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Veterinary telehealth bill advances to hearing stage; state vets urge limits
Summary
HB 1305 to enable veterinary telehealth drew mixed testimony: the state veterinary association and practitioners supported telemedicine for access and triage, while the state veterinarian and New Hampshire VMA cautioned against allowing a telehealth visit to establish a long‑term veterinarian‑client‑patient relationship or to substitute for required physical exams when prescribing medications.
The committee reopened the hearing on HB 1305, a bill to authorize and regulate veterinary telehealth in New Hampshire. Representative Liz Barber (introducing in sponsor absence) summarized the bill: authorized uses include remote consultations, assessments, and records maintenance; the text would allow a veterinary‑client‑patient relationship (VCPR) to be formed remotely in many cases but would prohibit prescribing controlled substances without an in‑person exam.
Kurt Ehrenberg (veterinary practitioner) told the committee the American Veterinary Medical Association stance is to support telemedicine generally to expand access and triage. He said telehealth helps deliver care to more animals and owners and reduces unnecessary in‑person visits. By contrast, Dr. Mark Prescott (state veterinarian) opposed the bill as written, echoing the New Hampshire Veterinary Medical Association’s concerns: video or phone evaluations do not allow a physical examination (palpation, auscultation, internal assessment) necessary for many diagnoses and for safe prescribing. Prescott and other veterinarians said the bill should preserve an established, in‑person VCPR before issuing medications or long‑term treatment recommendations.
Committee members probed distinctions between phone triage and video telemedicine, large animal vs companion animal use, and the percent of drugs used off‑label in veterinary practice. Dr. Prescott recommended clearer definitions in statute (telehealth vs telemedicine, phone vs video) and that any expanded use be tied to an existing VCPR.
Next steps: committee requested written comparisons and anticipated drafting clarifications on whether telehealth can establish an initial VCPR and on restricted lists of medications; sponsors will consult veterinary stakeholders to refine the bill.
