AVMA releases draft revisions to model practice act
An AVMA task force has released a first draft of potential revisions to the AVMA Model Veterinary Practice Act, incorporating input from veterinarians and the general public.
The next step is for AVMA entities such as councils and committees to provide feedback.
The AVMA first adopted a model practice act in 1964 to serve as a set of guiding principles for state regulation of the practice of veterinary medicine. The most recent major revisions were in 2003.
Last year, the AVMA Executive Board established a task force to review the model practice act. Early this year, the task force invited AVMA members and nonmembers to submit comments on potential changes.
The task force received nearly 1,000 comments on the model practice act. Nonmembers submitted about 70 percent of the comments, and 10 percent of all the comments came from organizations rather than individuals.
The sections attracting the most comments were Section 2—Definitions, especially "complementary, alternative, and integrative therapies" and "practice of veterinary medicine"; Section 6—Exemptions; the preamble; and Section 3—Board of Veterinary Medicine.
The task force met in May to consider the comments and issue a first draft of potential revisions to the model practice act (see sidebar).
AVMA entities may provide feedback on the draft revisions to the model practice act until Sept. 9. The AVMA House of Delegates is scheduled to discuss the revisions during its regular annual session this month.
The task force plans to submit a final draft of potential revisions to the board in November.
Revisions to the AVMA Model Veterinary Practice Act
The first draft of potential revisions to the AVMA Model Veterinary Practice Act includes the following changes:
- Revisions to recognize credentialing of veterinary technicians and technologists.
- Clarification of the definitions of "direct supervision" and "indirect supervision" to specify that a veterinarian is responsible for the care of a patient provided by a person working under the veterinarian's direction.
- Revision of the definition of "veterinarian-client-patient relationship" to require that a veterinarian maintain medical records on a patient and either be readily available for follow-up evaluation or arrange for emergency coverage or the continuing care of the patient by another veterinarian who has access to the medical records.
- A new exemption to allow a veterinarian from one state to practice in another state following a declaration of emergency.
- Another new exemption to allow a person working under the supervision of a veterinarian to provide certain medical care in an animal shelter.
- Revisions to allow a veterinarian to disclose client and patient information to a third-party service provider, such as a company that sends vaccination reminders, as long as a confidentiality agreement is in place.
The AVMA has posted the first draft at www.avma.org/issues/policy/mvpa.asp.