Arizona Governor Loosens Restrictions on Telehealth for Veterinarians

By Eric Wicklund

April 02, 2020 - Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey is lowering the barriers to telehealth during the Coronavirus pandemic for a new population: Pets.

One of several emergency declarations issued this week allows veterinarians to use telemedicine technology to treat animals, a move the governor says will not only help Fido and Fluffy but their owners as well.

“Even as we physically distance, we want to ensure that pet owners and livestock producers can access the resources they need to properly care for animals,” Ducey said in a press release. “This order allows veterinary professionals to carry out their commitment to caring for Arizona animals, including house pets and farm animals, while Arizona residents practice physical distancing and limit time away from home.”

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In a unique twist to how connected health is viewed in this country, Ducey’s order prevents veterinary providers from charging more for telehealth then they would an in-person visit. With people patients, the reverse is sometimes an issue.

The order allows veterinarians to use “all electronic means of delivering veterinary telehealth,” including video platforms and the phone. And it enables providers to use telehealth to establish a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR).

The veterinary health industry has been moving slowly toward adopting telehealth guidelines in recent years, prompted in part by a vocal client base that views pet ownership as a vital part of maintaining mental health and wellness. Telemedicine was recognized as an emerging trend in “The Future of Veterinary Medicine,” a report issued in February by a joint commission of the AVMA and Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges.

Two states – Florida and Oklahoma – have bills pending that would, if passed, define telehealth for veterinary care and set VCPR guidelines.

Healthcare providers have also been singing the praises of veterinary telehealth, much for the same reason. Some telehealth companies have even developed separate services with veterinarians as a means of attracting business and promoting wellness.

While the industry is overseen by the American Veterinary Medical Association, state veterinary medicine boards are responsible for establishing telehealth guidelines and rules. The most common uses are for initial diagnoses, to determine whether the pet needs to be brought into the office; for consults with specialists such as radiologists; and for the care and treatment of farm animals and livestock.

Most states require that a VCPR be established in a face-to-face meeting before moving to telehealth, with the exception of an emergency. And many states and the AVMA oppose the use of telemedicine for remote consulting offered directly to the public in the absence of a VCPR – in other words, direct-to-consumer telehealth for new clients.

Policy News

Arizona Governor Loosens Restrictions on Telehealth for Veterinarians

Gov. Doug Ducey is giving veterinarians more leeway to use telehealth during the Coronavirus pandemic, helping not only providers and their patients but pet owners who need the support during tough times.

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