What's happening
The bill allows veterinarians in New York to provide telehealth services to animal patients under specific conditions and standards.
Why it matters
Expands access to veterinary care. , especially for pet owners in rural or underserved areas, by allowing remote consultations and follow-up without requiring travel to a clinic.
Establishes clear safeguards for telehealth. , such as requiring veterinarians to verify their identity and licensure, use secure technology, and obtain informed consent, which helps protect both animal welfare and client privacy.
Maintains high standards of care. , mandating that veterinarians use professional judgment, have adequate knowledge of the patient (either through prior examination or current electronic records), and meet the same standard of care as in-person visits, ensuring telehealth is not a lower standard of service.
Permits remote prescribing. , which can improve timely access to necessary medications for animals, but only if the veterinarian is properly licensed, has sufficient knowledge of the patient, and complies with existing laws—balancing convenience with safety.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Vets Telehealth Services
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1782
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 14, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to permitting veterinarians to provide telehealth services
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6705-b to read as follows:
§ 6705-b. Veterinarian telehealth. 1. A veterinarian may provide care via telehealth services if they comply with all of the following conditions:
(a) Ensure that the client knows the identity and contact information of the veterinarian providing the telehealth service. Upon request, the veterinarian shall provide their licensure information including the name of the state where they are licensed and the license number.
(b) Ensure that the technology method and equipment used to provide telehealth services complies with all current privacy-protection laws.
(c) Employ sound professional judgment to determine whether using telehealth is an appropriate method for delivering medical advice or treatment to the animal patient.
(d) Have sufficient knowledge of the animal patient to render telehealth services demonstrated by satisfying at least one of the following: (i) have recently examined the animal patient in person or have obtained current knowledge of the animal patient through the use of instrumentation and diagnostic equipment through which images and medical records may be transmitted electronically; or (ii) have conducted medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises where the group of animal patients is kept.
(e) Act within the scope of their practice.
(f) Exercise the same standard of care applicable to a traditional, in-person veterinary care service.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04726-01-5
(g) Be readily available to the animal patient for follow up veterinary services or ensure there is another suitable provider available for follow up care.
2. Consent for medical advice and treatment under this section shall be obtained before providing a telehealth service. Evidence of consent for medical advice and treatment must be maintained in the animal patient's medical record.
3. A veterinarian providing a telehealth service may prescribe a drug if the veterinarian is a prescriber acting within the scope of their practice and in compliance with this article.
4. For purposes of this section, "telehealth" shall mean the use of electronic information and communication technologies by a veterinarian to deliver animal health care services, which shall include the assessment, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, and care management of an animal patient. Telehealth shall not include delivery of health care services by means of facsimile machines, or electronic messaging alone, though use of these technologies is not precluded if used in conjunction with telemedicine, store and forward technology, or remote patient monitoring.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.