Veterinarians will be able to carry and use controlled substances to provide complete care to their animal patients beyond their clinics and across state lines, due to the U.S. House’s passage of the Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act.
Sponsored by Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) and Ted Yoho (R-Fla.), both veterinarians, in the House, and Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) and Angus King (I-Maine) in the Senate, this legislation makes it legal for veterinarians to transport and use controlled substances beyond their registered places of business.
It also allows licensed veterinarians to register in multiple states, regardless of where their principal place of business is located.
The Senate unanimously passed its version of the bill on Jan. 8.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) thanks Congress for recognizing the important service that veterinarians provide to their animal patients wherever they may be by passing this commonsense piece of legislation.
"Today, Congress made it clear that veterinarians are responsible public servants who must be able to use vital medications to treat their patients – no matter the location – so that they receive the best quality care," said Dr. Clark Fobian, president of the AVMA.
"We applaud our elected officials for clarifying federal statute, which has left veterinarians confused and concerned over the past year. We look forward to seeing President Obama sign this important legislation into law in the near future.”
Veterinarians have previously been told by the DEA that the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) barred registrants from taking controlled substances beyond their registered locations, such as their clinics or homes. This narrow interpretation of the law has been problematic for veterinarians who provide care in a variety of settings.
The DEA had also maintained that veterinarians must have a physical address within each state where they want to be registered; this interpretation has restricted veterinarians who live along state borders, but need to provide care in both states.
The AVMA has been actively engaged with the DEA and members of Congress and their staff for more than a year, explaining how this restrictive provision in the CSA affected its member veterinarians’ ability to provide complete veterinary care to their animal patients.
The AVMA helped raise awareness on this issue by encouraging members and allied organizations to contact their legislators in support of this important bill, running several advertising campaigns in D.C. publications and creating a number of multimedia communications products.
These advocacy efforts led to more than 27,000 letters sent to members of Congress, bipartisan cosponsorship by 185 representatives in the U.S. House and the endorsement of the bill by more than 130 veterinary medical and other organizations.
“Today is a victory for veterinarians across this country, but more importantly, it's a victory for the health and well-being of the animals they are entrusted to care for,” said Rep. Schrader.
“Ridiculous bureaucratic interference from the DEA would have seriously impeded veterinarians' ability to properly treat their patients. The Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act will provide veterinarians with the certainty they need to continue to providing mobile or ambulatory services for their animal patients.”
Rep. Yoho said, “As a large animal veterinarian, my operating room wasn't always in an office. Most times, it was in the field.”
“Expecting ranchers to transport their livestock to a veterinary clinic every time medication is needed is an example of overly burdensome policy created by bureaucrats rather than the folks who know the issue. This bill will correct that problem and allow veterinarians to practice their profession without fear of unnecessary government intrusion.” PD
—From AVMA news release
