December 2023 Report
This report shares short summary highlights of tracked legislative bills and rules & regulations that have seen recent activity, as well as available board and state VMA updates.
The legislative activity map reflects all 2023 activity and is updated daily. The regulation activity map reflects activity within the last month and will be updated monthly.
Legislative Activity
Regulation Activity
Board Watch
WSAVA Publishes Updated Essential Medicines List for Cats and Dogs
November 30, 2023
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has launched the second edition of its Essential Medicines List for Cats and Dogs. Recently published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice, the document supports companion animal veterinarians in many regions of the world to access vital veterinary medicines by supporting the availability of drugs required for minimum standards of clinical practice.
The new edition contains updates received from WSAVA members and other stakeholders following the launch of the original version in 2020. It includes a number of recently introduced drugs and the addition of behavior-modifying therapies. Inhalant anesthetics and non-dissociative anesthetics have been moved from the complementary essential medicines list to the core essential medicines list.
Click here to access the updated list.
New Legislation Secures Modern Professional Licensing System
December 11, 2023
The Illinois Department of Professional Regulation (IDFPR) has announced that HB2394 has been signed into law, which will allow the Department to use a competitive, expedited process to identify and implement a new professional licensing system. This process is the result of legislation sponsored by Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton and Rep. Bob Morgan passed by the General Assembly in November to equip IDFPR with the means to provide Illinois with a new, online licensing system as soon as possible.
“This new law will move us one step closer to streamlining the state’s licensure process to help connect residents with good jobs and alleviate workforce shortages across our communities,” said Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). “By providing IDFPR with this support, we will help promote an effective and streamlined licensure process for all Illinoisans.”
“I applaud this bill, which provides real solutions to a real problem, and does so in a timely manner to serve the people of Illinois,” said Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield). “This collaboration between Governor Pritzker’s Administration and the General Assembly shows government does work. Together, we will build a professional licensing system that models best practices and meets the modern needs of our State.”
As required by HB2394, the new licensing software must be able to process initial license applications and renewal fees, along with the issuance of licenses to qualified applicants. This winter, a solicitation will be published in Bidbuy, the State of Illinois’ eProcurement system, where vendors may submit their licensing system proposals. IDFPR will also publish a list in BidBuy of all questions received by prospective vendors, along with answers from the Department. Prospective vendors will then have through the date listed in the published solicitation to submit their proposals.
“This process – the result of collaborative efforts between IDFPR, lawmakers, and stakeholders – will ensure we set the gold standard nationally for professional licensing here in Illinois,” said IDFPR Secretary Mario Treto, Jr. “We are eager and prepared to take these steps in securing the solution the hardworking people across the Land of Lincoln deserve.”
The above steps will be completed within the 90-day window that begins with the signing of HB2394 into law. After the 90-day period concludes, IDFPR will have another 90-day period to begin implementing the new online licensing system on its website, idfpr.illinois.gov. IDFPR anticipates adding the professions and licensees it oversees to the new licensing system in stages, eventually ensuring that every application and fee payment will be available online and the user experience will provide applicants with more insight into the status of their application or renewal.
[23-191-P]
The State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners proposes to amend Regulation .03 under COMAR 15.14.09 Qualifications for Licensure, by Examination, as a Veterinarian.
The purpose of this action is to increase the age of a passing score for certain examinations that the State Board will accept from a veterinarian who is applying to be licensed in this State from 5 years to 7 years.
- Summary of Economic Impact. While perhaps minimal, the proposed action should benefit (1) consumers; (2) veterinary practices seeking to hire veterinarians; and (3) veterinarians licensed in other States seeking to become licensed in Maryland: If a person is licensed in another jurisdiction, a person becomes eligible for licensure in Maryland if the person (1) has been engaging in the clinical practice of veterinary medicine for a certain period of time; or (2) has a passing score on the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) provided, however, the passing score is not more than 5 years old. The proposed action increases the age of the passing score from 5 years to 7 years. For this reason, it benefits those veterinarians seeking licensure in Maryland who, while lacking the requisite clinical experience, have a passing score on NAVLE that is 5 to 7 years old. These veterinarians no longer need to bear the cost of preparing and taking the NAVLE and, of course, the need to pass the NAVLE, to become eligible for licensure. It benefits veterinary practices by providing access to a wider pool of applicants to fill vacant veterinary positions, particularly during a time when the demand for veterinarians exceeds the supply. It benefits consumers who may have improved access to veterinary care for their animals because more veterinarians may become available. Finally, the proposed action may negatively impact the few businesses in the State that offer NAVLE, albeit minimally.
TEXT:
03 Maryland State Examination.
A.—D. (text unchanged)
- State Board’s Acceptance of Passing Scores on Previously Taken Tests.
