Colorado 2025 Regular Session

Colorado Senate Bill SB159 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	First Regular Session
2	2	Seventy-fifth General Assembly
3	3	STATE OF COLORADO
4	4	INTRODUCED
5	5
6	6
7	7	LLS NO. 25-0604.01 Christopher McMichael x4775
8	8	SENATE BILL 25-159
9	9	Senate Committees House Committees
10	10	Agriculture & Natural Resources
11	11	A BILL FOR AN ACT
12	12	C
13	13	ONCERNING THE USE OF VETERINARY TELEHEALTH .101
14	14	Bill Summary
15	15	(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
16	16	not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
17	17	passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
18	18	applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
19	19	http://leg.colorado.gov
20	20	.)
21	21	The bill modifies certain laws related to the practice of veterinary
22	22	telehealth. Under current law, in order to practice veterinary telehealth in
23	23	Colorado, a licensed veterinarian must establish a
24	24	veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) through an in-person,
25	25	physical examination of the animal (patient) or by a medically appropriate
26	26	and timely visit to the premises where the animal is kept.
27	27	The bill allows a veterinarian to establish a VCPR through
28	28	telehealth. An in-person, physical examination of the patient or visit to the
29	29	SENATE SPONSORSHIP
30	30	Winter F. and Cutter,
31	31	HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
32	32	(None),
33	33	Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
34	34	Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
35	35	Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. premises is not necessary, and the veterinarian may establish the VCPR
36	36	through an electronic examination using synchronous audio-video based
37	37	communication technology.
38	38	The bill clarifies the definition of "telehealth" and changes
39	39	references throughout current law from "telemedicine" to "telehealth".
40	40	Under current law, a licensed veterinarian is prohibited from
41	41	prescribing drugs to a patient through telehealth unless the veterinarian
42	42	has conducted an in-person, physical examination of the patient. The bill
43	43	removes that requirement and permits a veterinarian to prescribe drugs to
44	44	a patient through telehealth as long as the veterinarian has established a
45	45	VCPR and follows certain requirements. However, the bill still requires
46	46	an in-person, physical examination of the patient in order to prescribe the
47	47	patient a controlled substance or an antimicrobial for longer than 14 days.
48	48	The bill removes the requirement under current law that a
49	49	veterinarian who uses telehealth be available in person at a veterinary
50	50	premises that is accessible to the client and patient for follow-up
51	51	evaluations. The bill also repeals a provision in current law that prohibits
52	52	a veterinary specialist to whom a patient has been referred from
53	53	prescribing medication to the patient unless that veterinary specialist has
54	54	established a VCPR through an in-person, physical examination of the
55	55	patient.
56	56	Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
57	57	SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-315-104, amend2
58	58	(19)(a)(II) as follows:3
59	59	12-315-104. Definitions. As used in this article 315, unless the4
60	60	context otherwise requires:5
61	61	(19) (a) "Veterinarian-client-patient relationship" means the6
62	62	relationship established when:7
63	63	(II) There is sufficient knowledge of an animal by the veterinarian8
64	64	to initiate at least a general or preliminary diagnosis of the medical9
65	65	condition of the animal, which means that the veterinarian has recently
66	66	10
67	67	seen and is personally acquainted with the keeping and care of the animal11
68	68	by virtue of:12
69	69	(A) An in-person, physical examination of the animal;13
70	70	SB25-159-2- (B) AN ELECTRONIC EXAMINATION USING A SYNCHRONOUS1
71	71	AUDIO-VIDEO BASED COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ; or by2
72	72	(C) A medically appropriate and timely visits VISIT to the premises3
73	73	where the animal is kept; and4
74	74	SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 12-315-3015
75	75	as follows:6
76	76	12-315-301. Definitions - rules. As used in this part 3, unless the7
77	77	context otherwise requires:8
78	78	(1) "Tele-advice" means the provision of any health information,9
79	79	opinion, or guidance by a veterinary professional that is not intended to10
80	80	diagnose, treat, or issue prognoses of an animal's, or group of animals',11
81	81	physical or behavioral illness or injury. A veterinarian-client-patient12
82	82	relationship is not required to provide tele-advice.13
83	83	(2) "Teleconsulting" means a veterinarian who communicates14
84	84	with a veterinary specialist or other qualified expert using15
85	85	telecommunications technology to gain insight or advice regarding the16
86	86	care of a patient.17
87	87	(3) "Tele-education" means the use of information and18
88	88	telecommunications technology for distance learning.19
89	89	(4) (a) (1) "Telehealth" means the use of telecommunications20
90	90	technology to provide veterinary services or to collect and deliver21
91	91	veterinary health information or education virtually and can encompass22
92	92	general veterinary services or patient-specific veterinary services A23
