services of the deceased animal to its owner; reasonable afterlife expenses of the deceased animal; court costs and attorney’s fees; and other reasonable damages resulting from the willful, wanton, reckless, or negligent act. 

1.4 Dead

NH HB367 would have changed health certificate requirements, quarantine times, and import requirements. 

2. Rules & Regulations Activity

Emergency Rulemaking

DCA Director’s Order Extending Time to Satisfy Examination Requirements – LAST EXTENSION

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some license applicants have had limited or no access to the examinations needed for licensure. On September 30, 2020, the California Department of Consumer Affairs Director issued an order extending the deadline from 60 months to 66 months for veterinarian applicants to take and pass the veterinarian license examinations in order to give more time to veterinarian applicants to take the examinations necessary for licensure, a required step to obtain a license with the Veterinary Medical Board. This extension applied to veterinarian applicants whose 60-month period expired between March 31, 2020, and November 30, 2020. On September 28, 2021, the Director issued a new order extending the examination deadline from 60 months to 66 months for veterinarian applicants whose 60-month period expires between October 1, 2021, and October 31, 2021. This will be the last extension of related Orders Extending Time to Satisfy Examination Requirements. 

Governor Janet T. Mill signed LD 791, An Act Regarding Telehealth Regulations, into law as P.L. 2021, c. 291. This emergency legislation became effective immediately and authorizes licensees of the board to provide services via telehealth, subject to all applicable laws and rules governing confidentiality, professional responsibility, and standards of practice. The board will be adopting more specific rules governing telehealth services.  

Rules and Regulation changes that have taken effect. 

6 CCR 1009-1 Epidemic and Communicable Disease Control (DOC) Effective 10/15/21

[Publication Instructions: Replace current existing text in Regulation 8 with the following new text.] 

Regulation 8. Reporting of Diseases Among Animals and Waiver Process for Rabies Inoculation 

Every veterinarian, livestock owner, veterinary diagnostic laboratory director, or other person having the care of, or knowledge of, the existence of animals having or suspected of having any disease which may endanger public health such as rabies, anthrax, plague, tularemia, encephalitis, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, coronaviruses that cause novel or severe human disease, including SARS-CoV-2, etc., shall promptly report the facts to the Department or county, district, or municipal public health agency. 

Pursuant to § 25-4-607 (2), C.R.S., a veterinarian licensed in Colorado may issue a written waiver, as provided in this section, exempting an animal from a rabies vaccination order if the veterinarian, in his or her professional opinion, determines the rabies inoculation is contraindicated due to the animal’s medical condition. The terms “waiver” and “exemption” as used in this section are interchangeable. A veterinarian may issue a waiver if: 

The animal to be exempted has a medical condition defined as “a disease, illness, or other pathological state” for which, in the opinion of the exempting veterinarian, a rabies inoculation is contraindicated; 

A valid veterinary-client-patient relationship, as defined under § 12-64-103 (15.5), C.R.S., has been established between the veterinarian, owner, and animal to be exempted from rabies inoculation; 

The veterinarian completes and signs the veterinary section of the Exemption from Rabies Vaccination form provided by the Department; 

The animal owner signs the informed consent section of the Exemption from Rabies Vaccination form;  

The veterinarian maintains the signed exemption as part of the animal’s medical record and provides a copy to the owner;  

The exemption issued is limited to the anticipated duration of the animal’s medical condition that precludes inoculation; and 

The veterinarian provides a copy of the exemption form to the Department or county, district, or municipal public health agency or animal control agency when requested. 

A waiver may not exceed a period of three years from the date of issuance. If the medical condition persists beyond a three-year period and, in the professional opinion of a veterinarian licensed in Colorado, the exemption continues to be appropriate, a new waiver may be issued.  

6 CCR 1009-1 Epidemic and Communicable Disease Control (DOC) Effective 10/15/21 

[Publication Instructions: Replace current existing text in Regulation 8 with the following new text.] 

Regulation 8. Reporting of Diseases Among Animals and Waiver Process for Rabies Inoculation 

Every veterinarian, livestock owner, veterinary diagnostic laboratory director, or other person having the care of, or knowledge of, the existence of animals having or suspected of having any disease which may endanger public health such as rabies, anthrax, plague, tularemia, encephalitis, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, coronaviruses that cause novel or severe human disease, including SARS-CoV-2, etc., shall promptly report the facts to the Department or county, district, or municipal public health agency. 

