Senate Passes Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act
Yesterday, the United States
Senate passed, the Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act (S. 1171), sponsored by
Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS). The bill was passed unanimously without amendment
and has been sent to the House of Representatives where it awaits further
action.
The Veterinary
Medicine Mobility Act amends the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to clarify that
veterinarians are allowed to transport, administer and dispense
controlled substances and medications outside of their registered offices and
hospitals. It would ensure equine veterinarians have the ability provide mobile
or ambulatory services in the field to the horse community.
The Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) recently changed its interpretation of provisions within
the CSA regarding what veterinarians may carry with them and has stated it now
believes it is illegal for veterinarians to transport controlled substances and
medications for use outside of their registered locations, such as an animal
hospital.
Equine veterinarians often provide mobile services and treat
horses at farms, training facilities, horse shows, or racetracks. In many cases
it is not possible for owners to bring their horses to a clinic or hospital. For
this reason, veterinarians have for years carried any medications they may have
needed with them secured in their vehicle. However, their ability to do this
and provide care to horses in the field is now in jeopardy.
This legislation would allow vets to continue to treat
horses as they always have. The AHC supports this
bill and hopes the House will pass the bill quickly.