BY: SAMANTHA BARTLETT, DVM
Colorado Proposition #129 aims to create a new midlevel practitioner position in veterinary medicine. The proposition refers to the new position as a veterinary professional associate (VPA) who would overlap the duties of technicians and veterinarians. Under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian, the VPA would be allowed to diagnose and recommend treatment plans and perform surgery.
All Pets Deserve Vet Care, one of the sponsors of the proposition, provided 200,000 signatures. To qualify for the ballot, an initiative needs 124, 238 signatures. The initiative was certified by the Colorado Secretary of State and the initiative will appear on the ballot on November 5.
The president of the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association (VMA), Dr. Kelly Walsh, wrote an op-ed in opposition to the initiative stating the proposition promotes dangerous risk by allowing an associate to practice veterinary medicine with limited training, most of which is online. She wrote, “Surgical procedures, even routine surgeries, are highly complex and require extensive veterinary training and expertise. Allowing inadequately prepared individuals to perform such procedures fundamentally undermines veterinary care and places animal lives in jeopardy.”
Also in opposition to the ballot initiative are the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP), American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV), American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC), American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS), Independent Veterinary Practitioners Association (IVPA), and Veterinary Management Groups (VMG). The Colorado VMA and others throughout the state of Colorado are opposed as well. According to a survey distributed by the Colorado VMA, three out of four veterinarians in Colorado oppose the measure.
Supporters of the initiative include the Animal Welfare Association of Colorado, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), and the Virtual Veterinary Care Association.
The president of the AVMA, Sandra Faeh expressed, “This ballot measure attempting to create a ‘veterinary professional associate’ would be disastrous for pets and other animals and endangers public health, considering that 75% of emerging infectious diseases in humans originate with animals. The proposed training for this position is completely inadequate and will lead to missed or delayed diagnoses, ineffective treatment and repeat visits, all of which lead to more suffering for the animal and increased cost for the client.”
The ballot initiative calls for the Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine (CSBVM) to oversee the processes of examination and qualification, issue registrations and set fees for the VPA position. If the measure is passed, major regulatory and legislative changes would have to occur on the federal level for the position to be fully effective. Currently the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only allows veterinarians to prescribe and dispense medications. This regulation is applicable in all 50 states and U.S. territories as well as federal level positions. The VPA position requires a master’s degree, but there is no accredited national education, test, or regulatory structure for this position. Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences is developing a degree program for a Master’s of Veterinary Clinical Care (MSB VCC) in anticipation of these requirements.
Colorado Rep. McCormick cautions that there is no program in place no nor in the near future to ensure the individual VPA has competency to perform surgery or prescribe medications. She also pointed that since the VPA operates under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian, any actions performed or caused by the VPA would fall under the liability of the supervising veterinarian.
According to Tracey Gray-Walker, AVMA Trust CEO, among all Professional Liability Insurance Trust (AVMA PLIT) claims, over 10% pertained to spays and neuters. The number rises to about 20% when restricted to companion animal claims. These claims represent about 50% of the top five small animal surgical claims.
As pointed out by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS), all surgical procedures have inherent risk that can lead to complications. They stated that only a licensed veterinarian, or a board-certified veterinary surgeon in many cases, has the education and training to safely perform surgeries and be able to address any complications and issues that may arise.
While supporters state the proposition would help more animals get veterinary care by addressing the workforce shortage, no evidence has shown that the creation of a VPA would address this issue. Meanwhile, veterinary visits are trending downward. Both veterinarians and veterinary technicians are generally opposed to the creation of the new position and advocate for more efficient utilization of current licensed veterinary technicians. A bill has already been passed by Colorado’s legislature earlier this year to expand the scope of practice for veterinary technicians. Colorado House Bill 24-1047 allows veterinary technicians to assist in surgeries, and perform some dental procedures under direct supervision of a veterinarian. This law is set to go into effect January 2026.
