Chapter VE 4

VE 4.02(6) (6) “Impaired veterinary professional” means a credential holder, a veterinarian student studying or working in Wisconsin, or an unlicensed veterinary assistant working in Wisconsin, who voluntarily seeks assistance because of a self-identified alcohol, drug or other chemical, or mental health impairment.

VE 4.02(7) (7) “Medical review officer” means a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy who is a licensed physician and who has knowledge of substance abuse disorders and has appropriate medical training to interpret and evaluate an individual’s confirmed positive test result together with an individual’s medical history and any other relevant biomedical information.

VE 4.02(8) (8) “Program” means any entity contracted by the board to provide the veterinary professional assistance program on behalf of the board.

VE 4.02(9) (9) “Screening panel” means the board committee that reviews complaints to see if investigation by disciplinary counsel is warranted and reviews possible settlements and orders against credential holders.

VE 4.02(10) (10) “Service provider” means any program-approved provider of assessment, testing, treatment, rehabilitation, monitoring, and support for any specified impairments by the use of alcohol or other drugs or chemicals or of mental health. The term includes any person supervising thecredential holder while working as a veterinary professional.

VE 4.02(11) (11) “Voluntary program” means the component of the veterinary professional assistance program that an impaired veterinary professional, as defined in sub. (6), may utilize for assistance with a self-identified alcohol, drug or other chemical, or mental health impairment, through a participation agreement with the program.

VE 4.02 History History: EmR1718: emerg. cr., eff. 11-22-17; CR 17-083: cr. Register July 2018 No. 751, eff. 8-1-18; correction in (10) made under s. 35.17, Stats., and correction in (11) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register Juy 2018 No. 751.

VE 4.04 VE 4.04 Contract for program.

VE 4.04(1) (1) The board may enter into a contract with a nonprofit corporation or veterinary professional association to provide a veterinary professional assistance program, which may include any or all of the following:

VE 4.04(1)(a) (a) Contracting with assessment, testing, treatment, rehabilitation, monitoring, or support service providers, in accordance with the requirements in ss. VE 4.12 and 4.14. The program shall inform all service providers, and update changes in this information as soon as possible, of the employees in the program designated to receive required information from the service provider.

VE 4.04(1)(b) (b) Receiving and evaluating reports of suspected impairment from any source.

VE 4.04(1)(c) (c) Intervening in cases of verified impairment.

VE 4.04(1)(d) (d) Signing a confidential participation agreement with impaired veterinary professionals for making referrals to them to utilize services, from service providers contracted with under par. (a), outside the disciplinary process.

VE 4.04(1)(e) (e) Referring and monitoring services to credential holders, within the board’s disciplinary process.

VE 4.04(1)(f) (f) Providing post-treatment monitoring and support to impaired veterinary professionals in the voluntary program and credential holders in the disciplinary program.

VE 4.04(1)(h) (h) Reporting program statistical information to the board.

VE 4.04(1)(i) (i) Reporting all require information in the disciplinary program, so the board may carry out its disciplinary authority under ss. VE 1.60 and 2.28.

VE 4.04(2) (2) The board and the program, as part of the contract, shall agree to eligibility criteria for credential holders to be accepted into the disciplinary program, to fulfill the requirements in s. 89.03 (3), Stats.

VE 4.04(3) (3) The board and the program, as part of the contract, shall agree to eligibility criteria for impaired veterinary professionals to be accepted into the voluntary program, to fulfill the requirements in s. 89.03 (3), Stats. The program may not accept a credential holder to the voluntary program, if the board’s disciplinary process has an outstanding complaint against that credential holder.

VE 4.04(4) (4) Except for information produced for the board under sub. (1) (h) and (i), all information, interviews, records, reports, statements, memoranda, or other documents furnished to or produced by the program, are confidential.

VE 4.04 History History: EmR1718: emerg. cr., eff. 11-22-17; CR 17-083: cr. Register July 2018 No. 751, eff. 8-1-18; correction in (1) (a), (i), (4) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register July 2018 No. 751; CR 21-062: am. (1) (a), (i) Register July 2022 No. 799, eff. 8-1-22; correction in (1) (i) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register July 2022 No. 799.

VE 4.06 VE 4.06 Referral to and eligibility for disciplinary program.

VE 4.06(1) (1) The board, or disciplinary counsel upon direction by the screening panel, may stipulate with a credential holder in the disciplinary process, to refer the credential holder to the disciplinary program as part of a settlement for uncontested unprofessional conduct on the part of the credential holder. The stipulation shall include language that a referral does not guarantee acceptance of the credential holder by the disciplinary program and the potential consequences if the credential holder is not accepted in the disciplinary program or does not complete the terms of acceptance. The stipulation, or a separate stipulation or order, may include other discipline to be completed by the credential holder, separate from the disciplinary program.

VE 4.06(2) (2) The program shall supply a referred credential holder an application for participation. As part of the application, the credential holder agrees that all relevant materials from the board’s disciplinary proceedings may be released to the program to make its determination as to the applicant’s eligibility.

