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Regulations & Legislation
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GHLIT medical coverage faces uncertain future
1/12/2012
Healthcare reform could kill program by 2014
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FDA limits cephalosporin use in livestock to curb drug resistance
1/6/2012
AVMA calls new restrictions reasonable
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Veterinary accreditation papers missing? Call USDA
11/17/2011
Agency says applicants should have documentation by now
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AVMA challenges Wal-Mart’s push to make veterinarians script out
10/5/2011
Fairness to Pet Owners Act sits at controversy's center
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Australian officials to kill pit bulls, other 'dangerous' breeds
9/29/2011
Knee-jerk reaction to maulings prompts overregulation, veterinarians say
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Waste disposal, veterinary style
9/16/2011
Two new web resources address safe handling practices
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U.K. pet travel regulations eliminate quarantine
9/7/2011
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States consider controlling rabies vaccination intervals
8/12/2011
Veterinarians question interference with medical discretion
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Antibiotics: spinning the data from Denmark
5/27/2011
Antibiotics do little to enhance growth, yet producers still use them
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Antibiotics: precaution vs. proof
5/26/2011
Weighing risk to public health from antibiotics used in livestock
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FDA: Food-animal antibiotic consumption dwarfs human medical use
5/25/2011
New data reveal flaws in figures presented by AVMA, industry
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Scrutiny of livestock antibiotic use pressures veterinary profession
5/24/2011
AVMA negotiates shifting regulatory landscape
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Federal bill tackles rural veterinary shortages
5/13/2011
Veterinary Services Investment Act to be introduced
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Only veterinarian in Senate bows out
4/5/2011
Sen. John Ensign avoids what could have been a messy race
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USDA veterinary accreditation program still accepting applications
3/1/2011
Overhaul well underway; online training programs coming in spring
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Campaign to defend veterinary compounding may be misdirected
2/18/2011
Lack of specifics from FDA begets confusion
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N.D. bill permits veterinarians to seize animals being treated inhumanely
2/11/2011
Public hearing scheduled today
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Confusion abounds concerning status of therapeutic pet foods
2/1/2011
Recent FDA-CVM statement brings issue to forefront
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Texas bill seeks to waive confidentiality privileges for deadbeat clients
1/26/2011
Legislation would protect veterinarians collecting unpaid debts
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N.Y. bill seeks ban on giving antibiotics to healthy livestock
12/30/2010
Veterinary profession expected to weigh in
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California veterinarians target unlicensed care
12/14/2010
Conflict between profession, lay practitioners intensifies
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FDA releases government data on antibiotic use in food animals
12/9/2010
Non-therapeutic quantities not specified, leaving key questions unanswered
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Congress grants Red Flags Rule exemption to veterinarians, others
12/7/2010
Legislation ready for President’s signature
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Veterinarians poised to be exempted from Red Flags Rule
12/6/2010
Bill scheduled for consideration by Congress Tuesday
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Texas veterinarians author legislation to bridle lay dentists
12/3/2010
Judge's order prompts end to regulatory crackdown on unlicensed teeth floating
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AVMA condemns activists targeting UC Davis researchers
12/1/2010
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Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program gets off ground
11/9/2010
First USDA awards go to 62 recipients
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FAA spot inspects veterinary practices
11/5/2010
Surprise audits nab those who improperly package hazardous substances
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Lawsuit raises questions about sale of drugs to non-veterinarian
10/13/2010
Case brought by Bayer against shelter rescheduled for Dec. 2 hearing
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Veterinary regulators poised to define parameters of lay dentistry
9/9/2010
Stakeholders across America watch as Texas takes on controversial issue
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Bills regulating pet health insurance, declaw near enactment
8/27/2010
Measure that seeks clarity for indemnity programs awaits Calif. governor's signature
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Propofol shortage hits veterinary medicine
8/26/2010
Clinics turn to alternatives with production of PropoFlo, Rapinovet stopped
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Last-minute accreditation application worries arise
7/30/2010
As deadline nears, USDA officials counsel patience
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FDA investigating accidental hormone exposure problem
7/29/2010
Issues safety alert on topical estrogen spray product Evamist
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Clarity sought for pet health insurance programs
7/23/2010
Calif. bill attempts to regulate indemnity plans for pets
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National Veterinary Accreditation Program deadline nears
6/18/2010
USDA revision requires all participants to reapply by Aug. 2