Pursuant to § 25-4-607 (2), C.R.S., a veterinarian licensed in Colorado may issue a written waiver, as provided in this section, exempting an animal from a rabies vaccination order if the veterinarian, in his or her professional opinion, determines the rabies inoculation is contraindicated due to the animal’s medical condition. The terms “waiver” and “exemption” as used in this section are interchangeable. A veterinarian may issue a waiver if: 

The animal to be exempted has a medical condition defined as “a disease, illness, or other pathological state” for which, in the opinion of the exempting veterinarian, a rabies inoculation is contraindicated; 

A valid veterinary-client-patient relationship, as defined under § 12-64-103 (15.5), C.R.S., has been established between the veterinarian, owner, and animal to be exempted from rabies inoculation; 

The veterinarian completes and signs the veterinary section of the Exemption from Rabies Vaccination form provided by the Department;   

The animal owner signs the informed consent section of the Exemption from Rabies Vaccination form; 

The veterinarian maintains the signed exemption as part of the animal’s medical record and provides a copy to the owner; 

The exemption issued is limited to the anticipated duration of the animal’s medical condition that precludes inoculation; and 

The veterinarian provides a copy of the exemption form to the Department or county, district, or municipal public health agency or animal control agency when requested. 

A waiver may not exceed a period of three years from the date of issuance. If the medical condition persists beyond a three-year period and, in the professional opinion of a veterinarian licensed in Colorado, the exemption continues to be appropriate, a new waiver may be issued. 

Upon receiving a complaint regarding the validity of a rabies inoculation exemption, the executive director or his/her designee(s) may review Exemption from Rabies Vaccination forms and examine the veterinary records pertaining to the medical condition to determine if the medical condition legitimately contraindicates rabies inoculation. If appropriate, the executive director or his/her designee(s) may refer the case to the Board of Veterinary Medicine. 

8 CCR 1202-15 RULES AND REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE PET ANIMAL CARE AND FACILITIES ACT (DOC) Effective 10/30/21 

 In addition to all other requirements for licensure, an applicant for a pet animal facility license must successfully complete the required qualifying education course. Proof of course completion is required prior to license approval. The required qualifying education course will be an online, self-paced course designed and provided by the Colorado Department of Agriculture.  The course shall be free, available to applicants and their staff, and the course may be accessed by contacting the PACFA program at the Colorado Department of Agriculture. 

The applicant for a licensed pet animal facility must successfully complete a continuing education course, at least once during the span of two (2) 12-month license periods after the first initial license period has expired. 

A pet animal facility licensed prior to October 30, 2021, is required to take the qualifying education course to satisfy the continuing education requirement. 

4 TAC §§40.1 – 40.8 Effective 10/14/21 

TITLE 4. AGRICULTURE 

PART 2. TEXAS ANIMAL HEALTH COMMISSION 

CHAPTER 40. CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE 

The purpose of this chapter is to prevent and control the incidence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Texas by seeking to reduce the risk of interstate and intrastate transmission of CWD in susceptible cervid species. Non-substantive grammatical and editorial changes are also adopted throughout the chapter for improved readability. 

In May 2019, the USDA updated the CWD Program Standards (“federal standards”). The standards were revised to clarify and update acceptable methods for complying with the legal requirements in 9 CFR Parts 55 and 81. As a participating Approved State CWD Herd Certification Program, the commission is proposing to update the Herd Certification Program rules to align with revised federal standards where applicable and federal regulations. 

In §40.1, concerning Definitions, terms are alphabetized and added or amended for clarification throughout the rest of the chapter as well as to align with federal regulations and standards. Section 40.2, concerning General Requirements, makes editorial changes to clarify the rule. Section 40.3, concerning Herd Certification Program for Cervidae, amends the title to better describe the content of the section. Further, most amendments throughout the section are adopted to align with the federal Herd Certification Program Standards or 9 CFR Part 55; some amendments are specific to commission Herd Certification Program requirements. Section 40.4, concerning Entry Requirements, amends a cross-reference and reorganizes the section for improved readability. Section 40.5, concerning Surveillance and Movement Requirements for Exotic CWD Susceptible Species, amends definitions and makes non-substantive changes for consistency and accuracy. Section 40.6, concerning CWD Movement Restriction Zones, adopts one new containment zone, two new surveillance zones, and an expansion to an existing surveillance zone. Other amendments are adopted for clarification, improved readability, and consistency with the chapter. Section 40.7, concerning the Executive Director Declaration of a CWD Movement Restriction Zone, amends terms for accuracy and consistency. Section 40.8, concerning Enforcement and Penalties, is adopted to describe the scope of applicable penalties pursuant to Chapter 161 of the Texas Agriculture Code. 

