Committee hears divided testimony on veterinary telemedicine bills that would allow virtual establishment of care

The House Committee on Regulatory Reform heard testimony on bills that would allow Michigan licensed veterinarians to establish a veterinary‑client‑patient relationship (VCPR) remotely and to provide telemedicine without a prior in‑person exam.

Sponsors and supporters told the committee the change would restore COVID-era telemedicine options that improved access to care for companion animals, particularly in underserved and rural areas, while opponents from the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) and others urged guardrails to protect animal welfare and align with federal drug‑prescribing rules.

"Telehealth makes sense for veterinary medicine just as it does for human medicine," Representative Aragona, the bill sponsor and chair of the committee, told members at the start of testimony. He and co-sponsor Representative Pawetsky said telemedicine was widely used during COVID under emergency orders and that…