Position Statements
Statement of Support for House Bill 24-1048
The Colorado Veterinary Medical Association strongly supports House Bill 24-1048, Providing Veterinary Services Through Telehealth Act. This bill would amend the Veterinary Practice Act to provide essential guidance on, framework for and clarity on the usage of telehealth and telemedicine in our state.
CVMA has long been a proponent of telehealth as a cost effective component of a care plan that enhances communications between veterinarians and their patients. We support HB24-1048 for the following reasons:
- It brings Colorado into alignment with 45 other states that require an in-person veterinarian-client-patient-relationship (VCPR) to be established before engaging in telemedicine. CVMA believes that the in-person VCPR is foundational to medically sound veterinary care.
- It defines nine different types of telehealth – including telemedicine. By defining the types of telehealth tools that can be utilized, this bill will expand the use of telehealth technology for virtual visits with established patients and expand access to care.
- It establishes record-keeping, confidentiality and privacy requirements for telehealth.
- It extends established VCPRs to other licensed veterinarians in the same physical premise with access to the medical records, expanding a patient’s network of care.
- It meets Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements for an in-person VCPR that allows veterinarians prescribing authority to the full range of on-label and extra-label drugs.
In summary, HB24-1048 establishes standards, best practices and clarity around definitions of care when using telehealth technology. This will ultimately expand access to care as it upholds accurate diagnosis and appropriate veterinary treatment for Colorado’s animals.
Find more information:
News:
- Two veterinary bills clear Colorado House Ag Committee posted by The Fence Post
- CVMA Advocacy: House Bills 24-1047 and 24-1048 are Under Consideration posted by CVMA
Statement of Support for House Bill 24-1047
The Colorado Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) strongly supports House Bill 24-1047, Veterinary Technician Scope of Practice. CVMA supports this bill because it addresses challenges that Colorado’s veterinary profession currently faces and would expand veterinarians’ capacity to more effectively protect animal and human health in Colorado.
- This bill would result in more effective and efficient utilization of all veterinary professionals and increase access to veterinary care.
- It would define and clarify delegation and supervision of veterinary tasks.
- It would allow veterinary technicians and veterinary technician specialists to more fully use a broader scope of their education and training and improve retention of veterinary professionals.
Find more information:
News:
- Two veterinary bills clear Colorado House Ag Committee posted by The Fence Post
- CVMA Advocacy: House Bills 24-1047 and 24-1048 are Under Consideration posted by CVMA