- April 25, 2024
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Dear Editor:
Getting veterinary care for our dogs and cats could soon become much easier and more affordable in Florida, with the passage of a bill moving through the state legislature. Championed by Rep. James Buchanan (R-North Port) and Sen. Jason Brodeur (R-Lake Mary), the PETS Act (H.B. 723/S.B. 448) would ensure that Florida-licensed veterinarians can offer telemedicine services to diagnose and treat new and existing animal patients. In the first week of session, the bill unanimously passed the House Regulatory Reform Subcommittee and on Jan. 24 passed the House Commerce Committee by a vote of 20 to 1.
To protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, state and federal policymakers relaxed rules restricting the use of veterinary telemedicine – allowing more pet owners to access vital care for their beloved pets during an incredibly stressful time. While this move provided temporary relief to pets in need, that relief was short-lived, due to an outdated Florida regulation that prohibits veterinarians from practicing medicine or prescribing medication unless they have physically examined the animal. But an in-person physical examination may not be necessary in many common situations, including initial diagnosis and treatment of fleas, ticks, skin or ear mites, or certain gastrointestinal and skin issues, behavioral consultations, nutritional consultations, hospice care consultations, and more.
Florida pet owners want better access to pet telemedicine: A 2020 Mason-Dixon poll found that 78% of registered Florida voters support allowing veterinarians to provide telemedicine services to new pet patients. Veterinary telemedicine can be especially helpful for senior citizens with pets, working families, and those who face challenges accessing pet care due to disability, transportation issues, or because they live in communities underserved by veterinarians.
Removing barriers to veterinary telemedicine can also improve animal welfare, reducing instances of medical neglect and animals surrendered to shelters, preventing unnecessary fear-based stress at clinics, and helping with potentially aggressive pets. In a presentation given at the American Veterinary Medical Association 2021 Convention, Dr. Greg Bishop demonstrated that according to current research “clients are really happy with telemedicine and are willing to pay for it. What we lose out on in terms of certain clinical aspects, we make up for by not stressing out animals by coming to the veterinary clinic, and “It’s actually an advantage that a telemedicine visit would be cheaper because it’s accessible to a lot of people, and there’s a lot of people that need that.”
As in human medicine, telemedicine can help address gaps in care created by workforce shortages. Given the complex challenges facing the veterinary field – including workforce veterinary staffing shortages that began in mid-2016, large student debt, and a limited work-life balance—the veterinary industry has many reasons to embrace telemedicine. Veterinary telemedicine appointments can be more efficient, convenient, and economic for both vets and pet owners.
In 2019, the ASPCA opened our Community Veterinary Center in the Liberty City community to serve pet owners who face significant obstacles to accessing veterinary care – both financial and logistical, such as transportation and language barriers. Many counties in Florida have very low accessibility to vet care, and Miami-Dade County has a score of 16 out of 100 on the Veterinary Care Accessibility Score by the Veterinary Care Accessibility Project. Increasing access to telemedicine can help bring more pets into the veterinary healthcare system. Telemedicine can help address logistical problems with bringing pets to the clinic and make veterinary care more affordable.
At its core, increasing access to telemedicine is about expanding access to the veterinary healthcare system. Please contact your elected state lawmakers and urge them to pass the PETS Act to ensure new pet patients and their families can benefit from telemedicine technology.
Dr. Camille DeClementi
Vice President of the ASPCA Animal Hospital
