AVMA News – MLP (cont.)
defined in state statute or regulation tie its establishment to the veterinarian. A veterinary MLP cannot establish a VCPR that meets requirements under current federal law. A veterinary MLP would not be able to issue certificates of veterinary inspection (health certificates), nor perform required disease program testing, due to state and federal requirements. In addition, a veterinary MLP is prohibited by federal law from prescribing either on label or extralabel. Congress must act to change this and, because of concern about public health and robust pharmaceutical oversight (e.g., antibiotics, opioids), support appears unlikely. Attempting to achieve such changes would take years and be costly.
Liability
Proponents want to make the supervising veterinarian legally responsible for all of the acts and omissions of a midlevel position. Veterinary malpractice policies may not cover such a supervising veterinarian for this if they are not the employer of the MLP. Proponents, often not veterinarians, are asking veterinarians to shoulder all the risk.
Sustainability questions raise concerns
Sustainability questions raise animal health and welfare, public health, and animal-related business concerns. In some areas, where service demand is barely sufficient to
support a veterinary practice, integrating a midlevel position could make that no longer sustainable. In these cases, a veterinarian would not be available to diagnose and manage more complex illnesses and injuries, with corresponding negative impacts on animal health and welfare. In the case of zoonotic (e.g., rabies, leptospirosis) or high-consequence diseases (e.g., HPAI, FMD), public health and the economic health of those producing or receiving animal products could also be impacted. For the latter, economic damages could range into the billions of dollars.
May exacerbate veterinary staffing shortages
Introducing a midlevel position may make the current shortage of veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants worse, because a MLP will also need their services. Better solutions, right now
Tere are things that can be done right now that will positively impact workforce efficiency in the short and long term. Tese include fully leveraging practice staff, especially veterinary technicians, veterinary technologists, and veterinary technician specialists; improving workplace culture to support retention and prevent attrition; and taking advantage of opportunities to integrate better processes and technology.
Continued on pg. 8
Winter 2025
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