Rules Reinstated after COVID changes

2022 Continuing Education Requirement for the 2023 Renewal – A return to the pre-Covid Requirements. 

Veterinarian Expires annually  

License Renewal Status:  

  • ACTIVE until December 31st 
  • ACTIVE/PENDING from January 1st – January 31st 
  • ACTIVE/LATE from February 1st – February 28/29th  
  • REVOKED on March 1st
  • FACULTY License Renewal Status: 

 

  • Active until June 14th
  • ACTIVE/PENDINGfrom June 15th – July 14th 
  • ACTIVE/LATEfrom July 15th- August 14th 
  • REVOKEDon August 15th 

Continuing Education: To be obtained prior to licensee’s expiration date. Proof of twenty (20) hours required each year – Ten (10) on-line hours of training will be accepted during each • renewal, however, five (5) of those hours will need to be ‘interactive’. Minimum CE Standards .0206  

Beginning 2020 Renewals: Two (2) hours of CE • on the ‘abuse of controlled substances’ will be required per renewal cycle; these 2 hours are included in the total number of CE hours.  

Opioid controlled substance CE should include one (1) of the following: 

  1. Controlled substances prescribing practices 2. Recognizing signs of the abuse or misuse of controlled substances
  2. Controlled substance prescribing for chronicpain management 

3. Board Watch

Veterinary Medical Board’s Access to Veterinary Care Task Force 

On October 12, the Veterinary Medical Board’s Access to Veterinary Care Task Force held a meeting to review recent Board actions aimed at increasing access to veterinary care. The task force discussed CA AB1535, which was passed last month and was reported in the September update. It was signed by the Governor on 10/07/21.  

The Board approved the MDC Recommended Electronic Veterinary Services Legislative Proposal. The goal of the legislation is to move toward more clearly defined telehealth, telemedicine, and teletriage, as well as educate veterinary practitioners and the consumer on electronic veterinary services. 

Since the proposal would authorize treatment through electronic means, the telemedicine provision was narrowly crafted to authorize telemedicine to be performed only after the veterinarian has established the VCPR. This limitation on the use of telemedicine is consistent with the AAVSB guidelines for the appropriate use of telehealth, as well as CCR, title 16, section 2032.1, which requires a VCPR to treat an animal patient.  

The Board conducted an overview of existing veterinary care access programs and discussed potential Board involvement.  

  1. Access to Veterinary Care Coalition (Report: Access to Veterinary Care – Barriers, Current Practices, and Public Policy): The data in this report highlighted the lack of access in rural and impoverished areas. 
  2. AlignCare, University of Tennessee (Brochure: Access to Veterinary Care): The program is a co-pay system that allows access to veterinary care for families who may not be able to afford it on their own.  A family that has qualified for this service is able to take their pets to recognized providers and pay just a co-pay and the philanthropic organizations funding this program will pay for the rest of the bill. 
  3. Tufts at Tech Community Veterinary Clinic (Website):  Tufts University’s veterinary medical program has paired with a technical high school that conducts training for veterinary assistants. Clients are screened through the social services and have to qualify through need. The university and high school veterinary students provide access under a licensed veterinarian. The program has been around for roughly a decade and could lead to potential opportunities in California.  
  4. Rural Area Veterinary Services (Website):  Rural Area Veterinary Services (RAVS) is a non-profit veterinary outreach program combining community service and veterinary mentorship to bring free veterinary services to underserved rural communities where poverty and geographic isolation make regular veterinary care inaccessible.  
  5. Each year six RAVS staff members and more than 350 volunteers provide essential veterinary care for more than 7,000 animals, all at no cost to the clients or communities we serve. In addition, the program provides valuable training and experience for hundreds of future veterinary professionals that goes far beyond anything they could learn in a classroom alone. 

