Friday, July 23, 2010
Bill seeks to end vet shortage
Ending a shortage of rural veterinary medicine is the aim of bipartisan legislation introduced today by U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota) with Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) as an original co-sponsor. The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act would bolster our nation´s veterinary work force by eliminating taxes on programs that encourage veterinarians to practice in underserved areas. Nationwide, there are 500 counties with at least 5,000 farm animals but with no local veterinarians in the area to treat the animals. This shortage could have dire consequences on human and animal health, public safety, animal welfare, disease surveillance and economic development. The demand for veterinarians across the United States could increase 14 percent by 2016. The Crapo-Johnson legislation would provide a federal income tax exemption for payments received under the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) and similar state programs that encourage veterinarians to practice in smaller and rural communities...more
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The problem with the lack of vets in rural areas is:
1. The cost and time of getting a vet degree, to costly and to much time spent in school.
2. 70% women in the vet schools
3. To many ranchers and farmers are do it your selfers and buy meds off of the internet.
4. The fail of the veterinary community to recognize that many things the vet does is doable by a technician.
5. No shopping in a small town to satisfy the non-rural wife. No kidding.
6.Animal health programs work but many ranchers and farmers can't afford them.
7.Long days, to many miles to drive with low pay.
8.Tax incentives and forgiveness of debt is good but not the total answer.
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