Proponent testimony heard on vet telehealth bill

News Editor
news@presspublications.com

Proponents of a bill in the state legislature that would expand telehealth to veterinary medicine testified last week before the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.
Rustin Moore, Dean of the Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine urged the committee to support adoption of veterinary telemedicine with the “provision to establish virtual Veterinary-Client-Patient-Relationships in Ohio, which, with clear guidelines, will improve accessibility while ensuring animal safety and pubic protection.”
“Veterinary telemedicine serves as a tool – not a replacement – for in-person care, helping Ohio animal owners gain access to licensed veterinarians despite barriers like geography, finances, after-hours needs, or lack of transportation,” he told the committee. “In cases where an in-person visit isn’t immediately feasible, telemedicine offers invaluable guidance, triaging urgent needs, providing a treatment plan where possible, and advising when in-clinic care is necessary.
“The proposed legislation mirrors successful models in other states, incorporating key safeguards like restricted prescriptions for controlled substances, mutual consent requirements, limited prescription refills without an in-person exam, Ohio licensure, ensuring telemedicine remains a well-regulated asset.”
The Ohio Veterinary Medical Licensing Board will continue its role in regulating high standards for veterinary practices, including telemedicine, he told the committee.
The testimony of Vicki Deisner, executive director of Ohio Animal Advocates, was also conditional.
She spoke on behalf of Dr. Alba Michelle Gonzalez, director of Rascal Unit, a mobile veterinary service, and said some of the language in the bill needs clarification.
“While humans can verbalize their symptoms with their physician over a call, animals are unable to do so, and this significantly limits the scope for diagnosis. Not having the ability to perform a physical examination or perform diagnostics can result in misdiagnosis and undetected illnesses,” she told the committee. “This opens the veterinarian to liabilities and can result in worsening of diseases. If veterinarians are to be allowed to make decisions for medical care without proper examination, there needs to be a plan for protection or license defense due to the inherent risk of making conclusions without an in-person visit and the ability for the owner to assume the risks.
“As written, some of the language regarding prescriptions is vague. A better description than “certain drugs” is necessary to ensure veterinarians understand what they are allowed to prescribe under this law. The record-keeping requirement must also be made clear to comply with required medical record-keeping for veterinary practices.
Senate Bill 268 was introduced in June by Senators Shane Wilkin and Steve Huffman.
Sen. Wilkin told the committee the bill would increase access to veterinary care across the state.
“In addition, this legislation will be particularly beneficial for those in rural or underserved areas as well for those who do not have access to transportation,” he said.
Sen. Huffman said a few other states have enacted legislation allowing telehealth for veterinarians, including Arizona, which enacted telehealth for veterinarians in 2023. California and Florida enacted it earlier this year.
Others offering proponent testimony last week were representatives from:
-United Pet Fund
-One Health Organization
-Veterinary Virtual Care Association
-Columbus Humane
-Cleveland Animal Protection League