As the CVMA has previously reported, CVMA-opposed bill SB 687 (Ochoa Bogh) was held in the Senate Business, Professions, and Economic Development Committee earlier this year. SB 687 would allow human chiropractors to directly diagnose and treat animal patients without any veterinarian supervision and at their own place of business, instead of at a registered veterinary premises as the law currently allows. In lieu of advancing the bill, the author was offered an informational hearing so that Senators on the committee could learn more about the complex issue.

The hearing, entitled “Animal Care Services: Is There a Role for Human Healthcare Providers?,” was held this past Monday, August 25. The executive officers of California’s Veterinary Medical Board, Chiropractic Board, and Physical Therapy Board discussed how oversight and board enforcement would be impacted if chiropractors and physical therapists were to work on animals outside of a registered veterinary premises without direct veterinarian supervision. The committee also heard from the executive officers of the Nevada and Kentucky Veterinary Medical Boards, both states where chiropractors and physical therapists are permitted to practice on animals without veterinarian oversight.

Dr. Barbro Filliquist, an orthopedic surgeon and associate professor at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, provided an overview of the rigorous veterinary medical education in California and how veterinary education adequately prepares veterinarians to provide rehabilitative services to their patients. She was joined on the panel by representatives from the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association and the Canine Rehabilitation Institute, who reviewed their certification curriculum and requirements.

Finally, a panel consisting of practitioners provided their insights, including Dr. Keith Rode, CVMA’s co-legislative chair. Dr. Rode discussed how he provides physical therapy and chiropractic services in his practice by using a veterinarian and a registered veterinary technician who have received additional training and certification. Dr. Rode also indicated that current law allows him to use the services of a human physical therapist or chiropractor on animals, as long as it is done under direct supervision.

He stressed the importance of having a veterinarian available should a veterinary medical emergency occur during the course of treatment and pointed out instances in which a condition may present as a physical or chiropractic issue, but in fact is far more complex due to other factors.

During ensuing public comment, CVMA Executive Director Dan Baxter thanked the committee chair Senator Angelique Ashby for holding the instructive hearing. Since the reoccurring theme at the hearing was the idea of allowing for “referral” to a physical therapist or chiropractor who would work independently of a veterinarian, Dan reminded the committee that the current system, which requires direct supervision of a PT or chiropractor, has been working effectively for years, and noted that the alteration of that system urged by chiropractors and physical therapists would cause significant difficulty from a legal standpoint.

Veterinarians from private practice also attended and testified under public comment, giving examples of potential harm when care is not properly overseen by a veterinarian. At the outset of the 3.5-hour hearing, Senator Ashby indicated that the hearing was intended to discuss the concept behind the legislation that is pending in their house, but not to discuss the bill itself. Rather, the purpose, she noted, was to “listen and learn and understand this evolving model,” which may “help to inform a future piece of legislation” on the subject.

The Chair posed several questions for panelists, and Senators Bob Archuleta and Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh asked many questions to gain a better understanding of the issue. The legislature will adjourn for the year on September 12, so the earliest that SB 687 could be heard again is in January of 2026.