Vet Med Mobility Act Clears Senate

Press Release

The Senate earlier this week passed legislation cosponsored by Senator Chuck Grassley that would allow veterinarians to legally carry and dispense controlled substances away from their brick and mortar facilities. The legislation now awaits action by the House of Representatives.

The Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act is in response to a Drug Enforcement Administration interpretation of the Controlled Substances Act, which requires veterinarians to treat animals with controlled substances at the location in which they are registered. The Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act allows a veterinarian to transport a controlled substance "in the usual course of veterinary medicine practice at a site other than the registrants registered principle place of business or professional practice."

"This interpretation of the Controlled Substances Act is burdensome and nonsensical to both farmers and veterinarians. In many cases a sick animal such as a horse, cow or pig may not be able to easily move into a trailer to be treated at a vet's office. In some cases, the veterinarian may be located several miles away. Transporting an animal may hurt the animal further and put the farmer at risk," Grassley said. "A "house call' is likely just what the doctor ordered. Forcing a farmer to load a sick animal into a trailer for a possibly long trip to the vet's office is simply not a practical solution."

The bill also requires the veterinarian to only dispense controlled substances in a state where they are licensed to practice veterinary medicine, which will help to eliminate the transportation of controlled substances across state lines. More than 100 veterinary medical associations, zoos, and aquariums including the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association and the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine support the bill.

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