Understanding the terms and conditions of any membership program is crucial, and Veterinary Growth Partners (VGP) is no exception. This guide breaks down the key aspects of the Veterinary Growth Partners membership, designed to help veterinary practices thrive. By understanding the membership terms, you can fully leverage the benefits offered and ensure a smooth partnership.
Decoding Your Veterinary Growth Partners Membership
Veterinary Growth Partners offers a membership program aimed at providing veterinary practices with access to pharmaceuticals, laboratory services, and other essential products and services at negotiated prices. This program is facilitated through agreements VGP has established with various manufacturers, wholesalers, and service providers, collectively known as “Providers.” As a member, you gain access to these pre-negotiated benefits, designed to improve your practice’s bottom line and operational efficiency. Enrolling in the VGP program means agreeing to the outlined terms and conditions, fostering a transparent and mutually beneficial relationship.
Membership Structure: Standard vs. Elite
VGP offers two membership tiers: Standard and Elite. Upon initial enrollment, every member is automatically enrolled as an Elite Member, granting access to the full spectrum of benefits. Elite membership encompasses all the advantages of Standard membership, alongside additional perks specifically tailored for enhanced support and growth. For a detailed comparison of benefits between Standard and Elite memberships, you can visit the official VGP membership levels page. Should you wish to adjust your membership level from Elite to Standard, you have the option to opt-out of the Elite tier by providing thirty (30) days written notice to VGP at [email protected]. This flexibility ensures that your membership aligns perfectly with your practice’s evolving needs.
Member Responsibilities and Commitments
As a Veterinary Growth Partners member, certain obligations ensure the program’s integrity and collective benefit. These responsibilities are straightforward and designed to maintain a strong partnership:
- Adherence to Terms: Members agree to abide by all the outlined terms and conditions of the membership agreement.
- Compliance with VGP Policies: Staying informed and compliant with VGP’s standard operating procedures and policies, as updated on their website or communicated directly, is essential.
- Provider Contract Terms: Members are expected to comply with the terms and conditions set forth by individual Providers. This includes respecting payment terms, eligibility criteria, and any dispute resolution processes.
- Maintaining Legal Compliance: Ensuring your veterinary practice remains duly licensed and operates in compliance with all applicable state laws is a fundamental requirement.
- Legal Adherence: Compliance with all laws relevant to your participation in the agreement is expected.
- Execution of Agreements: Members agree to execute any separate agreements or acknowledgements requested by VGP or specific Providers, confirming their commitment to the Provider contracts’ terms.
Furthermore, a critical aspect of membership is the agreement that products obtained through the program are for use within your veterinary practice and for your pet parent clients, not for unauthorized resale. Violating this condition may lead to immediate termination from the program and forfeiture of any pending rebates.
Understanding Provider Relationships and Pricing
Veterinary Growth Partners acts as a facilitator, negotiating favorable pricing with Providers on behalf of its members. It’s important to understand that while VGP strives to keep members informed about Provider and pricing changes, these are subject to change at VGP’s discretion. VGP commits to using commercially reasonable efforts to provide timely notifications of any modifications. Members place orders directly with Providers or through VGP’s ordering platform and handle payments directly with the Providers. This direct relationship ensures clarity and efficiency in transactions. Any disputes related to billing or services are to be resolved directly between the Member and the Provider, ensuring a streamlined resolution process.
Membership Term, Renewal, and Termination Explained
Understanding the duration and conditions for membership continuation or termination is key to managing your partnership with Veterinary Growth Partners.
Membership Term and Renewal
Your Veterinary Growth Partners membership becomes effective on the date of enrollment. It continues until you decide to cancel, VGP cancels the program, or VGP terminates your participation due to breach of agreement. This structure offers flexibility and is designed for long-term partnerships, contingent on mutual agreement and adherence to terms.
Member-Initiated Cancellation
Should you decide to cancel your membership, the process is straightforward. A cancellation notice needs to be sent via mail or email to Veterinary Growth Partners at the provided address. This ensures a formal and documented cancellation process, respecting your decision and allowing for proper closure of the membership.
VGP’s Right to Cancel or Terminate
VGP reserves the right to cancel or discontinue the Program, potentially in specific regions, with appropriate notice. Given that membership fees are offset by rebates, program cancellation does not entail membership fee refunds. Additionally, VGP holds the right to suspend or terminate a membership if a member breaches the membership agreement, VGP’s Terms of Use, or misuses membership benefits. In cases of suspension, VGP may also impose a re-activation fee to reinstate membership, ensuring fair and consistent application of program rules.
Rebates and Membership Fees: A Clear Overview
Rebates are a significant benefit of Veterinary Growth Partners membership, designed to reward member participation. Understanding how rebates and administrative fees work is crucial to maximizing your program benefits.
Earning and Receiving Rebates
VGP members have the opportunity to earn quarterly rebates by participating in selected Provider programs. These rebates are calculated quarterly based on a schedule that VGP may update periodically. To be eligible for rebates, maintaining an active membership is essential. Rebate checks are processed for amounts exceeding $25. Smaller rebate values are considered administrative fees and are not carried over to the next quarter. It’s important to note that rebate checks are void if uncashed after 180 days from the rebate effective date, with such amounts also being processed as administrative fees. Staying informed about the rebate schedule and timelines ensures you fully capitalize on these earnings.
