The Veterinary Board of Governors met this last Monday. The following are some highlights from the meeting:
- Two members from the public made comments about the loss of trust in Veterinary Medicine.
- Dr. Sanchez-Chambers drew the VBOG’s attention to recent decisions from the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission that set new accessibility standards for prescription labels. The VBOG will be reviewing these requirements which may be hard to meet with available veterinary software.
- Ms. Amber Freeburg gave an update on the HELMS implementation and the plans to clear the backlog of credentialling applications.
- Ms. Poppy Budrow provided an update on the VBOG’s membership. Dr. Vang has recently resigned from the Board, and Dr. Sellon will step down at the end of the year. Ms. Budrow noted that the Board is seeking representation from the eastern side of the state as both Drs. Sellon and Vang were based on the eastside.
- The Board approved a new Memorandum of Understanding with the American Association of Veterinary State Boards that sets in place a procedure to follow when an applicant applies to retake the VTNE for a sixth time.
- Ms. Lori Grassi from the Chiropractic Association presented a draft bill that would allow for chiropractic manipulation on animals. WSVMA is strongly opposed to this Bill and Members can click the following link to download a summary of WSVMA’s verbal submission to the VBOG on this matter.
- The VBOG is opening a new rule-making process to see if further refinements to VCPR can be made to improve access to care.
- The Board approved updates to Exam and Licensure requirements to facilitate veterinarians transferring to Washington State.
- The VBOG completed their review of the Health Care Tasks schedule and this will now move to the next stage of rule making with a view to these new rules and schedules being finalized at the December meeting.
- The Board also has opened up a rule making process to consider ways to respond to the Wisconsin loophole, which has allowed for LVTs approved through the Wisconsin Licensing Board, that has a lower licensing standard, to also be licensed in Washington.