Identity Theft: FTC's "Red Flags Rule" Summary (Courtesy of AVMA.org)

On November 9, 2007, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a rule that may affect your veterinary practice. The "Red Flags" Rule, 16 C.F.R. § 681.2, requires "creditors" and "financial institutions" to develop written plans to prevent and detect identity theft. The rule is a section of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act ("FACT Act") of 2003, a federal law which requires the establishment of guidelines for financial institutions and creditors regarding identity theft.

Health care professionals, including veterinarians, fall into the category of "creditors" because they do not always receive payment in full from their clients at the time of treatment. On January 30, 2009, the AVMA Governmental Relations Division (GRD) sent a letter to the FTC requesting that veterinarians be excluded from the Rule. On March 19, 2009, the FTC responded to the AVMA, stating that veterinarians and other health care providers will be subject to the "Red Flags" Rule. However, the FTC indicated willingness to continue dialog to ensure that compliance with the Rule will not place undue burdens on the veterinary profession.

The FTC has suspended enforcing the "Red Flags" Rule until May 1, 2009.

Click to continue reading the summary at AVMA.org.

 

Mark your calendars for the
South Dakota Veterinary Medical Association
Annual Meeting

August 9 – 12, 2009
Ramkota Hotel & Conference Center
Sioux Falls, SD

• 18 hours Continuing Education
36 total hours offered in large & small animal
• Barbecue Steak Fry
• President’s Reception & Entertainment
• Dinner Buffet & Alliance Benefit Auction

A tentative schedule will be posted soon.

Greetings from your president

      I am writing this sitting in the Minneapolis airport waiting for the plane to Watertown.  My father decided to go into hospice care on Thursday.  As many of you know, my father has been my mentor, cheerleader and biggest fan.  I have been fortunate to have had the right people, at the right time to get me to this point in life and my profession.  Dr. Swanson at SDSU: when I was ready to give up on trying to get into vet school he asked me, “Do you want to be a vet?  Then what is one or two extra years out of your life now, to do what you love and enjoy for the rest of your life?”  After our conversation, the confused sophomore decided to stick it out another year.  The DVM after my name says the rest.  Dean Baker at ISU: I was miserable and disillusioned after two weeks of vet school.  My dream had become a nightmare.    Sitting with trembling lip in the Dean’s office, he suggested I go home for a few days before I quit for good and sort things out a bit.  I headed to Brookings to check on my old job at the Diagnostic Lab.  Dr. Vorhies thought he could have a job in January.  Wise man, he knew I was a good worker and didn’t want to lose me if I really did quit, but he wasn’t going to give me an out.  I headed home to my Dad.  He listened to my quandary and replied, “Well, it’s ok to quit, but you can’t just sit at home, so what’s your plan?”   My best friend, Linda Rabine, offered to go back to ISU with me and stay a few days.  I decided to go back, and I had classmates come ask me where I’d been the last few days.  My reply, “I quit.”  Much to my surprise, I was a hero to most of them; they were as unhappy, disillusioned and confused as me.   They couldn’t believe I had the courage to quit.  Realizing we weren’t all alone in our misery made a difference for all of us.  Dean Baker and I always had a special smile for each other after that incident.  Of course, I wasn’t the first or last “fragile” freshman he’d advised over the years.  Talk about lots of people, all at the right time.  Somebody up there must have liked me.

I could go on with other people or events that have shaped me as a person and veterinarian.  The point is we all have had our mentors, friends, and cheerleaders to help us through the tough times.  Our profession and country will face some tough times and issues now, and in the future; but if we all remember to be that mentor, friend, or cheerleader, the tough times aren’t that tough.

As I sit at my computer emailing this president’s report to Janice, I share with you I lost my biggest fan yesterday.  After battling prostate cancer for almost three years, my father is in a better place.  I was fortunate; we’ve had lots of time these past few months. Mentor, friend, cheerleader, there is no time like the present to become one or say thanks to one.

Vicky J. Wilkey
President, SDVMA