WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to encourage more veterinarians to serve in rural areas, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) is co-sponsoring the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act of 2011 (S.518). 

The bi-partisan bill, which was introduced by Senators Tim Johnson (D-SD) and Mike Crapo (R-ID), would eliminate taxes on programs that encourage veterinarians to practice in underserved areas.

“Veterinarians are vital to the farming and ranching communities in Wyoming,” said Barrasso.  “It is crucial that we have enough veterinarians to maintain the health of our livestock as well as protect food safety and public health.  This bill will help encourage more veterinarians to stay and work in Wyoming.”

BACKGROUND:

There is a documented need for increased access to veterinary services for “food animals”.  Food animals include beef and dairy cows, poultry, swine, dairy goats, meat goats, sheep, lamb, and farm horses.

Approximately 1,300 counties in the United States have less than one food animal veterinarian per 25,000 farm animals.  Furthermore, there are 500 counties that have at least 5,000 farm animals and not a single veterinarian living there to treat them. 

The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) strives to increase access to veterinary care in designated shortage areas by providing academic loan repayment in exchange for service.  These awards, however, are currently taxed as income to the recipient.  S. 518 would eliminate these taxes.  If awards are made tax exempt, one additional veterinarian could be selected for every three awarded under current law, as funds now being used for taxes, would be used for additional veterinarians.  The VMLRP’s counterpart program for human medicine, the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is already tax exempt.

Wyoming is eligible for up to six federally designated veterinary shortage situations.  Only designated shortage situations are eligible for veterinarians selected for participation in the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program.

###