Under Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship: Telemedicine, FL S.B. 554 would: 1. Clarify that having an in-person examination is required to establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR); 2. Allow telemedicine to maintain a VCPR; 3. Allow a veterinarian with an existing VCPR to refer a specific patient to a specialist and the specialist to consult directly with the client through telemedicine under the referring veterinarian’s VCPR as long as the referring veterinarian is updated and consulted through the process of care and prescribing is done by the referring veterinarian; and, 4. Allow an employee, agent, or contractor of a county or municipal animal control authority acting under the indirect supervision of a licensed veterinarian to vaccinate impounded dogs, cats, and ferrets against rabies. Under the same heading, FL H.B. 1117 would: 1. Allow a VCPR to be established by telemedicine; 2. Require a veterinarian practicing telemedicine to provide clients with a statement containing the veterinarian’s identity, license number, and contact information, as well as contact information for at least one physical veterinary clinic in the vicinity of the pet’s location and instructions for how to receive patient follow-up care or assistance if the veterinarian and client are unable to communicate because of a technological or equipment failure or if there is an adverse reaction to treatment; 3. Require the veterinarian practicing telemedicine to obtain a signed and dated statement from the client indicating that the client has received the required information; 4. Allow a veterinarian practicing telemedicine to order, prescribe, or make available medicinal drugs, but not controlled substances unless an in-person physical exam or medically appropriate timely visits have occurred; and 5. Allow an employee, agent, or contractor of a county or municipal animal control authority acting under the indirect supervision of a licensed veterinarian to vaccinate impounded dogs, cats, and ferrets against rabies. H.B. 1117 was received in the senate on April 17, 2023 (Florida Senate, 2023b). In the January 2023 report, under the Small Business heading, FL S.B. 60, introduced in December of 2022, would: 1. Require a provider of companion animal cremation services to provide certain individuals and entities with a written description of the services the provider offers; 2. Require certain persons or entities that make referrals to providers or accept deceased companion animals for cremation through a provider to make a copy of the provider’s written description of services available to owners or their representatives; and, 3. Require certain providers to include a certification with the returned animal’s cremation remains. Veterinarians need to stay updated on new laws and rules. To keep current, veterinarians are encouraged to review the Florida Board of Veterinary Medicine’s “statutes and rules” tab on the website, available at http://www. myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/veterinary-medicine/statutes- and-rules/
Also under the Small Business Heading are proposed changes to Florida Rule 61G18-18.0015, which would require a veterinarian who terminates practice or relocates practice and is no longer available to patients or clients to: 1. Retain medical records for at least three years after the date of last entry; 2. No later than one month after the veterinarian or entity terminates practice or relocates practice and is no longer available to patients or clients, the veterinarian or entity shall do one of the following; (a) Cause to be published in the newspaper of greatest general circulation in the county where the veterinarian or entity resided or practiced, a notice indicating to the owners of the patients of said veterinarian or entity that the medical records are available to the owners of the patients or their duly constituted representative from a specific person at a specific location. At the conclusion of a 3 year period of time from the date that the veterinarian or entity terminated practice or relocated practice and was no longer available to patients or clients, the veterinarian or entity shall cause to be published once during each week for 2 consecutive weeks, in the newspaper of greatest general circulation in the county where the veterinarian resided or practiced, a notice indicating to the owners of the patients of the veterinarian or entity that the medical records may be disposed of or destroyed one month or later from the last day of the 4th week of publication of notice. However, nothing herein shall be construed to require that a veterinarian or entity ever destroy the medical records; it permits destruction of records after 3 years and requires notification to clients that the records can be destroyed. (b) Send electronic notifications, either email or text, to all clients that have been seen within the last 3 years a notice indicating to the owners of the patients of the veterinarian or terminated or relocated practice, that the veterinarian’s medical records are available to the owners of the patients or their duly constituted representative from a specific person at a certain location and that the veterinarian’s medical records will be disposed of or destroyed in 2 years. In the February 2023 report, under the heading Animal Advocates: Court, FL S.B. 1006/FL H.B. 989 would allow a courtroom advocate to be appointed in the interest of justice in civil and criminal animal welfare cases. (This bill was in the House Judiciary Committee as of March 29, 2023; Florida Senate, 2023a.) Under Scope of Practice, FL S.B. 932 would prohibit non- therapeutic cat declawing. Under Spaying and Neutering, FL H.B. 719/S.B. 722 would allow out-of-state veterinarians to perform dog or cat sterilization services or routine preventative health services at the time of sterilization as an unpaid volunteer under the supervision of a state-licensed veterinarian. Conclusion Each state board’s mission is to protect and safeguard the well-being of the citizens within their jurisdiction, and they do this by implementing laws that identify the standards required to enter the profession and remain in practice, and by establishing procedures for identifying and, when necessary, sanctioning or removing incompetent or unethical practitioners.
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Book Code: VFL1526
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