ISVMA Gives Sen. Hastings Its President's Award as Leader

TINLEY PARK -- When veterinarians needed a friend at the State Capitol to help them with a difficult problem, State Sen. Michael Hastings answered the call.

Hastings, D-Tinley Park, has earned the 2019 President's Award from the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association for helping the group avoid a state-mandated requirement to pursue human medical records in the fight against opioid abuse.

Here's more on why the senator's work has earned the group's prestigious award:

Recognizing his unrelenting efforts advocating for the veterinary profession in Illinois, the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association (ISVMA) awarded its 2019 President’s Award to Illinois 19th District Senator Michael Hastings (D), Tinley Park.

“We greatly appreciate Sen. Hastings’ guidance as chief Illinois Senate sponsor of Senate Bill 1665, the important exemption of veterinarians from the state’s Prescription Monitoring Program,” says ISVMA Board of Directors President Dr. Olivia Rudolphi, of Rudolphi Veterinary Services in Noble, Ill.

“We’re very concerned about finding solutions to the human opioid crisis, and as veterinarians are required to report opioid abuse suspicions to law enforcement,” Rudolphi reports. “Vets must also take three hours of continuing education focused on opioid prescribing and usage for each license renewal period. Our focus is on what we do medically for pets, not their human caretakers, which is why the PMP exemption made sense.”

The ISVMA sought exemption from Illinois’ Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) that went into effect statewide in January 2018. The law required vets to assess patient access to controlled substances, in this case whenever an initial narcotic prescription was written for a pet. Under the PMP, veterinarians were subject to official recording to state authorities that a narcotic was issued for a pet owner’s cat, dog or other animal.

“Because of Sen. Hastings’ sponsorship of Senate Bill 1665, lawmakers realized it made little sense to have animal doctors access to human health records, which displayed alongside the person’s pet’s medical records,” Rudolphi says.

Sen. Hastings agrees. “It just wasn’t appropriate that veterinarians were suddenly required to delve into the medical records of pet owners,” he reflects. “Veterinarians are charged with the overall healthcare of a dog, cat, horse, livestock and other animals, not the healthcare of the pet’s human caretaker. That’s why vets needed to be exempted from this law. I was happy to lead this exemption for veterinarians with Senate Bill 1665,” Hastings said. “I’m truly humbled by receiving this award from the ISVMA.”

The ISVMA President’s Award is annually presented to an individual or group that has significantly advanced the interests of the veterinary profession in Illinois. The bill was sponsored in the Illinois House by 36th District Representative Kelly Burke (D), Evergreen Park, also recognized by the ISVMA with a 2019 President’s Award.

The ISVMA is a professional association representing more than 2,500 member veterinarians, veterinary and technician students and Certified Veterinary Technicians from around the state to promote and protect veterinary practices. ISVMA leaders and members study a multitude of cutting-edge medical and business practices, as well as pertinent legislation to determine their impact on pets, animals and their human caretakers.

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