Practice Management

21 August

Requirements for workers with medical and disability issues that prevent the use of a cloth face covering or mask?

wsvma   |   Practice Management, Wellness

Face shields alone do not prevent the spread of COVID 19 and do not meet the face-covering requirement. Employees with a medical or disability issue, who are requesting accommodation, must provide their employer with an accommodation statement from their medical professional specifying that a face covering or mask should not be worn due to their present health condition. Employers cannot just allow the employee to work without a mask with no other mitigations or accommodations. Employers should assess any negative impacts...

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24 July

New client communication rule raises questions

wsvma   |   Practice Management, State Regulatory

The WSVMA and the Veterinary Board of Governors (VBOG) have received several questions related to the new client communication rule that is set to take effect in the coming weeks. We reached out to VBOG and they provided answers to the most common concerns. Q – With the new rule, does it mean veterinarians should review every possible diagnostic, medication, or treatment they might administer to a patient with the owner? A – The spirit of the rule is to set...

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24 July

New AVMA resource guides your practice as you expand operations

wsvma   |   COVID-19, Practice Management

Veterinarians and veterinary teams have been performing essential work throughout the pandemic, nimbly adapting procedures and adopting new processes. As some practices begin moving to expand operations, AVMA’s COVID-19 resource center has a new tool to help you stay competitive in this evolving environment. The AVMA and AVMA Trust have created a playbook for resuming veterinary practice operations to help practices navigate the unknowns and potential risks of expanding services. This resource will aid your veterinary practice in addressing specific issues...

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10 July

Tell Congress to act now!

wsvma   |   COVID-19, Legislative, Practice Management

As of July 7, 2020, over 18,500 veterinary practices took Paycheck Protection Loans to support their operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, the IRS is prohibiting PPP borrowers from claiming federal tax deductions that are normally fully deductible - including some rent and utility payments, and wages and benefits paid to employees - for forgivable expenses paid with PPP funds. If this isn't reversed, veterinary small business owners could face an unanticipated additional tax burden. The IRS action contradicts congressional intent,...

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10 July

The deadline for making an application for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan extended to August 8th

wsvma   |   COVID-19, Practice Management

Last week, the House passed a bill that extends the application deadline for the PPP. The Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent Tuesday night. The extension comes one day after the Small Business Administration (SBA)'s loan forgiveness program had reached its application deadline of June 30. The bill will extend the program's application deadline from June 30 to August 8. The bill is expected to be signed into law by the President shortly. With roughly $132 billion in remaining...

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26 June

Myths and Facts about Cloth Face Coverings

wsvma   |   COVID-19, Practice Management

This week, the Secretary of Health announced a public health order requiring everyone to wear face coverings in public. This requirement starts on Friday, June 26. The emerging science on face coverings indicates that they are effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19 if we wear them consistently. And “consistently” means that all of us—even if we feel healthy—need to wear a cloth face covering in public places. We’re going to be covering our faces for a while. Gather up the...

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19 June

New veterinary client communication regulations set to take effect end of July

wsvma   |   Practice Management, State Regulatory

The Veterinary Board of Governors (VBOG) has finalized new rules that establish minimum requirements for veterinarians when communicating evaluation and treatment options to clients. The new rule is intended “to ensure care provided promotes the health and safety of animal patients based on client decisions and emphasizes the importance of consultation with clients.” The decision to establish the new requirements stems from a 2017 petition by a pet owner whose dog died after being given NSAIDs and who wanted to...

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12 June

Urge lawmakers to reverse course on taxing PPP expenses

wsvma   |   COVID-19, Practice Management

Veterinary professionals and veterinary business owners can support our colleagues by asking Congress to pass legislation ensuring that business owners impacted by COVID-19 aren’t penalized by income-tax rules after taking out a loan through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Despite recent legislation that made improvements to the PPP loan program, PPP borrowers are prohibited from claiming federal tax deductions that are normally fully deductible – including some rent and utility payments, and wages and benefits paid to employees – for forgivable...

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22 May

SBA releases small business loan forgiveness guidance

wsvma   |   COVID-19, Practice Management

The Small Business Administration (SBA) just recently released additional information on the forgiveness aspects of the Paycheck Protection Program and the application that will be utilized - Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness application. It includes a detailed worksheet and guidance to calculate eligible expenses for forgiveness. The PPP loan forgiveness application clarifies many of the common questions from borrowers while providing details on additional requirements for loan forgiveness. Highlights include: Borrowers have the option to pick and choose which non-payroll...

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22 May

ESD, L&I publish guidance for common workplace safety concerns and employment scenarios during the pandemic

wsvma   |   COVID-19, Practice Management

The Employment Security Department has published Employer FAQ and Worker FAQ to address common questions as businesses resume operations. The Department of Labor and Industries has published a Paid Sick Leave FAQ. The two agencies worked together to establish a Paid Family and Medical Leave FAQ. Combined, these FAQ address a range of possible scenarios that may unfold as workplaces resume operations. Questions involving work refusal and unemployment eligibility have been especially frequent. Workers collecting unemployment must have a good cause reason...

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