Passing this along....
>>>>
Horse owners in the state of Texas won the battle over our horse tooth care!!! Yea for us and for Carl and his practitioners for doing this for us and our horses. Job well DONE!!!!!!!
First and foremost i want to thank everyone for there support in this long fight.
Second i have been appointed to the advisory committee.
I very much thank you.
Carl
Equine Dentistry Bill Signed into Law
Last Friday, the long running battle over who may legally perform equine dental work on the state’s horses was resolved when Governor Rick Perry signed HB 414 into law. Throughout the legislative session, TVMA worked with other stakeholders and members of the legislature to promote and pass legislation to protect the horse and consumer by establishing training and educational requirements for non-veterinarians to perform certain dental procedures under the supervision of a veterinarian. Passage of this important piece of legislation would not have been possible had it not been for the tireless efforts of our equine practitioners who worked to educate members of the legislature that equine dentistry is indeed a complex medical procedure that should only be performed by Doctors of Veterinary Medicine or non-veterinarians working under their supervision.
Quick Summary of HB 414
HB 414 provides the necessary authority for the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (TSBVME), to adopt rules to ensure that equine dentistry is performed only by a veterinarian OR by a “licensed equine dental provider” (EDP) who works under the general supervision of a veterinarian who has an established veterinary client patient relationship with the owner or caretaker of the animal.
A person may not perform equine dentistry or offer or attempt to act as an EDP unless the person is either a veterinarian or an EDP working under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. Individuals are also prohibited from representing to the public that they are authorized to perform equine dentistry unless they are licensed and may not use the title “dentist.” Those licensed as Certified Equine Dental Providers may use the title “CEDP” upon licensure or “EDP” if they are licensed under the Grandfather clause before September 2012.
Requirements for Licensure
A person is qualified to be licensed as an EDP if the person:
Submits an application and information to allow the board to conduct a background check, passes a jurisprudence examination,
is not disqualified under this chapter or board rule,
is certified by the International Association of Equine Dentistry OR another board-approved certification entity or organization, and
competes 6 hours of annual continuing education.
Scope of Practice and Supervision of Equine Dental Providers
EDP’s will now be held to a standard of care and must leave a copy of the equine dental chart with the person who authorizes the procedure and make it available to the supervising veterinarian upon request.
HB 414 creates an inclusive definition of equine dentistry and breaks out certain procedures that licensed EDPs may perform under the general supervision of a veterinarian. A licensed equine dental provider may perform only the following equine dental procedures:
removing sharp enamel points;
removing small dental overgrowths;
rostral profiling of the first cheek teeth;
reducing incisors;
extracting loose, deciduous teeth;
removing supragingival calculus;
extracting loose, mobile or diseased teeth or dental fragments with minimal periodontal attachments by hand and without the use of an elevator; and
removing erupted, non-displaced wolf teeth.
Unlicensed employees of veterinarians may perform the procedures listed above under the direct supervision of a veterinarian.
Equine Dental Provider Advisory Committee
HB 414 sets up a three-member informal equine dental provider advisory committee to advise the TSBVME on rules made in connection with or disciplinary action taken against EDPs. This advisory committee does not have any independent rulemaking authority and the members are appointed by the current President of TSBVME. Two of the advisory committee members must be licensed equine dental providers who have resided in and engaged in the practice of smoothing or filing teeth by floating in this state for the last five years and are of good repute. The other member must be a veterinarian who supervises a licensed EDP. Members of the advisory committee are not entitled to compensation or reimbursement but may hold meetings by conference call.
Grandfather Clause (expires September 1, 2012)
|Before September 1, 2012, the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners shall issue an EDP license to a person who is not certified by the International Association of Equine Dentistry or another board-approved entity or organization if the person:
presents proof of graduation from AND completion of 280 hours of course work at a board-approved equine dental school or another board-approved entity or organization; AND
submits, with the application and with two notarized affidavits in which veterinarians who are licensed to practice in this state and are in good standing with TSBVME that they know the person and that the person is competent in the practice of smoothing or filing teeth by floating.
The TSBVME may waive the education requirement in (1) above if an applicant demonstrates proficiency by submitting:
financial records that show the applicant has earned the majority of the applicant’s income for the two years preceding the effective date of this Act by performing equine dental services; or
sworn affidavits from at least two clients who certify that the applicant has performed satisfactorily in addressing the dental needs of the client's animal.
HB 414 Does Not …
Change any of the current laws relating to the use of prescription drugs.
Require that Equine Dental Providers work for veterinarians. They may work as either employees or as independent contractors.
The bill has no impact on any other procedures that may be performed on animals including chiropractic care, farrier work, acupuncture or reproduction.
You may click here to view TVMA’s press release announcing the passage of this bill. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Elizabeth Choate, JD, director of government relations/general counsel, at
echoate@tvme.org or 512/452-4224.
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