Public Policy – Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship 

Council reviewed potential amendments to its practice standard on the veterinarian-client-patient relationship. The objectives of the changes are to modify the expectation for when a veterinarian is discontinuing services to a client and to streamline the language in relation to prescribing and dispensing, as those expectations are now detailed in other policy documents. Following discussion, it was decided to return the draft to staff for further development.   

Public Policy – Update on the telemedicine consultation  

Council received an update on the ongoing consultation on telemedicine. This is a challenging area as Council endeavors to strike a balance between the use of technology in the delivery of veterinary medicine and public safety. This consultation remains open on the College website until November [1, 2021]. 

Permanent Rulemaking Hearing – October 14, 2021 

The State Board of Veterinary Medicine will hold a Permanent Rulemaking Hearing to allow stakeholders a final opportunity to provide feedback before the Board considers adopting revisions to Rule 1.17(C), to implement Colorado Senate Bill 21-077(Concerning the elimination of verification of an individual’s lawful presence in the United States as a requirement for individual credentialing); and a new rule, Rule 1.26, to implement Colorado House Bill 21-1276 (Concerning the prevention of substance use disorders). 

 Joint Stakeholder Meeting – October 15, 2021 

The State Board of Pharmacy, State Board of Nursing, Colorado Medical Board, Colorado Dental Board, Colorado Podiatry Board, State Board of Veterinary Medicine, and State Board of Optometry will hold a Joint Stakeholder Meeting to gather feedback to identify and create a list of prescription drugs and substances (using evidence-based practices), in addition to controlled substances, that have a substantial potential for abuse and must require pharmacists and prescription drug outlets to report those prescription drugs and substances to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) when dispensed to a patient. The Board is considering the development of new rules to monitor non-controlled prescription drugs/substances, as allowed per section 12-280-404(2)(b)(I), C.R.S., of Colorado Senate Bill 21-098. 

DC Health Licensing System is now live.  

The license renewal process is about to begin at the end of this year and our online portal will be available in October. Typically, the portal is open for a 90-day period.  

This is going to be the first time when some changes will affect the process of renewals. 1) All licensees will be required to be registered in the prescription drug monitoring program. 2) There are 18 credit hours required per year so for a two-year renewing cycle, 36 credit hours of continuing education will be required. Out of those 36 hours, two credit hours are mandated by the Mayor’s office to be dedicated specifically to LGBTQ subject matter.   

The Board has mandated a 10 percent of continuing education to be allotted to public health issues/priorities, which makes four credit hours leaving 30 credit hours for veterinary-specific subject matter. Due to Covid19 restrictions, 100 percent of CE courses can be completed online.  

DC PDMP 

The Board provided a reminder that the mandatory query is now in effect in the District of Columbia. DC Law 23-251. Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Query and Omnibus Health Amendments Act of 2020 became effective on March 16, 2021. The law requires prescribers and dispensers to query the PDMP: 

  • Prior to prescribing or dispensing an opioid or benzodiazepine for more than seven consecutive days, and 
  • Every ninety days thereafter while the course of treatment or therapy continues, or 
  • Prior to dispensing another refill after ninety days. 

The law is available here: https://code.dccouncil.us/dc/council/laws/23-251.html. 

VCPR 

The Board Rules Committee amended Rule 700-8-.01. Unprofessional Conduct for submittal to the full Board for review. See amended section below. 

Rule 700-8-.01. Unprofessional Conduct. Amended. 

Unprofessional conduct shall include, but not limited to, the following:  

… 

  1. A veterinarian/client/patient relationship cannot be established solely by telephone, computer, or other electronic means;howeverand, 

(i) Once a veterinarian/client/patient relationship is established, it may be maintained telephonically, electronically, or by any other method of communication between:  

  1. In person medically necessary examinations; or, 
  2. Visits to the premises where the animal is kept, provided that it is within the periods of time that are appropriate for the medical issue in question and the species and age of the animal; and,  
  3. A failure to require in-person examinations or visits in accordance with the minimum standard of care for the diagnosis, treatment or other practice of veterinary medicine for an animal shall be considered unprofessional conduct. 
  4. A licensed veterinarian may provide advice and recommendations via electronic means in an emergency where death is imminentif an in-person examination of thepatient will be conducted within 60 minutes of the provision of such advice or recommendations; and, …

Reciprocity 

Proposed Rule to implement HB 2066: Reciprocity 

Extends military reciprocity to all (within 45 days (15 days for military)- Includes veterinarians 

