Emergency Plan for
Temporary Registration
of Out of State Health Care Providers
by Louisiana Board of Veterinary Medicine
As we are all aware, the 2006 hurricane season began
June 1, 2006 and ends November 30, 2006. Accordingly, the LBVM has adopted
an Emergency Rule, effective June 9, 2006, in accordance with the
requirements of Act No. 207 of the 2006 Regular Session of the Louisiana
Legislature. This new law, Act 207, was enacted to address declared
emergency situations.
The immediate implementation of the LBVM’s emergency
rule (which can be viewed at www.lsbvm.org)
is in the best interest for the protection of the public health and safety
in the event a public health emergency is lawfully declared by the
Governor prior to the final promulgation of the rule through regular
rule-making procedure. This emergency rule will allow the implementation
by subsequent emergency rule for the temporary registration in Louisiana,
during a public health emergency lawfully declared as such by the
Governor, for out of state veterinarians or veterinary technicians, whose
licenses, certifications or registrations are current and unrestricted in
another jurisdiction of the United States.
The Emergency Rule is to remain in effect for a period
of 120 days or until adoption of the final rule, whichever occurs first.
The regular rule-making process has been initiated whereby the substance
of the emergency rule will be promulgated as new Rule 309 of the LBVM’s
current rules.
The following is the protocol which will be used by the
LBVM pursuant to the law and its new rule regarding temporary registration
of qualified out of state veterinarians and veterinary technicians.
I. Declaration of Public Health Emergency by Governor
On some unknown date in the future, the Governor will
eventually declare a public health emergency. Pursuant to Act 207 (and new
Rule 309), a determination must initially be made by the LBVM as to
whether the public health emergency requires the implementation, by new
emergency rule, for “temporary registration” of veterinarians or
veterinary technicians whose licenses, certifications or registrations are
current and unrestricted in another jurisdiction of the United States.
II. LBVM’s Determination to Implement “Temporary
Registration”
If the LBVM makes the determination that temporary
registration is needed to appropriately respond to the public health
emergency, then it exercises its authority to adopt an emergency rule at
that time providing for the “temporary registration” of qualified
veterinarians and qualified veterinarian technicians pursuant to its new
Rule 309 (initial emergency rule and thereafter regular rule). It is the
LBVM’s understanding that the Louisiana State Veterinarian will be the
legal entity to properly provide the LBVM with information regarding the
necessity for temporary registration of out of state veterinarians and
veterinary technicians due to a shortage of Louisiana licensed
veterinarians during the declared emergency.
By law, the LA State Veterinarian is in charge of the
Incident Command Central effort during the declared emergency. It is also
the LBVM’s understanding that input will be sought by the State
Veterinarian’s office from the appropriate Federal authorities, the
Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association-SART, and LSU-SVM, as well as
other interested governmental entities including local authorities.
The emergency rule shall be applicable for a period of
time not to exceed sixty (60) days at the discretion of the LBVM, with the
potential extension of up to two (2) additional periods not to exceed
sixty (60) days for each extension as determined appropriate and necessary
by the LBVM. Again with regards to any extensions (which will each be
implemented by subsequent emergency rule), the LBVM will seek input from
the LA State Veterinarian.
Please note that if the LBVM makes the informed
determination that temporary registration of out of state veterinarians
and veterinary technicians is not required for the declared emergency,
then the current provisions of the Louisiana Veterinary Practice Act
regarding the necessity for a Louisiana license, or a qualified exemption
for a license, to practice veterinary medicine will apply. In other words,
the current status quo requiring a Louisiana license will remain in
effect.
III. Dissemination of Information by the LBVM
Once the LBVM adopts an emergency rule to address the
need, then informational documents or notice, updated as needed, will be
placed on the LBVM’s website www.lsbvm.org
which will be used for those persons interested in applying for temporary
registration of qualified veterinarians or veterinary technicians whose
licenses, certifications or registrations are current and unrestricted in
another jurisdiction of the United States. The website will also contain
the Practice Act/LBVM Rules, as well as the application form for
registration and other pertinent information regarding contact information
and procedures relative to the office operations and implementation of the
emergency rule for temporary registration.
In concluding, the decision by the LBVM to issue
temporary registration to qualified out of state veterinarians and
veterinary technicians will be based primarily on whether the needs,
during a declared disaster, are being sufficiently met by Louisiana
licensed veterinarians and Louisiana registered veterinary technicians. It
is the LBVM’s understanding that the LVMA and the State Veterinarian’s
office have been working diligently to comprise a list of contact
information for veterinarians licensed by the LBVM in the event their
services are needed in a volunteer capacity in the future. If you are
interested, please contact these entities. A volunteer list and organized
plan will help insure that any emergency response action will be conducted
as efficiently and expeditiously as possible when, and if, the need
arises.
