Midlevel practitioner proposal secures enough votes in Colorado

Colorado voters have approved a new veterinary midlevel practitioner (MLP) position known as a veterinary professional associate (VPA). The unprecedented method for introducing such a change to the veterinary-let alone any health care-profession came via a ballot measure called Proposition 129. It received 52.3% "yes" votes, with 78% of the vote tallied as of November 7, per the Associated Press.

All Pets Deserve Vet Care-supported by the Dumb Friends League (DFL), the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Animal Welfare Association of Colorado, the Humane Society of the United States, and others-was behind the initiative. The group had gathered enough citizen signatures to put the measure on Colorado's November 5 general election ballot.

Colorado voters narrowly approved Proposition 129 this November, which establishes the position of veterinary professional associate. These professionals will hold a master's degree and work under the supervision of licensed veterinarians in the state.

The AVMA and Colorado VMA (CVMA) came out staunchly against the proposition, saying the new practitioner would have inadequate training for doing complex tasks, such as surgery, that should only be done by veterinarians who undergo years of rigorous education and training. The VPA would be a master's level-trained individual who would be allowed to practice veterinary medicine-including diagnosing, creating treatment plans, and performing surgery.

Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences is in the process of developing a degree program for this Master's of Veterinary Clinical Care. Most of the program would be taught online, which opponents argued would not provide sufficient laboratory and clinical exposure, and would put the health and safety of Colorado's pets and other animals at risk. There is currently no accreditation of the educational program, no comprehensive test required to determine the competence of program graduates, and no licensing of those who would fill this role.

A recent survey showed that 95% of Colorado veterinarians were opposed to creating this position.

Additional information provided with Proposition 129 indicated that the Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine would oversee examination and qualification processes for this midlevel position, as well as issue and renew registrations and set fees. This would all take effect by January 15, 2027.

"We are disappointed with the outcome of Proposition 129 on the ballot in Colorado; however, rest assured that now, more than ever, we will continue our work to ensure that the health and safety of Colorado's animals are protected," said Dr. Sandra Faeh, AVMA president. "This includes pursuing all options to ensure that pets and other animals receive high-quality care led and delivered by comprehensively educated, proficient, and licensed veterinarians. We look forward to working collaboratively with stakeholders in pursuit of a regulatory framework that will protect Colorado's animals, their owners, our food supply, and public health."

The AVMA and CVMA worked over the past several months to inform the profession and the public of the impacts of this ballot measure by establishing the Keep Our Pets Safe campaign, which provided resources for veterinarians to help them inform their clients, created advertising and social media messages about the dangers of Proposition 129, and executed significant outreach to media outlets across the state.

Diane Matt, CEO of the CVMA and Dr. Janet Donlin, CEO of the AVMA, wrote in a November 5 op-ed for Colorado Politics: "There is no 'gap' in veterinary services. The proposed VPA duplicates the work veterinarians and veterinary technicians already perform. Veterinarians diagnose, prognose, develop treatment plans, prescribe and perform surgery. Veterinary technicians can do anything else. In fact, Colorado recently passed a law that supports veterinarians in delegating appropriate duties to their veterinary technicians and expands their role. The VPA role, if authorized by Proposition 129, would put inadequately trained individuals with a mostly online master's degree into medical decision-making roles and allow them to perform surgery, which jeopardizes the safety of Colorado's animals and the future of veterinary care."

More than 200 national and local veterinary, humane, and breeders' organizations; veterinary clinics; veterinarians; veterinary technicians; and pet owners opposed the measure. Among them were the American Animal Hospital Association, Feline Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Equine Practitioners, American Association of Bovine Practitioners, American Association of Swine Veterinarians, American Association of Avian Pathologists, American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners, American Association of Food Safety and Public Health Veterinarians, Relief Veterinary Medical Association, American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, American Veterinary Dental College, Student AVMA, Veterinary Management Groups, American Humane, and the American Kennel Club.

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