Administration Fees Explained
To sustain the program’s operations and value, a non-refundable administration fee is applied, processed through quarterly rebates. This fee is calculated based on a member’s total savings but is capped at $350 per quarter for Standard members. Elite members incur an additional administrative fee of $225 per quarter. These fees are essential for the program’s continued operation and the delivery of benefits to all members.
Important Disclaimers: Veterinary and Medical Advice
It is vital to understand that the Veterinary Growth Partners program is not intended to provide medical or veterinary advice. Enrolling in and utilizing the program does not establish a veterinary-patient relationship with VGP. VGP does not assume a duty of care in this regard. The program’s services are designed for procurement and operational benefits and should not be interpreted as medical or veterinary practice, advice, diagnosis, or treatment provided by VGP. For all medical and veterinary concerns, direct consultation with qualified professionals is always necessary.
Limitations of Liability and Disclaimers: Program Scope
While Veterinary Growth Partners is committed to providing accurate and up-to-date information, it’s essential to understand the limitations and disclaimers associated with the program.
Program Information Accuracy
VGP endeavors to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of pricing, product details, and other information available to members through its technological platforms. However, VGP cannot guarantee the absolute accuracy or completeness of all information. The program and associated services are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis, without explicit or implied warranties. This includes, but is not limited to, warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. VGP also disclaims warranties regarding program availability, accuracy, operation, or member satisfaction with third-party Providers. Goods and services are provided by third-party Providers, not directly by VGP.
Liability Limitations
To the extent permitted by law, VGP, its affiliates, and its Providers are not liable for indirect, special, incidental, exemplary, punitive, or consequential damages arising from program use or inability to use it, even if advised of potential damages. This includes damages from errors, omissions, defects, or performance failures beyond reasonable control. Furthermore, the total aggregate liability of VGP, its affiliates, and Providers for any claim related to the agreement or program is limited to $100. These limitations are in place to define the scope of responsibility and risk associated with program participation.
Indemnification: Protecting the Partnership
Members agree to indemnify and hold harmless VGP, its affiliates, and related parties from damages, liabilities, claims, losses, costs, and expenses (including attorney’s fees) arising from:
- Violation of the membership agreement.
- Inaccurate or inadequate information provided by the member.
- Member negligence or misconduct.
- Violation of third-party rights.
This indemnification clause ensures that members take responsibility for their actions related to the program and protect VGP from liabilities arising from member conduct.
Excusable Delay: Force Majeure
Neither VGP nor its affiliates are liable for delays or failures in performance resulting from causes beyond their reasonable control. These “force majeure” events include labor disputes, power failures, service interruptions, civil unrest, pandemics, terrorist acts, or governmental actions. This clause acknowledges that unforeseen circumstances can impact program operations and releases VGP from liability under such conditions.
Your Privacy and Data Handling
VGP respects member privacy and handles data responsibly. By participating in the program, members acknowledge that VGP may collect certain personal information. VGP’s Privacy Statement, available on their website, details how information is collected, used, and protected. A key aspect of the program is sharing necessary business information with Providers to facilitate program benefits. Members consent to this data sharing by participating in the program and accepting rebates. VGP may also collect and use aggregated, anonymized data for program improvement and other lawful purposes, ensuring no individual member can be identified from this aggregate data. Members authorize VGP to access purchasing transaction data to enhance service offerings, provided no patient health information is disclosed in violation of applicable laws.
Confidentiality: Maintaining Program Integrity
Program details, including pricing, marketing plans, and data shared by VGP and its partners, are strictly confidential. Members agree to keep this information confidential and not disclose it to third parties without prior written consent from VGP. This confidentiality obligation extends for five years post-membership and applies to all individuals working with or for the member who have access to confidential information. Types of confidential information include plans, reports, proposals, agreements, clinical studies, software, pricing details, and contract catalogs. Maintaining confidentiality is crucial for program integrity and competitive advantage.
Enforcement and Dispute Resolution
The membership agreement is governed by and interpreted under the laws of Texas, USA. VGP does not guarantee program appropriateness for all locations outside of this jurisdiction, and members using the program from other locations are responsible for local law compliance. VGP’s failure to enforce any right or provision does not waive that right or provision. Disputes are to be resolved through binding arbitration in Travis County, Texas, under the Consumer Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. This includes a waiver of class action and jury trial rights, ensuring disputes are resolved efficiently and individually.
Amendments and Modifications: Program Evolution
VGP reserves the right to modify the membership agreement, program features, or services at any time, with notice to members, typically through website postings. Continued program participation after such changes constitutes agreement to the updated terms. VGP may also modify, suspend, or discontinue the program or related services without liability, as part of ongoing program development and improvement.
Assignment and Miscellaneous Terms
Members cannot assign or transfer their membership agreement without VGP’s written consent; unauthorized assignments are void. Program use and website interaction are also governed by VGP’s Terms of Use, available on their website. By enrolling, members agree to electronic communications from VGP. Members certify they are at least 18 years old and legally competent to enter the agreement. The membership agreement constitutes the entire understanding between VGP and members, superseding prior agreements. If any part of the agreement is unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain valid. The agreement does not create a franchise, joint venture, or partnership between VGP and members, and there are no third-party beneficiaries to the agreement.
Contact Information
For any questions regarding the membership agreement or the Veterinary Growth Partners program, members can contact VGP at their provided address and email.
By understanding these terms and conditions, veterinary practices can confidently engage with Veterinary Growth Partners and leverage the membership benefits to foster growth and efficiency. Veterinary Growth Partners is committed to supporting the veterinary community, and clarity in membership terms is a cornerstone of this partnership approach.