93	93	METHOD OF DELIVERY OF VETERINARY HEALTH -CARE SERVICES THROUGH24
94	94	TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS , INCLUDING INFORMATION, ELECTRONIC,25
95	95	AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES , TO FACILITATE THE ASSESSMENT,26
96	96	DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT OF A PATIENT WHILE THE PATIENT IS LOCATED27
97	97	SB25-159
98	98	-3- AT ONE SITE AND THE VETERINARIAN IS LOCATED AT A DIFFERENT SITE .1
99	99	(b) "Telehealth" may include tele-advice, teleconsulting,2
100	100	tele-education, telemedicine, telemonitoring, telereferral, telesupervision,3
101	101	teletriage, and other tools that help veterinary professionals deliver4
102	102	veterinary education and services virtually.5
103	103	(5) "Telemedicine" means the remote practice of veterinary6
104	104	medicine through the use of telecommunications technology that allows7
105	105	a licensed veterinarian with an established veterinarian-client-patient8
106	106	relationship to evaluate, diagnose, and treat a patient virtually.9
107	107	(6) "Telemonitoring" means the use of telecommunications10
108	108	technology to augment veterinary services by collecting and delivering11
109	109	health information from a patient.12
110	110	(7) "Telereferral" means a veterinarian with an established13
111	111	veterinarian-client-patient relationship who refers the client to a14
112	112	veterinary specialist to provide veterinary services using15
113	113	telecommunications technology under the established16
114	114	veterinarian-client-patient relationship.17
115	115	(8) "Telesupervision" means the supervision of individuals18
116	116	providing veterinary services using media such as audio, audio-visual19
117	117	conferencing, text messaging, e-mail, or other virtual or digital20
118	118	technologies.21
119	119	(9) "Teletriage" means the safe, appropriate, and timely22
120	120	assessment of an animal, or a group of animals, under conditions of23
121	121	uncertainty and urgency, and the possible referral to a licensed24
122	122	veterinarian, after discussion with the individual responsible for the25
123	123	animal or group of animals, using telecommunications technology. A26
124	124	veterinarian-client-patient relationship is not required for such an27
125	125	SB25-159
126	126	-4- assessment or referral. "Teletriage" does not include the rendering of a1
127	127	diagnosis but may include the provision of tele-advice.2
128	128	(10) (2) "Veterinary specialist" means a veterinarian who is3
129	129	formally recognized as a specialist from a specialty organization that is4
130	130	recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association's American5
131	131	Board of Veterinary Specialties, or its successor organization, or another6
132	132	association that recognizes veterinary specialists that the state board of7
133	133	veterinary medicine has approved by rule.8
134	134	SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-315-302, amend9
135	135	(2)(a) and (3) as follows:10
136	136	12-315-302. Veterinarian-client-patient relationship -11
137	137	telehealth. (2) (a) A veterinarian-client-patient relationship must be12
138	138	established by:13
139	139	(I) An in-person, physical examination of the animal;14
140	140	(II) A
141	141	N ELECTRONIC EXAMINATION USING A SYNCHRONOUS15
142	142	AUDIO-VIDEO BASED COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ; or16
143	143	(III) A
144	144	MEDICALLY APPROPRIATE AND timely visits
145	145	VISIT to the17
146	146	premises where the animal is kept.18
147	147	(3) An established veterinarian-client-patient relationship may be19
148	148	maintained through examinations that occur using telecommunications20
149	149	technology. in between appropriate in-person, physical examinations or21
150	150	visits to the premises where the patient is kept.22
151	151	SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-315-303, amend23
152	152	(1), (2), and (4)(b)(II) as follows:24
153	153	12-315-303. Treatment of patients using telehealth - licensure25
154	154	- technology - consent. (1) (a) A person AN INDIVIDUAL must be26
155	155	licensed to practice veterinary medicine in Colorado in order to practice27
156	156	SB25-159
157	157	-5- telemedicine TELEHEALTH in Colorado.1
158	158	(b) A person AN INDIVIDUAL who is not a licensed veterinarian in2
159	159	Colorado and who uses telemedicine TELEHEALTH to provide veterinary3
160	160	services to animals and individuals responsible for the animals engages4
161	161	in the unauthorized practice of veterinary medicine. Such person5
162	162	INDIVIDUAL is subject to penalties for the unauthorized practice of6
163	163	veterinary medicine pursuant to section 12-315-114.7
164	164	(2) A licensed veterinarian shall employ sound, professional8
165	165	judgment when determining whether to provide veterinary services to a9
166	166	patient through telemedicine TELEHEALTH and shall use telemedicine10
167	167	TELEHEALTH only when such use is medically appropriate based on the11
168	168	patient's condition.12
169	169	(4) (b) A veterinary professional using telehealth to provide13
170	170	veterinary services shall inform the client, or the client's authorized14
171	171	representative, of:15
172	172	(II) Whether, in the veterinarian's professional opinion, the16
173	173	patient's condition can be accurately diagnosed or treated using17
174	174	telemedicine TELEHEALTH; and18
