TITLE 18. PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING

BOARD OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

Agency Decision

Title of Regulation: 18VAC150-20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Veterinary Medicine.

Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.

Name of Petitioner: Elaine Sottile.

Nature of Petitioner's Request: To amend regulations to prohibit a veterinarian from charging a fee to write a prescription; a written prescription is necessary for consumer to be able to obtain medicines from less costly sources.

Agency Decision: Request denied.

Statement of Reasons for Decision: The board does not regulate business practice or fees charged by veterinarians for services rendered, so it has denied the petition to prohibit charging a fee for writing a prescription. While most veterinarians do not typically impose a fee for writing a prescription separate from an examination fee, they would reserve the right to charge such a fee for fulfilling repeated requests without any other means of compensation. It is then the consumer's choice whether to accept the business practice of a particular veterinarian or seek care from another practitioner.

Agency Contact: Leslie Knackel, Executive Director, Board of Veterinary Medicine, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4468, FAX (804) 525-4471, or email leslie.knackel@dhp.virginia.gov.

VA.R. Doc. No. R10-40; Filed July 21, 2010, 9:48 a.m.