VE 4.06(3) (3) The program shall determine the credential holder’s eligibility, based upon the criteria in the contract, by reviewing all relevant materials, including investigative results and the credential holder’s application for participation.

VE 4.06(4) (4) The program shall inform the credential holder and board if the holder is ineligible for acceptance. A credential holder determined to be ineligible for the disciplinary program may, within 10 days of notice of the determination, request the board to review the adverse determination.

VE 4.06 History History: EmR1718: emerg. cr., eff. 11-22-17; CR 17-083: cr. Register July 2018 No. 751, eff. 8-1-18.

VE 4.08 VE 4.08 Requirements for disciplinary program participation.

VE 4.08(1) (1) A credential holder who participates in the disciplinary program shall do all of the following:

VE 4.08(1)(a) (a) Sign a participation agreement with the program and provide a copy to the board.

VE 4.08(1)(b) (b) Obtain a comprehensive assessment for alcohol, drug or other chemical, or mental health impairments from an approved service provider, including submitting to any required testing, and arrange for the service provider to file a copy of its assessment with the program. The program may agree to waive this requirement.

VE 4.08(1)(c) (c) Remain free of alcohol, if diagnosed as an impairment, or controlled substances and prescription drugs unless prescribed for a valid medical purpose.

VE 4.08(1)(d) (d) Timely enroll and participate in any approved service, as required by the assessment or agreed to by the credential holder and program, if the assessment is waived pursuant to par. (b).

VE 4.08(1)(e) (e) Comply with any treatment recommendations, work restrictions, or conditions deemed necessary by a testing, assessment, or treatment service provider.

VE 4.08(1)(f) (f) Submit any required random monitored physiological specimens to a service provider for the purpose of screening for alcohol or drug or other chemical substances.

VE 4.08(1)(g) (g) Execute releases, valid under state and federal law, to allow the program access to the credential holder’s counseling, treatment, and monitoring records.

VE 4.08(1)(h) (h) Have the credential holder’s service and work supervisors file quarterly reports with the program.

VE 4.08(1)(i) (i) Notify the program of any changes in the credential holder’s employer within 5 days.

VE 4.08(1)(j) (j) File quarterly reports documenting the credential holder’s attendance at meetings of self-help support groups.

VE 4.08(2) (2) If the program determines, based on consultation with any service provider authorized to provide testing, treatment, or monitoring of the credential holder, that a credential holder participating in its program has failed to meet any of the requirements set under sub. (1), the program shall make a written determination if it will continue to allow the credential holder to use its program and obtain a new participation agreement with any additional requirements, determined by the program. The program shall notify the board of any determinations under this subsection.

VE 4.08(3) (3) Upon notification of the failure and program continuation, the board shall make a review to determine whether the credential holder should be referred for further discipline. The board shall review the complete record in making this determination.

VE 4.08 History History: EmR1718: emerg. cr., eff. 11-22-17; CR 17-083: cr. Register July 2018 No. 751, eff. 8-1-18; corection in (1) (b), (f) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register July 2018 No. 751.

VE 4.10 VE 4.10 Disciplinary program participation agreement.

VE 4.10(1) (1) The credential holder’s participation agreement in the disciplinary program shall at a minimum include:

VE 4.10(1)(a) (a) A statement describing the credential holder’s conduct, relating to participation in the program.

VE 4.10(1)(b) (b) An acknowledgement by the credential holder of the impairment needing treatment.

VE 4.10(1)(c) (c) An agreement to participate, at the credential holder’s expense if necessary, in an approved treatment regimen.

VE 4.10(1)(d) (d) An agreement to submit to random monitored alcohol, drug, or other chemical screens at the credential holder’s expense, by a service provider for alcohol, drug, or other chemical testing approved by the program under s. VE 4.14, if deemed necessary by the program.

VE 4.10(1)(e) (e) An agreement to submit to practice restrictions at any time during the treatment regimen, as deemed necessary by the program.

VE 4.10(1)(f) (f) An agreement to furnish the program with signed consents for release of information from service providers and employers, authorizing the release of information to the program and board for the purpose of monitoring the credential holder’s participation in the program.

VE 4.10(1)(g) (g) An agreement authorizing the program to release, to the employer or any service provider identified by the credential holder, all of the following:

VE 4.10(1)(g)1. 1. The information described in pars. (a), (c), and (e).

VE 4.10(1)(g)2. 2. If the credential holder violates the terms of the disciplinary program under s. VE 4.08 (1).

VE 4.10(1)(g)3. 3. If the credential holder is dismissed from the disciplinary program, pursuant to s. VE 4.08 (2).

VE 4.10(1)(h) (h) An agreement authorizing the program to release the results of random monitored alcohol, drug, or other chemical screens under par. (d), to any service provider identified by the credential holder.

VE 4.10(1)(i) (i) An agreement to participate in the program for a period of time, as established by the stipulation between the credential holder and board or disciplinary counsel.

VE 4.10(2) (2) The program may include additional requirements for an individual credential holder, if the credential holder’s condition warrants additional safeguards.

