Sec.22-380m-4. Animal population control program: Participating veterinarians

(a) Any veterinarian licensed pursuant to General Statutes § 20-199 and practicing within the State of Connecticut may file with the commissioner an application to become a participating veterinarian on a form available from the commissioner. Such application shall list the fees charged by the veterinarian for animal sterilzations performed in the normal course of business. Any licensed veterinarian of the State of Connecticut may be certified by the commissioner as a participating veterinarian provided that the veterinarian meets and continues to meet the criteria set forth in section 22-380m-4 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. Any veterinary practice located in the State of Connecticut may be certified by the commissioner as participating veterinarians provided each veterinarian of such practice meets and continues to meet the criteria set forth in section 22-380m-4 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(b) In order to be certified by the commissioner as a participating veterinarian, the veterinarian must:

(1) perform all spay and neuter surgical procedures, and presurgical immunizations in a veterinary hospital facility that meets the standards set forth by section 20-196-4 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies;

(2) make all records pertaining to care provided, work done and fees received for or in connection with program available for inspection by the commissioner or his representatives;

(3) maintain records in accordance with §§ 19a-14-40 through 19a-14-44, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies;

(4) hold a currently valid license to practice veterinary medicine in the State of Connecticut by the Department of Health & Addiction Services; and

(5) submit a fee schedule, on his or her application for certification as a participating veterinarian, that the commissioner deems reasonable. The commissioner shall find a fee schedule to be reasonable if the charge for each animal sterilization procedure is not greater than 10% above the average charge for such procedure in the county in which the veterinarian practices, as set forth in the following fee schedule:

Animal Population Control Program Fee Schedule in Dollars

County			Weight/Dog						Cat.
	0-25 lb.		26-50 lb.		51-75 lb.		75+ lb.
	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F
Fairfield Avg.	123	146	134	150	139	155	145	162	73	113
Hartford Avg.	89	108	92	112	99	118	102	125	49	79
Litchfield Avg.	69	87	72	91	76	97	76	101	37	63
Middlesex Avg.	68	86	75	97	86	112	95	131	41	64
New Haven Avg.	106	121	114	131	119	136	122	143	52	94
New London Avg.	72	81	75	85	82	91	85	98	38	65
Tolland Avg.	89	106	91	109	94	113	99	123	42	72
Windham Avg.	70	86	75	92	80	98	83	103	37	60

(c) Any participating veterinarian who does not meet the requirements of this section shall be disqualified from participation in the program. A veterinarian may apply for, and the commission may grant, reinstatement in the program if, at the time the application for reinstatement is filed, the veterinarian meets the requirements of this section.

(d) Any veterinarian disqualified or otherwise denied participation may appeal, within ten days of receipt of a notice of such disqualification or denial, to the commissioner, who shall hold a hearing to consider such appeal in accordance with the provisions of General Statutes Chapter 54.

(e) Complaints received by the commissioner or his representatives regarding services provided by participating veterinarians shall be referred to the Board of Veterinary Medicine of the Connecticut Department of Public Health & Addiction Services.

(f) Certification as a participating veterinarian shall be for a period of one year and may be renewed annually.

(g) A participating veterinarian performing an animal sterilization procedure will be entitled to payment from the account, upon submission of the animal sterilzation certificate, signed by the participating veterinarian and the eligible owner, of a fee equivalent to eighty percent of the fee charged by the veterinarian for each procedure, as listed on the fee schedule submitted by such veterinarian on his or her application for certification as a participating veterinarian.

(h) The commissioner may make periodic adjustments to the fee schedule as deemed necessary, by amending these regulations in accordance with sections 4-166 to 4-189, inclusive, of the general statutes. If the commissioner amends the fee schedule in the manner set forth herein, a participating veterinarian shall be compensated for any procedures performed under this program at the rate set forth in the previous fee schedule until the participating veterinarian’s current certification expires.

(i) A neuter procedure involving a cryptorchid condition shall be paid at the same rate as a spay surgical procedure listed in subsection (b) (5) of section 22-380m-4 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(Effective February 23, 1995)