VCP relationship rules

[Rway]

I was told today that in order to get medications now from my vet, due to the new VCP rules in January that the vet has to visit my farm twice a year to maintain this VCP relationship. Is this the common practice that everyone is going through in order to have this work out? I know it costs me about 70 dollars to get the vet to come out to the farm for each trip. I have nothing to hide, but I just found it to be another expense that I generally do not have per year. Went through many discussions about this change in the rules for 2017, but it was never discussed that I would have to fork money out for this rule change. I just like to get a real benefit for my money. Curious to comments

[Norm]

Depends on where you are buying meds and what your vet will deem a valid relationship. Some are more flexible than others. May be the office manager that keeps all the paperwork making the rules. If someone has to do paperwork and be subject to auditing with a license on the line, there will be a fee involved. My suggestion is to loop the visit with some serological testing or health paper inspections.

[Rway]

That is the exact plan. We figured we would do one with health papers, and maybe get our vet in the farrowing house early in the year also.

[HogDoc]

The timing of visits to establish and maintain a VCPR have never been specifically defined in most states. In most states it has always left up to the discretion of the veterinarian to determine if they had a sufficient relationship to meet the requirements set out in AMDUCA.

That VCPR timeframe is still not specifically defined but with the VFD rule being set at six months a lot of clinics have made the policy that they need to do a visit to establish the VCPR in the same timeframe. Yes it is correct that the FDA/ State Ag Dept audits are driving us to make sure we have all the documentation in order when those audits happen.

I'd say it is a very small handful of our clients that will even know about the 6 month policy since we are on site much more frequently than that. Glad you found a way to add value to the visit so it isn't just a formality.

[pigboy07]

Yeah went to an informational meeting on this very thing and the new guidelines for 2017. The vets there stated being on the premises once every 6 months if you are getting medication or medicated feed prescriptions from them. I voiced my concern for the 4-hers and those that simply only have animals on their farm during 4-H season, vet's explained to me that unfortunately same rule applies and the 4-Hers will get charge a farm visit fee as well if they're planning on using medicated feed or to get a prescribed injectable. With the numbers for smaller fairs and the 4-H participation dwindling I hated to hear this response, I would love for them to come up with an alternative as compared to charging 4-hers for this service. I know one vet I spoke with mentioned the possibility, she was looking into it, that at tag in the animal be checked on by a vet and that count towards the 4-hers farm visit although technically not at their farm they are inspecting the animal.

Feel lucky, as I was talking with a friend of mine who got a call from their vet to setup a time in which to come visit their place. Keeping in mind the vet called them, they haven't ordered medicine that would need them on the premises at this point. The vet was charging 70 dollar farm visit as well as $1 per mile traveled from the vet clinic which was 138 miles away. Said they were making their rounds and trying to get everyone lined up. Sounded like a racket to me, as they are going to charge every single person they see during that time frame they were making rounds the same $1 mile price added to the $70 farm visit. Needless to say they turned the vets request down. $210 charge for a farm visit and multiple that by however many visits they can crunch in and they've made quite a bit of money for little to no work. I know everyone wants their money, but that one there tops the cake. For no more time spent at the farm they could easily get 15-20 farms lined up in a day. Nice way to make about 4K in a day. To me that's taking advantage of the new rules sorry just my own opinion.

[HogDoc]

Its to bad if there are clinics taking advantage of ag youth feeders the way you describe. Hopefully those are few and far between.

Feed medicated with antibiotics that require a VFD are only going to be an option for feeders that are able to take whatever the minimum batch size is at their feed mill. In most cases that is going to be a ton or two of feed. So in reality the VFD will change what is on the warehouse floor to non medicated and the VFD is a moot point for most ag youth feeders.

One thing I'd suggest is that the 4H feeder with limited livestock experience and only having livestock for a few months of the year probably needs more, not less guidance when it comes to a diagnosis and the proper use of prescription antibiotics. Paying for a visit to diagnose and treat the animal is probably a good use of funds compared to guessing.

[Norm]

Sounds like a state of Ohio deal. I know good vets are hard to find, but might be time to look for someone closer.