SECTION 35:15-12-6. Veterinarian Participation

(a)   Any veterinarian that is licensed by the Oklahoma State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and is a member of the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association may submit an annual application to participate in the program.

(b)   The veterinarian application shall contain the following:

(1)   Name and title of person making request;

(2)   Name of veterinary facility and the vendor identification number;

(3)   Address and telephone number of the veterinary facility;

(4)   Name, Oklahoma Veterinarian Medical License Number, and signature of each veterinarian at the veterinary facility;

(5)   Fee schedule for sterilization of pets in all categories requested on the application form;

(6)   IRS W-9 Form; and

(7)   Signature of authorized person and date signed.

(c)   The veterinarian shall file the application annually with the administrator and the agreement shall be effective from January 1 of each calendar year, or from the date of application approval, whichever is later, and shall expire on December 31 of each calendar year.

(d)   Fee schedules shall remain in effect for the entire term of the agreement.

(1)   Fees shall be for the entire surgical procedure, including but not limited to presurgical examination, any required presurgical blood work, hospital care, removal of sutures, and any other costs normally associated with the surgical procedure, and in no case shall any additional fee be charged to the owner for any veterinary required presurgical blood work or vaccinations.

(2)   The veterinarian shall be reimbursed for no more than eighty percent (80%) of the fee schedule for sterilization.

(3)   The veterinarian shall collect and retain a ten dollar ($10.00) copayment for surgery from the eligible owner.

(4)   Fees associated with any surgical complications shall not be subject to reimbursement.

(5)   Upon request of the owner, the veterinarian shall vaccinate each surgical pet for rabies and provide a rabies vaccination certificate at no more than five dollars ($5.00) per pet.

(e)   If the fee schedules are determined to be at least twenty percent (20%) higher than the average surgical fee for sterilization procedures as determined from all fee schedules submitted by participating veterinarians, the veterinarian's fee schedule shall not be approved.

(f)   If funds become depleted, the veterinarian shall be notified by the administrator and shall immediately stop performing surgeries that may have already been authorized by the administrator.

(g)   The veterinarian shall not be reimbursed for surgeries performed for any owner who is not approved by the administrator.

(h)   The participating veterinarian reserves the right to postpone or refuse surgery if in the medical opinion of the veterinarian, the pet is medically unfit to undergo the surgical procedure. A written statement explaining surgical refusal shall be provided to the owner and the administrator.

[Source: Added at 22 Ok Reg 690, eff 5-12-05]