Current law requires expedited out-of-state credentials to be issued for a six-month probationary period for military service members and military spouses who do not qualify under the applicable Kansas law by endorsement, reinstatement, or reciprocity statutes but meet certain other requirements. The bill modifies this provision by giving discretion to licensing bodies to grant credentials to applicants and also modifies the qualifications for credentialing, such that any applicant is required to:  

  •  Holda valid out-of-state current credential from another state, district, or territory of the United States that authorizes a similar scope of practice, as defined by the bill. Current law requires the credential to be equivalent to that established by the relevant Kansas licensingbody;  
  •  Haveworked for at least one year in the relevantoccupation;  

 

Continuing Education  

The State Board of Veterinary Examiners is considering changes and clarifications to Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 15.14.01 - Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics and COMAR 15.14.10 & .16 – Continuing Education. These suggested changes have NOT been submitted for formal approval. Instead, the Board is sharing this draft with veterinarians, RVTs, and other stakeholders ahead of formal submission in order to obtain as much constructive input as possible.   

Please email your comments by Friday, October 22, 2021, to the Board’s executive director at vanessa.orlando@maryland.gov​.

Plc 1001  Purpose; Applicability; Definitions; Generally-Applicable Fees:  The purpose of this chapter is to establish the fees charged for processing applications and for other services provided by or for the office of professional licensure and certification (OPLC) and by or for the boards, commissions, and councils listed in RSA 310-A:1-a, I, hereinafter referred to as “supported boards, commissions, and councils” or “supported boards, commissions, or councils” based on context. 

Public Hearing: Tuesday, November 9, 2021, at 10:00 AM in the Hearing Room at the OPLC offices at 7 Eagle Square, Concord NH 

**You do not need to attend the hearing to submit written comments.** 

Deadline for Submitting Written Comment:  4:00 PM on Friday, November 19, 2021. Please submit comments to OPLC-Rules@oplc.nh.gov. 

Plc 1003  Per Diems; Reimbursable Expenses: (a) The purpose of this part is to recognize the value of the many professionals who volunteer to serve on the boards, commissions, and councils established to regulate various professions in order to safeguard the public health, safety, welfare, environment, and the public trust of the citizens of the State of New Hampshire, by establishing the rates at which members of such boards, commissions, and councils will be compensated for their attendance at meetings and partially reimbursed for expenses.  

(b) This part shall apply to those boards, commissions, and councils supported by the office of professional licensure and certification (OPLC), as listed in RSA 310-A:1-a, I, hereinafter referred to as “supported boards, commissions, or councils”, to the extent the rules do not conflict with any statutes that address per diems or expense reimbursement.  

Public Hearing:  Tuesday, November 9, 2021, at 10:00 AM in the Hearing Room at the OPLC offices at 7 Eagle Square, Concord NH 

**You do not need to attend the hearing to submit written comments.** 

Deadline for Submitting Written Comment:  4:00 PM on Friday, November 19, 2021. Please submit comments to OPLC-Rules@oplc.nh.gov. 

 

Licensing 

The Board discussed Senate No. 942, which has been in effect since 08/09/21. It requires certain standards for professional and occupational boards considering applicants with criminal history records. The statute was amended and a new section was added. Criminal convictions have to have a direct or substantial relationship to the activity regulated by the Board or be of a nature such that licensure of the person would be inconsistent with the public’s health, safety, or welfare.   

If the Board decides to consider the crime based on conviction with the intention to deny an application, a hearing before the Board is required.  

Proposed Administrative Rules for Veterinarians 

  • Remote Public Hearing: October 20, 2021, at 10:00 AM 
  • Send comments to SOS.OPR.Comments@vermont.gov 
  • Deadline for public comment: October 29, 2021 
  • Comments are a public record and are required to be published online, including the commenter’s name, affiliation, and contact information. 

4. VMA Updates

Public Policy – Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship 

Council reviewed potential amendments to its practice standard on the veterinarian-client-patient relationship. The objectives of the changes are to modify the expectation for when a veterinarian is discontinuing services to a client and to streamline the language in relation to prescribing and dispensing, as those expectations are now detailed in other policy documents. Following discussion, it was decided to return the draft to staff for further development.  

