Veterinary Policy Procedure

Policy

Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society, Inc.’s (BEHS) policy is to provide veterinary care for the equines in the organization’s care.  All veterinary work performed on BEHS must be approved, and this policy outlines how approval is granted.

Procedure

All veterinary work performed on any equine in BEHS’s care must be pre-approved.   If a Foster Home has veterinary work performed without going through the pre-approval process, that foster home will be responsible for the cost of that veterinary work.

In order to gain pre-approved, the Foster Home must get an estimated cost for any procedure or hospitalization.  This estimated cost must include all farm or office charges, board (if necessary), cost of the procedure, medications, and any other expenses.   The Foster Home must then contact the Foster Home Coordinator to seek approval.  If the Foster Home cannot reach the Foster Home Coordinator, he/she may contact another officer.

Approval:

1. Emergency veterinary procedures or hospitalizations. These may be approved by the Emergency Contact person or a single officer via the telephone.  If the estimated cost is above $500, the Foster Home Coordinator or officer will contact at least one other officer or director of BEHS to gain approval.  Foster homes will not email the Foster Home Coordinator or any other officer for emergency approval. 
2. Life threatening emergency. If the life of an equine is at risk without immediate action, the foster home may authorize veterinarian intervention to stabilize the equine following the veterinarian’s recommendations as long as that procedure does not exceed $500.  However the foster home shall make a reasonable effort to reach the BEHS Emergency Contact person first.
3. Non-emergency veterinary procedures or hospitalizations with an estimated cost of less than $250. These may be approved via an email from the Foster Home coordinator or another officer. 
4. Non-emergency veterinary procedures or hospitalizations with an estimated cost between $250 and $500. These must be approved by at least two officers.  The foster home should contact the Foster Home Coordinator who will then get approval from another officer before approving the procedure.
5. Non-emergency procedures or hospitalizations with an estimated cost of over $500. This will require approval of two officers.  The foster home should contact the Foster Home Coordinator who will then contact another officer before approving the procedure.

Foster homes should not attempt to gain approval for emergency procedures via the internet.  All requests for emergency approval must be made over the telephone or in person.

Foster homes shall give the Foster Home Coordinator at least seventy-two (72) hours notice for a request for approval for non-emergency care.

Veterinary Records

The veterinary records of any BEHS equine must be made available to a member of the Board of Directors upon request.  All foster homes should authorize their veterinarians to provide this information to BEHS.

Payment for Veterinary Work/Reimbursements

In order to get reimbursement for a pre-approved procedure or to authorize the veterinarian to bill BEHS directly, an itemized list of services and costs must be provided to BEHS within thirty (30) days.

Equine hospitalizations

If an equine owned by BEHS is hospitalized, he/she must be registered with Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society, Inc. listed as the owner and primary contact.