(1) The NAVLE. If an applicant has previously taken and passed the NAVLE, the State Board shall accept the applicant’s passing score on it, if the passing score is not more than [5] 7 years old. After this [5] 7-year period, the applicant shall retake and pass the NAVLE to be eligible for licensure in this State, if the applicant does not meet the requirements set forth in COMAR 15.14.08 for veterinarians who are licensed in another state or foreign jurisdiction.
(2) NBE and CCT. If an applicant has previously taken and passed the NBE and CCT, the Board shall accept the applicant’s passing scores on these tests, if these scores are not more than [5] 7 years old. After this [5] 7-year period, the applicant shall take and pass the NAVLE to be eligible for licensure in this State, if the applicant does not meet the requirements set forth in COMAR 15.14.08 for veterinarians who are licensed in another state or foreign jurisdiction.
Comments may be sent to Nathaniel Boan, Executive Director, State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401, or call 410-841-5804, or email to nathaniel.boan@maryland.gov. Comments will be accepted through January 16, 2024. A public hearing has not been scheduled.
Discussions and motions from the Maryland State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners’ October 26th meeting were recently published:
Chapter 12 Regulation Changes – Fees
o The Board reviewed a proposed change to Chapter 12 updating the fee structure. o The fees are intended to make up for the deficit created by the mandatory fee reduction from 2016 and make the Veterinary Board self-sufficient for the next 7-10 years.
o In a motion by Dr. Callahan, and seconded by Dr. Calvert, the Board voted to accept the proposed changes to fees.
VIP Pet Care / Pet IQ – 1 Year review.
o The Board reviewed the status of the pilot program that allows for one Responsible Veterinarian to be assigned to multiple limited-use hospitals that are only used periodically for clinics. The pilot program was done as a way to improve access to care.
Nathaniel Boan will begin drafting updates to the regulations to make this an acceptable practice.
Online Look-up Primary Sources
o Some jurisdictions have online license verification databases that are updated in real time and are primary sources.
o In a motion by Dr. Callahan, and seconded by Dr. Schmechel, the Board voted unanimously to approve the use of online lookups for states whose online portal is a primary source and meets the specific criteria needed for verifying a license. This replaces the need to provide a letter of good standing from those jurisdictions during the licensing process.
Chapter 588 – HB325/SB290 Report
o The Board reviewed and approved the draft report to be submitted as required by Chapt. 588. The report is currently waiting for cost estimates for portal upgrades from EY/DoIT which will be added before submission if received.
Minnesota Board of Animal Health: Remember, animal antibiotics require a veterinarian’s prescription
11/17/23
St. Paul, MN: The Minnesota Board of Animal Health would like to remind livestock and pet owners of recent changes to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules regarding the use of antibiotics and animals.
As of June 11, 2023, livestock and pet owners must obtain a veterinarian’s prescription to purchase certain animal medications, including antibiotics. Additionally, other guidance has gone into effect:
- Producers must have a prescription to purchase drugs such as injectable penicillin, tetracycline, sulfa drugs, oral medications like neomycin, and intramammary tubes like those used to treat mastitis.
- Veterinarians are not allowed to write prescriptions for clients they don’t know and animals they’ve never worked with, they need to have an established veterinarian-client-patient
The intent of these regulations is to ensure antibiotics are used only for the treatment, prevention, and control of disease under the guidance of a veterinarian. Overuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance, a critical issue that impacts the health of humans, animals, and the environment. The FDA recognizes veterinarians’ specialized training and experience, and the critical role they play in antimicrobial stewardship, which was a key factor in moving certain animal drugs behind the counter.
“The use or potential overuse of antibiotics in animal care can lead to antibiotic resistance and a host of other problems,” said State Veterinarian Brian Hoefs. “Partnerships between animal owners and veterinarians can help ensure animals get the meds they need, only when they are needed.”
For more information, visit the FDA website at FDA Announces Transition of Over-the-Counter Medically Important Antimicrobials for Animals to Prescription Status.
Notice: 2023-278
Rule No. *Vet 200
Procedural Rules
12/07/23
Summary of what the rule says and of any proposed amendments including whether the rule implements a state statute for the first time:
The Board of Veterinary Medicine is proposing to:
- Repeal existing rules Vet 201 through Ph 207 containing the entirety of Chapter Vet 200 on practice and procedure;
- Adopt Vet201.01 to utilize Plc 200 as directed by RSA 310:6, II that provides for the OPLC to establish procedural rules governing the administration of complaints and investigations, hearings, and disciplinary proceedings; and
- Adopt Vet 201.02 describing the Board’s procedure for waiver of a substantive rule.
The former RSA 310 was repealed and reenacted by Chapter 235:8 of the Laws of 2023, effective 7/15/2023. RSA 310:6, II is the updated counterpart of RSA 310-A:1-d, II(h)(2).
The Department of Health has proposed Veterinarians 216-RICR-40-05-14.