Public Policy – Update on the telemedicine consultation  

Council received an update on the ongoing consultation on telemedicine. This is a challenging area as Council endeavors to strike a balance between the use of technology in the delivery of veterinary medicine and public safety. This consultation remains open on the College website until November [1, 2021]. 

WSU College of Veterinary Medicine Fall Veterinary CE Event will be October 30, 2021, from 9:00 am to Noon (3 CE Hours). This will be a hybrid CE event – join in person on campus or online via zoom.  There will be a Large Animal Track and a Small Animal Track. Veterinarians and Technicians are welcome to join. (Agenda)  

Vaccine Authorized for Recently Confirmed Rabbit Disease 

In response to the recent confirmation of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2) in Ramsey County, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health is authorizing licensed veterinarians to order and administer an RHDV2 vaccine manufactured by Medgene Labs. The vaccine is available in 25 dose vials and could start shipping to Minnesota veterinarians as early as next week. 

“After consulting with our Board President and Medgene Labs, I made the decision to allow licensed veterinarians to begin procuring doses as soon as next week,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Beth Thompson. “I’m confident in this decision based on the recent USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics emergency use authorization for the experimental vaccine.” 

The vaccine may only be administered by a Minnesota licensed veterinarian. Vaccines can be ordered by contacting Medgene Labs at 605-697-2600. Veterinarians must maintain the following records: 

  • Animal identification or description. 
  • Owner’s name and address. 
  • Any adverse reactions, which should be reported to Medgene Labs. 

The Board urges rabbit owners to always practice good biosecurity to keep their animals healthy. Biosecurity is a process for protecting pets or livestock from infectious diseases. Specific biosecurity actions for rabbits are outlined on the Board’s website. 

RHDV2 is highly contagious and can spread through direct contact with infected rabbits or indirectly through contact with infected carcasses, blood, urine, and feces. The virus can also be present on contaminated clothing, footwear, and surfaces such as cages, feed, water, and bedding. Sudden mortality in otherwise healthy rabbits is characteristic of RHDV2. Infected rabbits may be lethargic and reluctant to move and typically die between a day and a week after becoming infected. The virus kills 70 to 90 percent of infected rabbits. There is no known risk to humans. 

Pacific Northwest Veterinary Conference News – Board of Governors extends COVID-19 CE policy for non-live CE 
At the start of the pandemic, the Veterinary Board of Governors approved the COVID-related policy allowing an unlimited number of non-live CE programs to count towards CE credit. At their Sept. 13, 2021 meeting, the Board approved a change to the policy that extends the allowance until 90 days after the Governor’s emergency order is rescinded. As you plan ahead to get your CE credits, consider attending the Pacific Northwest Veterinary Conference. 

Don’t miss out on 150+ hours of high-caliber veterinary education taking place in October 2021, and beyond. Register now and gain access to all CE sessions through August 31, 2022. The schedule contains 128 hours of live CE and 29 pre-recorded sessions, all accessible through the PNWVC platform. Even if you can’t attend during the weekend, register now so you can have access later to all sessions. 

There are sessions for all practice types and for technicians, practice managers, and hospital staff. Once the live versions are completed, the recordings will be uploaded for access post-conference 

WVMA Annual Meeting 

The WVMA Annual Meeting was held via Zoom on Thursday, October 21, from 5-6 p.m. 

5. Pharmacy Board Updates

Beginning January 1, 2022, Business and Professions Code (BPC) section 688 will require most prescriptions in California to be issued by prescribers in the form of an electronic data transmission, or “e-prescription.” In addition, the law requires pharmacists to have the capability to receive electronic data transmission prescriptions by January 1, 2022. Subsection (e)(5) exempts prescriptions by veterinarians. 

The California State Board of Pharmacy has prepared answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about BPC section 688 to help educate licensees about the law. 

The State Board of Pharmacy proposed LCB File No. R025-21. Section 2 of this regulation requires a euthanasia technician who possesses or administers or who proposes to possess or administer sodium pentobarbital within this State to obtain a registration issued by the Board. 

Existing regulations prescribe certain duties for an outsourcing facility that is engaged in the compounding of sterile drugs in this State or for shipment into this State. (NAC 639.6915) Section 8 of this regulation requires such a facility to submit an application for a license as a manufacturer in accordance with existing law on a form prescribed by the Board. 