VE 4.10 History History: EmR1718: emerg. cr., eff. 11-22-17; CR 17-083: cr. Register July 2018 No. 751, eff. 8-1-18; correction in (1) (g) 1., 2., 3. made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register July 2018 No. 751; CR 21-062: am. (1) (d), (g) 2., 3. Register July 2022 No. 799, eff. 8-1-22.

VE 4.12 VE 4.12 Approval of service providers.

VE 4.12(1) (1) The program may approve a service provider designated by a credential holder for the purpose of participation in the program if:

VE 4.12(1)(a) (a) The service provider is a facility where all of the following apply:

VE 4.12(1)(a)1. 1. The facility is certified by appropriate national or state certification agencies.

VE 4.12(1)(a)2. 2. The treatment program focus at the facility is on the individual with an impairment of the same type as has been identified in the credential holder.

VE 4.12(1)(a)3. 3. Facility treatment plans and protocols are available to the program.

VE 4.12(1)(a)4. 4. The facility, through the facility’s supervising therapist for the credential holder, agrees to file reports as required, including quarterly progress reports and immediate reports if a credential holder withdraws from therapy, relapses, or is believed to be in an unsafe condition to practice.

VE 4.12(1)(b) (b) The service provider is an individual therapist who:

VE 4.12(1)(b)1. 1. Has credentials and experience determined by the program to be in the credential holder’s area of need.

VE 4.12(1)(b)2. 2. Agrees to perform an appropriate assessment of the credential holder’s therapeutic needs and to establish and implement a comprehensive treatment regimen for the credential holder.

VE 4.12(1)(b)3. 3. Forwards copies of the therapist’s treatment regimen and office protocols to the program.

VE 4.12(1)(b)4. 4. Agrees to file reports as required to the program, including quarterly progress reports and immediate reports if a credential holder withdraws from therapy, relapses, or is believed to be in an unsafe condition to practice.

VE 4.12(2) (2) If the program does not approve any service provider, as requested by the credential holder, the credential holder may, within 10 days of notice of the determination, request the board to review the program’s adverse determination.

VE 4.12 History History: EmR1718: emerg. cr., eff. 11-22-17; CR 17-083: cr. Register July 2018 No. 751, eff. 8-1-18; correction in (1) (a) (intro.) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register July 2018 No. 751.

VE 4.14 VE 4.14 Approval of service providers for alcohol, drug or other chemical testing.

VE 4.14(1) (1) The program shall approve service providers for use by credential holders, who participate in alcohol, drug, or other chemical monitoring programs pursuant to stipulations between the board and credential holders or pursuant to disciplinary orders.

VE 4.14(2) (2) To be approved as a service provider for alcohol, drug, or other chemical testing, the service provider shall satisfactorily meet all of the following requirements for administration, collection site, laboratory, and reporting:

VE 4.14(2)(a) (a) Administration.

VE 4.14(2)(a)1. 1. The service provider shall enroll credential holders by setting up an account, establishing a method of payment, and supplying preprinted chain-of-custody forms.

VE 4.14(2)(a)2. 2. The service provider shall provide the credential holder with the address and phone number of the nearest collection sites and shall assist in locating a qualified collection site when traveling outside the local area.

VE 4.14(2)(a)3. 3. The service provider shall begin random selection of days, when credential holders shall provide specimens, upon enrollment and the service shall notify the program that selection has begun.

VE 4.14(2)(a)4. 4. The service provider shall maintain a nationwide toll-free access or an internet website that is operational 24 hours per day, 7 days per week to inform credential holders of when to provide specimens and is able to document the date and time of contacts by credential holders.

VE 4.14(2)(a)5. 5. The service provider shall maintain and make available to the program and service providers for treatment, through an internet website, data that are updated on a daily basis verifying the date and time each randomly selected credential holder was notified to provide a specimen, the date, time, and location each specimen was collected, the results of screening, and whether or not the credential holder complied as directed.

VE 4.14(2)(a)6. 6. The service provider shall maintain internal and external quality of test results and other services.

VE 4.14(2)(a)7. 7. The service provider shall maintain the confidentiality of credential holders, in accordance with s. 146.82, Stats.

VE 4.14(2)(a)8. 8. The service provider shall inform credential holders of the total cost for each alcohol, drug, or other chemical screen including the cost for program administration, collection, transportation, analysis, reporting, and confirmation. Total cost shall not include the services of a medical review officer.

VE 4.14(2)(a)9. 9. The service provider shall immediately report to the program, if the service provider, laboratory, or any collection site fails to comply with this section. The program may remove a service provider from the approved list if the service provider fails to comply with this section.

VE 4.14(2)(a)10. 10. The service provider shall make available to the program experts to support a test result for 5 years after the test results are released to the program.

VE 4.14(2)(a)11. 11. The service provider shall not sell or otherwise transfer or transmit names and other personal identification information of the credential holders to other persons or entities without permission from the program and board. The service shall not solicit from credential holders presently or formerly in the monitoring program or otherwise contact credential holders, except for purposes consistent with administering the program and only with permission from the program and board.

VE 4.14(2)(a)12. 12. The service provider and laboratory shall not disclose to the credential holder or the public the specific alcohol, drugs or other chemicals tested.

VE 4.14(2)(b) (b) Collection site.