Summary of Rulemaking Action:
The Rhode Island Department of Health (“RIDOH”; “The Department”) is proposing to amend “Veterinarians” [216-RICR-40-15-14] to fulfill the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 4-9.1 “Donation of Medications for Use by Nonprofit, State, and Local Facilities.” R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-9.1-8 states:
“The Board of Veterinary Medicine shall promulgate any rules or regulations deemed necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter, including, without limitation:
- Requirements for reissuing drugs pursuant to this chapter, including, without limitation, requirements that provide appropriate safeguards for ensuring that the drugs are not compromised or illegally diverted before being reissued;
- Requirements for accepting drugs donated to a licensed veterinarian or facility in which veterinary medicine is practiced pursuant to this chapter; and
- Requirements for maintaining records relating to the acceptance and use of drugs to fill other prescriptions pursuant to this chapter.”
Additional Information and Public Comments:
All interested parties are invited to request additional information or submit written or oral comments concerning the proposed amendment by December 15, 2023, by contacting the appropriate party at the address listed below:
Zachary Garceau
Department of Health
3 Capitol Hill
Providence, RI 02908 zachary.garceau@health.ri.gov
In accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-35-2.8, an oral hearing will be granted if requested by twenty-five (25) persons, by a governmental agency, or by an association having at least twenty-five (25) members. A request for an oral hearing must be made within ten (10) days of the publication of this notice.
Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority
HISA Launches MedEnt App to Streamline Equine Treatment Report Entry
- Download the MedEnt app on the App Store
- Download the MedEnt app on Google Play
- View a tutorial video about how to use the MedEnt app
- Download a PDF guide about the app and how to use it
December 13, 2023 (Lexington, KY) – The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) today announced the launch of the MedEnt (medical entry) app, designed to give veterinarians a streamlined process for entering treatments into the HISA portal on mobile devices. The app reinforces HISA’s commitment to working with veterinarians and other stakeholders to improve HISA’s processes as well as its focus on leveraging technology to advance equine wellbeing.
Attending veterinarians can use the app on their smartphones or tablets to seamlessly access the list of horses under their care, add treatment reports, and update protocols. In cases where they are giving the same set of treatments to several horses, they can create a shortcut for those treatments rather than creating a new entry for each individual horse, thus reducing the amount of time they spend on data entry. Veterinarians may use the app even when offline, as it automatically will upload the new entries to the HISA portal the next time users have cellular or internet connectivity.
“Serving as an equine veterinarian is an incredibly demanding job,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “We aim to make their difficult jobs easier through the launch of this application, which is the latest in a series of steps undertaken by HISA to use technological solutions to promote the health and wellbeing of our equine athletes. This streamlined process, which allows veterinarians to submit multiple treatment reports with ease even while on the go, means that veterinarians have more time for the hands-on care of horses.”
While the use of the new app is not mandatory, HISA’s goal is to provide user-friendly technology for veterinarians across the country. Key features of the app include:
- The ability to create treatment reports and add information such as time, date, and supporting photos, videos, or documents, for any horse, including those not on the user’s horses list.
- The ability to configure treatment protocols to speed up record entry.
- A convenient widget containing information about the user’s horses and recent treatment reports.
- The option to use the app online or offline; data captured while offline automatically syncs when reconnected to the internet.
The mobile app is available on the App Store and Google Play. Users can access the tutorial video or PDF guide to learn more about the app and how to use it.
About the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority
When the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act was signed into federal law, it charged the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) with drafting and enforcing uniform safety and integrity rules in Thoroughbred racing in the U.S. Overseen by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), HISA is implementing, for the first time, a national, uniform set of rules applicable to every Thoroughbred racing participant and racetrack facility. HISA is comprised of two programs: the Racetrack Safety Program, which went into effect on July 1, 2022, and the Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program, which went into effect on May 22, 2023.
The Racetrack Safety Program includes operational safety rules and national racetrack accreditation standards that seek to enhance equine welfare and minimize equine and jockey injury. The Program expands veterinary oversight, imposes surface maintenance and testing requirements, enhances jockey safety, regulates riding crop use, and implements voided claim rules, among other important measures.
The ADMC Program includes a centralized testing and results management process and applies uniform penalties for violations efficiently and consistently across the United States. These rules and enforcement mechanisms are administered by an independent agency, the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU), established by Drug-Free Sport International (DFS). HIWU oversees testing, educates stakeholders on the Program, accredits laboratories, investigates potential ADMC violations, and prosecutes any such violations.
MEDIA CONTACT
Mandy Minger
mandy.minger@hisaus.org
917-846-8804
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See the December 2023 Newsletter Here
Four New Members Join HISA Horsemen’s Advisory Group
HISA to Provide Pro Bono Legal Assistance to Eligible Covered Persons