6. AVMA

2022 Summer Equine Clinical Externship in Lyon, France »  

With the Veterinary School of VetAgro Sup in Lyon, France is an EAEVE and AVMA accredited institution 

USDA Begins Process to Identify Veterinary Shortage Areas 

State animal health officials have until November 8, 2021, to submit nominations for locations to be designated as U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) veterinary shortage areas in 2022.  

Designated shortage areas become eligible for assistance through two USDA programs that help recruit veterinarians to work in them: the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) and Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP).  

Veterinarians and other veterinary professionals can work with their state veterinary associations and local animal health officials on these nominations. Information about the nomination process and how to apply can be found on USDA’s website.  

The VMLRP and VSGP programs help alleviate veterinary access gaps in rural, agricultural communities and public health veterinary practice. Before each fiscal year, USDA gathers veterinary shortage data from state animal health officials and uses the information to designate shortage areas to be mitigated through VMLRP and VSGP awards.  

The list of shortage areas for 2022 is expected to be announced in February 2022, when the application window for these awards will open. In 2021, the USDA designated 221 veterinary shortage areas in 48 states. 

This July, the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) House of Delegates (HOD) gathered in Chicago Illinois for a hybrid convention. This is the first time the delegates have been able to gather in person since January of 2020. The HOD is comprised of two representatives from each state and veterinary specialty organization. The HOD reaches across the country and also includes many additional veterinary advisors and students. The HOD includes a very diverse perspective on the issues pertinent to Veterinary Medicine.  

During the Veterinary Information Forum (VIF) portion of the meeting, the economic status of the veterinary profession was discussed. This is a very critical issue in our industry as veterinary practices struggle to recover from the effects of the pandemic on clinical practice. This is a multifactorial issue that economists with the AVMA are working hard to explain and help members recover from. Economists found that this issue was confounded by several concurrent market forces and influences:  

  1. Practices are busier than prior to the pandemic. Total appointments booked nationwide grew 4.5% in 2020 and are growing by 6.5% in 2021.  
  1. There was a surge in new pet ownership. This trend appears to have flattened, and, economists discovered that this rise in new pet ownership did not correspond with a surge in adoptions from shelters.  
  1. The pandemic hurt practice productivity. Clinicians overall were seeing approximately 25% fewer appointments than prior to the pandemic. This reflects the curbside effects, precautions, and social distancing that occurred during the COVID pandemic.  
  1. Clinic wait times doubled in 2020.The economists also saw that greater than 1/4 of the veterinary clinics had wait times of greater than 30 minutes beyond scheduled appointment times on a regular basis. 

There was an increase in demand for veterinary care. This was caused by both an increase in disposable income from the clients and more time spent at home with their pets.  

There was a higher staff turnover during the past year, leading to a decrease in efficiency.  

During the convention, there were a total of seven resolutions presented and discussed. The first resolution was a resolution submitted in response to depopulation measures that were instituted during the pandemic to address the situation of both poultry and swine being depopulated by a method called ventilation shutdown plus (VSD +). This method is currently an approved method of euthanasia in an emergency or crisis situation when there are no reasonable alternatives. This is approved in the AVMA’s depopulation guidelines revised in 2019 by The Panel on Depopulation. The panel on depopulation is comprised of experts on 60 subject matters including ethicists members from the National Institute of Health. The AVMA HOD reviewed the resolution and voted to refer this resolution back to The Panel on Depopulation to address and revise the guidelines as indicated.  

  • The six additional resolutions discussed included: Rules for officer elections in the AVMA.  
  • Revised policy on veterinary compounding.  
  • Revised policy on random source dogs and cats for research, testing, and education.  
  • Revised policy on veterinary foresight and expertise in antimicrobial discussions.  
  • Revised policy on notification to the veterinarian of violative residues in foods of animal origin.  
  • Policy on the use of prescription drugs in veterinary medicine.  

As of July 2021, RHDV2 has been confirmed in wild and/or domestic rabbits in New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and Oregon. It has recently been confirmed in domestic rabbits in South Dakota, Georgia, and Florida (with no confirmed cases in wild rabbits in these states).  

RHD is a highly contagious, fatal disease in rabbits, caused by a calicivirus. It is not transmissible to humans. The disease progresses very rapidly, and rabbits may die without showing any symptoms, or with signs of hemorrhage. There is no known cure. No vaccines are currently licensed in the United States.