Pet telemedicine: Advocates and experts disagree on expansion of veterinarian video chats

Written by Alex Walters
capital news service

LANSING — Rep. Laurie Pohatsky, D-Livonia,'s 13-year-old cat, Delilah, had to see a veterinarian every time she had a respiratory infection.

That is, until an emergency order by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed a widespread expansion of veterinary telemedicine, where owners and pets receive veterinarian visits via video calls. It was about.

Reservation was easy. Pohutsky didn't have to take her cat to the veterinarian's office every time her cat had a chronic infection and needed antibiotics, she said.

Those emergency orders have expired, and the use of telemedicine has once again been restricted. Pohutsky's pending bill would overturn that.

“Telehealth has expanded tremendously through COVID-19 and we felt it was really beneficial,” she said. “Of course, animals can't talk, so it's a little complicated.”

“Communication is an issue, but that doesn't mean we should abandon it,” Pohutsky said.

Currently, veterinarians can only employ telemedicine if they have established a “patient-to-patient relationship” through a prior face-to-face consultation.

Pohutsky's bill would change that and allow veterinarians to provide limited care through telemedicine without an in-person appointment.

“The most ideal situation would be for people to be able to go directly to the vet,” said Kevin O'Neill, vice president of national affairs for the New York City-based American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

However, the organization recognizes that socio-economic factors and living in a rural area can prevent convenient access to a veterinarian, O'Neill said.

Mr. Potutsky's bill would give veterinarians “the power to decide whether to use telemedicine, but they would not have to do so,” said Mr. O'Neill, who advocated for the bill.

But Larry Lecce of Plymouth, the 2023 president and current board member of the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association, said veterans already have that discretion under current regulations.

Current regulations allow for the use of telemedicine without an in-person visit in “emergency situations.” If the situation precludes an in-person examination, veterinarians can treat it as an emergency and conduct a telemedicine exam, Leche said.

“We already have the ability to practice telemedicine without an examination, but it is then up to the veterinarian to decide whether the animal needs to be taken to the hospital to ensure the correct diagnosis. ” Lecce said. “Without in-person testing, you might miss out on something.”

During the pandemic, Lecce said his organization has seen a rash of lawsuits and formal licensing complaints against Michigan veterans who used telemedicine.

“We're not against telemedicine. We think it needs to be done properly to prevent problems,” Letsche said.

Pohutsky's current bill is an amended version of a bill that failed in the Senate last year. It is being considered by the House Agriculture Committee.

Co-sponsors include Rep. John Ross, R-Interlochen. Reggie Miller, Democrat Van Buren Township; Kelly Breen, D-Novi; Carol Granville, D-Walker; Noah Arbitt, D-West Bloomfield, and Abraham Ayyash, D-Hamtramck.

The former version drew opposition from some lawmakers and experts, who argued it could lead to overprescription of drugs.

To allay such concerns, Pohutsky said the new version limits the length and types of prescriptions available via telemedicine.

Veterinarians will effectively be able to prescribe up to two 14-day courses of medication and will not be able to prescribe controlled substances without an in-person appointment.

The new bill also specifies that telemedicine can only be used for “companion animals,” a term that distinguishes pets such as cats and dogs from livestock that can enter the food chain. .

Pohutsky said the use of telemedicine for livestock is a top concern for veterinarians in the state, who had expressed doubts about previous proposals.

Pohutsky said state veterinarian Nora Wineland has been talking with lawmakers about the revised bill and is “considering it” before taking a position.