WA HB2247

Establishes legal requirements for veterinarian-client-patient relationships (VCPR), requiring veterinarians to physically examine animals within the last year, assume responsibility for clinical judgments, and be available for follow-up care

Authorizes telehealth as an alternative to physical examination when animals face substantial transportation challenges, in-person appointments are unavailable, or urgent conditions could cause suffering

Limits prescriptions issued via telehealth to 3 months maximum without an in-person or telehealth re-examination, and restricts antimicrobial prescriptions to 21 days of treatment requiring in-person follow-up

Requires veterinarians practicing primarily through telehealth (90%+ of practice) to certify at least 14 days annually of in-clinic hands-on experience, unless they have over 20 years of veterinary experience

Permits limited telehealth services without an established VCPR, including teleadvice, emergency teletriage, poison control, and prescribing non-controlled sedation to facilitate transport to veterinary visits