Pet owners in California may now seek veterinary care services via telehealth, thanks to a newly implemented legislation.
The Assembly Bill 1399, signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom in October 2023 to allow licensed veterinarians to practice via telehealth, has taken effect on Jan. 1st of this year. According to the bill information:
“The bill would require a veterinarian who practices veterinary medicine via telehealth, among other things, to employ sound professional judgment to determine whether using telehealth is an appropriate method for delivering medical advice or treatment to the animal patient and providing quality of care consistent with prevailing veterinary medical practice, be familiar with available medical resources, be able to provide the client with a list of nearby veterinarians who may be able to see the animal patient in person upon the request of the client, keep, maintain, and make an animal patient record summary available, provide the client with information about the veterinarian, and secure an alternative means of contacting the client if the electronic means is interrupted, as specified.”
In a report by NBC 7, Laura Halsey, DVM, owner of Tell Tail Veterinary Urgent Care in San Diego, Calif., says the bill “can be absolutely amazing for people and our busy schedules.” However, Dr. Halsey still urges pet owners to visit pet urgent care for emergencies. “In veterinary medicine, our patients can’t speak, so they can’t articulate what’s going on with them, and we have to dig a little bit deeper,” she adds.
In the virtual consultation, veterinarians are required by the law to clarify the constraints of telehealth appointments and are not allowed to prescribe controlled substances without conducting a physical examination in person.
For more information about the Assembly Bill 1399, click here.