175	175	SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 12-315-30519
176	176	as follows:20
177	177	12-315-305. Prescribing medication through telehealth.21
178	178	(1) (a) Except as provided in subsection (3) SUBSECTIONS (1)(b) AND22
179	179	(1)(c) of this section, only a licensed veterinarian with an established23
180	180	veterinarian-client-patient relationship may prescribe medication through24
181	181	telemedicine A LICENSED VETERINARIAN MAY USE TELEHEALTH TO ORDER ,25
182	182	PRESCRIBE, OR MAKE AVAILABLE A PRESCRIPTION DRUG IN ACCORDANCE26
183	183	WITH ALL APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS .27
184	184	SB25-159
185	185	-6- (b) A licensed veterinarian USING TELEHEALTH shall use1
186	186	professional judgment when determining if it is appropriate to prescribe2
187	187	medication through telemedicine NOT ORDER, PRESCRIBE, OR MAKE3
188	188	AVAILABLE A PRESCRIPTION DRUG THAT IS A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE , AS4
189	189	DEFINED IN SECTION 18-18-102 (5), UNLESS THE VETERINARIAN HAS5
190	190	PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED AN IN-PERSON, PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF THE6
191	191	PATIENT OR MADE MEDICALLY APPROPRIATE AND TIMELY VISITS TO THE7
192	192	PREMISES WHERE THE PATIENT IS KEPT.8
193	193	(c) A
194	194	LICENSED VETERINARIAN USING TELEHEALTH SHALL NOT9
195	195	ORDER, PRESCRIBE, OR MAKE AVAILABLE A PRESCRIPTION DRUG THAT IS10
196	196	AN ANTIMICROBIAL DRUG FOR A PERIOD LONGER THAN FOURTEEN DAYS OF11
197	197	TREATMENT. THE VETERINARIAN SHALL NOT ISSUE ANY ADDITIONAL12
198	198	ANTIMICROBIAL DRUG PRESCRIPTION , INCLUDING A REFILL, UNLESS THE13
199	199	VETERINARIAN HAS CONDUCTED AN IN -PERSON, PHYSICAL EXAMINATION14
200	200	OF THE PATIENT.15
201	201	(2) A licensed veterinarian who prescribes medication through16
202	202	telemedicine
203	203	TELEHEALTH is subject to the limitations on prescriptions17
204	204	specified in section 12-30-109.18
205	205	(3) In accordance with section 12-315-105 (2)(b)
206	206	RELATING TO19
207	207	EMERGENCY VETERINARY SITUATIONS , a licensed veterinarian who does20
208	208	not have an established veterinarian-client-patient relationship with an21
209	209	animal and its owner may use telemedicine
210	210	TELEHEALTH to administer,22
211	211	distribute, or dispense a prescription drug that has been prescribed by23
212	212	another licensed veterinarian who has an established24
213	213	veterinarian-client-patient relationship.25
214	214	SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-315-306, repeal26
215	215	(4) as follows:27
216	216	SB25-159
217	217	-7- 12-315-306. Referrals. (4) (a) A veterinary specialist to whom1
218	218	a patient is referred shall not prescribe medications to the patient unless2
219	219	the veterinary specialist establishes a veterinarian-client-patient3
220	220	relationship through an in-person, physical examination of the patient.4
221	221	(b) The licensed veterinarian with the established5
222	222	veterinarian-client-patient relationship may prescribe medications to the6
223	223	patient after consultation with the veterinary specialist to whom the7
224	224	patient was referred.8
225	225	SECTION 7. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-315-307, amend9
226	226	(1) and (2) introductory portion as follows:10
227	227	12-315-307. Supervision using telehealth - rules. (1) A licensed11
228	228	veterinarian may, provide, at the veterinarian's discretion, telesupervision12
229	229	of USE TELEHEALTH TO SUPERVISE A registered veterinary technicians13
230	230	TECHNICIAN for tasks that do not require direct or immediate supervision,14
231	231	pursuant to board rules.15
232	232	(2) A supervising licensed veterinarian who has an established16
233	233	veterinarian-client-patient relationship may use telesupervision17
234	234	TELEHEALTH to supervise registered veterinary technicians who are not18
235	235	located on the same premises as the supervising veterinarian if:19
236	236	SECTION 8. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 12-315-30820
237	237	as follows:21
238	238	12-315-308. Emergency care - continuity of care. (1) A22
239	239	licensed veterinarian who practices veterinary medicine through23
240	240	telemedicine shall be available in person at a veterinary premises that is24
241	241	accessible to the client and patient or shall arrange for another licensed25
242	242	veterinarian in Colorado to be at a veterinary premises that is accessible26
243	243	to the client and patient in case of an emergency or for necessary27
244	244	SB25-159
245	245	-8- follow-up evaluations.1
246	246	(2) A licensed veterinarian shall provide the A client with a plan2
247	247	for emergency or follow-up care when providing veterinary services3
248	248	through telemedicine TELEHEALTH.4
249	249	SECTION 9. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act5
250	250	takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the6
251	251	ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except7
252	252	that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V8
253	253	of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this9
254	254	act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take10
255	255	effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in11
256	256	November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the12
257	257	official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.13
258	258	SB25-159
259	259	-9-