AVMA releases changes to Model Veterinary Practice Act

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has released revisions to its Model Veterinary Practice Act (MVPA). The MVPA is used by state legislatures and other entities to shape law regarding veterinary medicine. The proposed changes to the MVPA are posted on the AVMA website.

The AVMA received more than 1,000 comments from both veterinarians and the public suggesting revisions to the MVPA. After considering the comments, the task force drafted a revised MVPA which reflected these comments and additional input from the task force. As an additional step, the task force is now soliciting input from AVMA committees and councils. A final version will be submitted to the AVMA Executive Board for approval later this year.

The task forces draft changes to the MVPA include:

  • revisions that recognize credentialing of veterinary technicians and technologists;
  • clarification of the definitions of "direct supervision" and "indirect supervision;"
  • a revision of the definition of "veterinarian-client-patient relationship" that requires a veterinarian to maintain medical records on patients and that allows the veterinarian to arrange for continuing care of the patient by another veterinarian who has access to those records;
  • a new exemption that allows a veterinarian from one state to practice in another state following a declaration of emergency;
  • a new exemption that allows a person working under the supervision of a veterinarian to provide certain medical care in an animal shelter;
  • revisions that 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.

To view the revisions to the MVPA, visit http://www.avma.org/issues/policy/mvpa_draft_for_entities.pdf.

Source: AVMA

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