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New law complicates taxes for veterinary practices
6/14/2010
AVMA, business groups back repeal of rule passed with health care reform
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U.S. EPA confirms problems exist with spot-on flea, tick treatments
3/18/2010
Agency proposes changes in labeling, safety monitoring
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Proposal to mandate bittering agent for antifreeze hits Congress
3/4/2010
10 states require ethylene glycol-based coolant to include denatonium benzoate
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Animal welfare initiative could divide Ohio veterinarians
2/11/2010
HSUS 'serious' about winning ballot measure to ban cramped housing for farm animals
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National Veterinary Accreditation Program under revision
1/8/2010
All members must reapply by Aug. 2 to remain in voluntary program
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Seven labels tied to Teva ketamine recall, FDA says
12/31/2009
Details from FDA could alleviate confusion for practitioners
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Drug maker sues compounding pharmacy
12/17/2009
Bayer says Wedgewood infringing on patent
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Merial reports Immiticide, Heartgard shortages
12/5/2009
Rationing of Immiticide leaves some veterinarians in a lurch
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FTC delays Red Flags enforcement, new legislation could exempt DVMs
11/3/2009
VIN, AVMA offer model programs to help veterinarians get into compliance
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Regulatory fee increases raise veterinarians' hackles
10/29/2009
California board readies to impose stiff price increases
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Calif. practitioners must submit drug reports online by Nov. 1
10/20/2009
Some predict California's reporting requirement will spread
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Pet cloning market proves hit or miss
9/29/2009
Company closes its doors as competitor expands
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San Francisco proposal for declaw ban hits unlikely roadblock
9/22/2009
Science on declaw too weak to make broad statements, researcher says
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Report scrutinizes FDA’s work in 2007 pet food recall
9/10/2009
Agency supports assessment, works to make improvements
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Pressure mounts to euthanize Denver's Pit Bull ban
8/18/2009
Study deflates stereotypes, names new top biter: Labrador Retrievers
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Teva Animal Health closes shop
8/3/2009
FDA shuts down plant, sparks product availability concerns
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AVMA debates profession's role concerning antimicrobials in livestock
7/11/2009
Resolution gets pushed aside for further review
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Legislation confronts shortage of public-health veterinarians
6/30/2009
Bill calls for large federal investment into new programs
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EPA scales back waste disposal survey
3/5/2009
Agency seeks information on veterinarians' waste disposal practices
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Off the table?
2/12/2009
Calif. sales tax on veterinary services loses steam
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Vet Schools: Desperate Times, Desperate Measures
1/30/2009
Colleges bruised by ailing economy
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Board complaints rise in Texas
1/16/2009
Consumer awareness, Internet play role in increase, official says
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About-face by Florida regulators eases permit policy for DVMs
1/14/2009
Refunds are on the agenda, FVMA says
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MVMA pushes animal protection legislation
1/14/2009
Measure directs courts to consider pets when issuing domestic violence protective orders
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Chicago mandatory neuter proposal makes concession to veterinarians
1/9/2009
Amendment relieves DVMs from reporting clients
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Microchips dump legal, ethical baggage on veterinarians
1/7/2009
AVMA attempts to shed light on gray areas of pet identification
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Fed adopts consumer credit-card protections
12/19/2008
VIN members wary of other finance deals
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FDA puts cephalosporin ban in abeyance
12/11/2008
Veterinary medicine credited by some for pushing last-minute change
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First California. Now Wisconsin.
12/3/2008
Both are facing huge budget deficits and are entertaining sales tax on veterinary services.
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Pet value continues to test veterinary medicine
10/21/2008
Court ruling, roundtable talks feature latest on economic worth
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Regulators eye hazardous waste disposal practices of DVMs
10/16/2008
Increased inspections loom for veterinary medicine
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$24-million pet food settlement approved
10/16/2008
Pet owners affected by melamine scandal to be compensated
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N.H. commission mulls allowing technicians to practice medicine
10/15/2008
Group explores elevated licensure to ease rural vet shortage
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FDA lets public search drug approvals with new database
10/1/2008
Animal Drugs @ FDA replaces the agency's Green Book
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Georgia to licensees: You need communications, ethics training
9/11/2008
CE change effective Jan. 1 for the state's 2009-2010 renewal cycle.
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NJVMA wins NPI exemption for veterinarians
9/9/2008
State backtracks on law designed to track Medicare/Medicaid fraud
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EPA survey: How do you dispose of unused pharmaceuticals?
