Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP)

This final rule establishes the process and procedures for designating veterinarian shortage situations, specifically for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) authorized by the National Veterinary Medical Service Act (NVMSA) and administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. NIFA will designate geographic areas and other practice situations that have a shortage of food supply veterinarians in order to carry out the VMLRP goals of strengthening the nation's animal health infrastructure and supplementing the Federal response during animal health emergencies. NIFA will carry out NVMSA by entering into educational loan repayment agreements with veterinarians who agree to provide veterinary services in veterinarian shortage situations for a determined period of time. NIFA is establishing Subpart A for the designation of the veterinarian shortage situations and Subpart B for the administration of the VMLRP.