HB 24-1048 Summary

• Authorizes the State Board of Veterinary Medicine to promulgate rules regarding telehealth use for providing veterinary services in Colorado, with consultation from veterinarians, technicians, clients, and stakeholders.

• Establishes a veterinarian-client-patient relationship may extend to other licensed veterinarians at the same physical practice location if they have access to and reviewed the patient's medical records.

• Defines various telehealth services including telemedicine (remote practice requiring established veterinarian-client-patient relationship), tele-advice (non-diagnostic guidance), teleconsulting, tele-education, telemonitoring, telereferral, telesupervision, and teletriage.

• Requires veterinarian-client-patient relationships be established through in-person physical examination or timely premises visits, which may then be maintained through telecommunications technology between appropriate in-person examinations.

• Mandates veterinarians using telemedicine obtain client consent, disclose professional information, use appropriate technology quality, maintain applicable standard of care, protect client privacy and confidentiality, and provide emergency care plans.