8/29/2008
Agency wants to know why some still dump drugs down the drain
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Calif. spay/neuter mandate re-emerges with amendments
8/15/2008
Lighter version of AB 1634 calls for microchips
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FDA/CVM issues book on activities
8/12/2008
Agency seeks better communication with veterinarians
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Regulators to addicts: Come clean with state agency
7/22/2008
LVMA-endorsed counseling won't guard against regulatory rebuke, officials say
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Florida practices need pharmacy permits
7/18/2008
New law, effective Jan. 1, is designed to stave off drug diversion
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Dog law overhaul stalls amid controversy in Pennsylvania
7/10/2008
DVMs poke holes in legislative crackdown on commercial breeding kennels
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'Nurse, physical therapy' never applies to veterinary practice, regulators say
7/8/2008
Nurses and physical therapists slap New York veterinarians with language protocols
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Regulators caution New York DVMs on homeopathic medicine
7/8/2008
Board weighs merits of homeopathic remedies
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Mandatory rabies bill passes Ohio House
7/3/2008
The measure orders rabies vaccinations for cats, dogs and ferrets
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UPDATE: FDA bans cephalosporin drugs in food animals
7/3/2008
Federal regulators issue change amid concerns about antimicrobial resistance
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Regulations & Legislation
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Bills regulating pet health insurance, declaw near enactment
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August 27, 2010
By: Jennifer Fiala
For The VIN News Service
A bill that requires pet health insurance companies to better disclose the details of their programs to policyholders is poised to become law if signed by Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
AB 2411 gained final approval by the state Legislature last week. The measure is designed to lend transparency to the parameters of pet insurance programs offered in California.
The California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) has taken no active position on the bill, deeming it to be of little consequence to the 7,000-plus veterinarians licensed to practice in the state.
Yet those in the market for policies and using them stand to gain from the bill's impact, proponents contend.
The bill is a first of its kind in America, where the pet insurance industry is expanding. AB 2411 requires insurers to provide specified reimbursement for covered veterinary expenses and spell out the terms of programs on sales and solicitation materials.
That means California pet owners in the market for insurance should be able to visit an insurance company's website to better comparison shop and learn exactly what its policies cover before being blindsided during an emergency.
The measure also gives pet health insurance its own status in the state's insurance code separate from how it currently is categorized as miscellaneous property and casualty. The distinction could give consumers an easier route to filing and researching complaints against pet health insurance companies.
Lawmakers' attention to the pet health insurance industry is being praised by those who believe third-party payers need more oversight. While growth in the market remains slow, the industry is expected to proliferate considering that mounting education costs, rising medical standards and pricey equipment have pushed the cost of veterinary care upward, out of reach for many owners whose incomes have failed to keep pace.
Many members of the Veterinary Information Network (VIN) have expressed frustrations related to pet health insurance for a variety of reasons. Discussions within the online community often revolve around programs that fall short of user expectations and those that are hard for pet owners to understand.
The California Veterinary Medical Board joins the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association in support of the measure.
In other legislative business, California lawmakers passed a bill that states landlords cannot require tentants to have their animals declawed or devocalized as a condition of rental occupancy. The state Senate gave the Assembly-born measure its final nod earlier this week after implementing some amendments.
If Gov. Schwarzenegger signs AB 2743 into law, landlords also will be barred from extending preferential treatment to tenants with declawed or debarked dogs and cats.
The CVMA approves of the bill's concept, yet officials "strongly oppose" its language for two main reasons:
• The bill states that declawing has been associated with unintended behavioral consequences that could lead to public health and safety concerns — a claim that some in the veterinary profession say has no scientific basis.
• The bill improperly defines the terms nontherapeutic, declawing and devocalization, setting the stage for further legislation to limit the veterinarian-client-patient relationship.
The CVMA objects to the bill's definition of "nontherapeutic" as a surgical procedure that is performed without a medical necessity to address the animal's medical condition, "such as an existing or recurring illness, infection, disease, injury or abnormal condition that compromises the animal's health.
"Nontherapeutic procedures include those procedures performed for cosmetic or aesthetic reasons, or reasons of perceived need or convenience in keeping or handling the animal," the bill adds.
The CVMA believes that the latter part of this definition, in particular, is inflammatory and could one day be used to push for statewide bans on veterinary procedures that some have deemed cruel. The legislation originates with Dr. Jennifer Conrad, founder of The Paw Project, an organization that the CVMA has battled for years concerning the movement to criminalize declaw procedures via local ordinances.
The CVMA also objects to references in the bill that links the declawing of cats with "unintended behavior consequences" and potential public health and safety concerns such as aggression.
Those advocating bans on elective surgeries such as declaw procedures deem them harmful and unnecessary, though the CVMA contends that the procedure is sometimes needed for medical or behavioral reasons and should be used as an alternative to abandonment or euthanasia.
The decision to declaw a cat should be made by its owner in consultation with their veterinarian and that local bans on legal medical procedures impinge on the rights of veterinarians to practice within the parameters of their licenses, the CVMA says.
The American Veterinary Medical Association states that there is no scientific evidence that declawing leads to behavioral abnormalities. Concerning debarking, the national association takes the following stance:
"Canine devocalization should only be performed by qualified, licensed veterinarians as a final alternative after behavioral modification efforts to correct excessive vocalization have failed."
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