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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
veterinary medicine; electronic means
Purpose
Allows an Arizona-licensed or nonresident-permitted veterinarian to establish a veterinarian client patient relationship (VCPR) using an audio-visual based communication medium. Outlines restrictions for a veterinarian to prescribe drugs or medications after establishing a VCPR using an audio-visual based communication medium.
Background
The
Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board (Board) is charged with
protecting the public from unlawful, incompetent, unqualified, impaired or
unprofessional practitioners of veterinary medicine through licensure and
regulation of the practice of veterinary medicine. Unprofessional or
dishonorable conduct includes performing veterinary services and releasing,
prescribing or dispensing any prescription drugs in the absence of a valid VCPR
(A.R.S.
§§ 32-2207
and 32-2232).
Current statute defines a VCPR as all of the following: 1) the
veterinarian assumes the responsibility for making medical judgements regarding
the animal's health and need for medical treatment and the client, owner or
caretaker has agreed to follow the veterinarian's instructions;
2) the veterinarian has sufficient knowledge of the animal to initiate at least
a general or preliminary diagnosis of the animal's medical condition; and 3)
the veterinarian is readily available for a follow-up evaluation or the
veterinarian has arranged for either emergency coverage or continuing care and
treatment by another veterinarian who has access to the animal's medical
records. Sufficient knowledge is obtained when: 1) the veterinarian has
recently seen and is personally acquainted with the keeping and caring of the
animal as a result of examining the animal; 2) the veterinarian makes medically
appropriate and timely visits to the premises where the animal is kept; or 3) a
veterinarian affiliated with the practice has reviewed the medical record of
such examinations or visits (A.R.S.
§ 32-2201).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Allows a veterinarian to establish a VCPR using an audio-visual based communication medium if all the following apply:
a) the veterinarian is issued an Arizona license or a nonresident permit by the Board to practice veterinary medicine in Arizona;
b) the veterinarian obtains informed consent from the client, including an acknowledgment that the standards of care relating to the practice of veterinary medicine apply to electronic and in-person visits;
c) the veterinarian provides the client with the veterinarian's name and contact information and secures an alternate means of contacting the client if the electronic interaction is interrupted;
d) the veterinarian advises the client that:
i. the veterinarian may ultimately recommend an in-person visit;
ii. some drugs or medications must be prescribed at an in-person visit; and
iii. the appointment using an audio-visual based communication medium may be terminated at any time; and
e) the veterinarian is able to recommend the client to a local veterinarian who can see the animal in person.
2. Requires the veterinarian to maintain, for at least three years, the consent documentation needed to establish a VCPR using an audio-visual based communication medium.
3. Requires the electronic or written record provided to the client following the telemedicine visit to include the veterinarian's license number.
4. Asserts that the client has the option to choose an in-person visit.
5. Allows a veterinarian to prescribe drugs or medications after establishing a VCPR using an audio-visual based communication medium, except that:
a) prescriptions based on an electronic examination may be initially issued for no more than 30 days and may not be renewed for more than 30 days without an additional electronic or in-person examination;
b) the veterinarian must notify the client that some prescription drugs or medications may be available at a pharmacy and, if requested, the veterinarian will submit a prescription to a pharmacy that the client chooses;
c) a prescription renewed once and based only on electronic examinations may not be renewed again without an in-person visit; and
d) the veterinarian may not order, prescribe or make available a controlled substance unless the veterinarian has performed an in-person physical examination of the patient or made medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises where the patient is kept.
6. Subjects veterinarian services provided using an audio-visual based communication medium to the rules adopted by the Board relating to the practice of veterinary medicine.
7. Specifies that the definition of a VCPR is a relationship between a veterinarian and a client or the owner or caretaker of an animal in which outlined criteria are met.
8. Allows a veterinarian to establish a VCPR by obtaining current knowledge of the animal using an audio-video based communication medium.
9. Makes technical and conforming changes.
10. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Adds that, to establish a VCPR through electronic means, a veterinarian must:
a) provide the client with the veterinarian's name and contact information and secure an alternate means of contacting the client if the electronic means are interrupted; and
b) advise the client that:
i. the veterinarian may ultimately recommend an in-person visit;
ii. some drugs or medications must be prescribed at an in-person visit; and
iii. the appointment through electronic means may be terminated at any time; and
2. Requires, in order to establish a VCPR through electronic means, a veterinarian to be able to recommend, rather than refer, the client to a local veterinarian who can see the animal in person.
3. Increases, from one to three, the number of years a veterinarian must maintain the consent documentation needed to establish a VCPR through electronic means.
4. Requires, after establishing a VCPR through electronic means, a veterinarian to notify the client that some prescription drugs or medications may be available at a pharmacy and, if requested, to submit a prescription to a pharmacy that the client chooses.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Allows a veterinarian to establish a VCPR by obtaining current knowledge of the animal using an audio-video based communication medium, rather than through electronic means, including an audio-only telephone or video-based communication medium.
2. Specifies that a veterinarian must obtain informed consent, rather than consent, from the client to establish a VCPR through an audio-video based communication medium.
Senate Action
COM 2/1/23 DPA 5-2-0
Prepared by Senate Research
February 20, 2023
JT/FB/sr