WA SB6072

Establishes formal requirements for veterinarian-client-patient relationships, requiring veterinarians to physically examine animals within the past year and assume responsibility for clinical judgments while clients agree to follow instructions

Permits telehealth to establish the relationship when animals face substantial transportation barriers, unavailable in-person appointments, or urgent conditions that could cause suffering and delay is not medically reasonable

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

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

Allows limited telehealth services without an established relationship, including teleadvice, emergency teletriage, non-controlled sedation prescriptions to facilitate transport, and poison control services