First Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED
LLS NO. 25-0604.01 Christopher McMichael x4775
SENATE BILL 25-159
Senate Committees House Committees
Agriculture & Natural Resources
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING THE USE OF VETERINARY TELEHEALTH .101
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov
.)
The bill modifies certain laws related to the practice of veterinary
telehealth. Under current law, in order to practice veterinary telehealth in
Colorado, a licensed veterinarian must establish a
veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) through an in-person,
physical examination of the animal (patient) or by a medically appropriate
and timely visit to the premises where the animal is kept.
The bill allows a veterinarian to establish a VCPR through
telehealth. An in-person, physical examination of the patient or visit to the
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Winter F. and Cutter,
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
(None),
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. premises is not necessary, and the veterinarian may establish the VCPR
through an electronic examination using synchronous audio-video based
communication technology.
The bill clarifies the definition of "telehealth" and changes
references throughout current law from "telemedicine" to "telehealth".
Under current law, a licensed veterinarian is prohibited from
prescribing drugs to a patient through telehealth unless the veterinarian
has conducted an in-person, physical examination of the patient. The bill
removes that requirement and permits a veterinarian to prescribe drugs to
a patient through telehealth as long as the veterinarian has established a
VCPR and follows certain requirements. However, the bill still requires
an in-person, physical examination of the patient in order to prescribe the
patient a controlled substance or an antimicrobial for longer than 14 days.
The bill removes the requirement under current law that a
veterinarian who uses telehealth be available in person at a veterinary
premises that is accessible to the client and patient for follow-up
evaluations. The bill also repeals a provision in current law that prohibits
a veterinary specialist to whom a patient has been referred from
prescribing medication to the patient unless that veterinary specialist has
established a VCPR through an in-person, physical examination of the
patient.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-315-104, amend2
(19)(a)(II) as follows:3
12-315-104. Definitions. As used in this article 315, unless the4
context otherwise requires:5
(19) (a) "Veterinarian-client-patient relationship" means the6
relationship established when:7
(II) There is sufficient knowledge of an animal by the veterinarian8
to initiate at least a general or preliminary diagnosis of the medical9
condition of the animal, which means that the veterinarian has recently
10
seen and is personally acquainted with the keeping and care of the animal11
by virtue of:12
(A) An in-person, physical examination of the animal;13
SB25-159-2- (B) AN ELECTRONIC EXAMINATION USING A SYNCHRONOUS1
AUDIO-VIDEO BASED COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ; or by2
(C) A medically appropriate and timely visits VISIT to the premises3
where the animal is kept; and4
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 12-315-3015
as follows:6
12-315-301. Definitions - rules. As used in this part 3, unless the7
context otherwise requires:8
(1) "Tele-advice" means the provision of any health information,9
opinion, or guidance by a veterinary professional that is not intended to10
diagnose, treat, or issue prognoses of an animal's, or group of animals',11
physical or behavioral illness or injury. A veterinarian-client-patient12
relationship is not required to provide tele-advice.13
(2) "Teleconsulting" means a veterinarian who communicates14
with a veterinary specialist or other qualified expert using15
telecommunications technology to gain insight or advice regarding the16
care of a patient.17
(3) "Tele-education" means the use of information and18
telecommunications technology for distance learning.19
(4) (a) (1) "Telehealth" means the use of telecommunications20
technology to provide veterinary services or to collect and deliver21
veterinary health information or education virtually and can encompass22
general veterinary services or patient-specific veterinary services A23
METHOD OF DELIVERY OF VETERINARY HEALTH -CARE SERVICES THROUGH24
TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS , INCLUDING INFORMATION, ELECTRONIC,25
AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES , TO FACILITATE THE ASSESSMENT,26
DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT OF A PATIENT WHILE THE PATIENT IS LOCATED27
SB25-159
-3- AT ONE SITE AND THE VETERINARIAN IS LOCATED AT A DIFFERENT SITE .1
(b) "Telehealth" may include tele-advice, teleconsulting,2
tele-education, telemedicine, telemonitoring, telereferral, telesupervision,3
teletriage, and other tools that help veterinary professionals deliver4
veterinary education and services virtually.5
(5) "Telemedicine" means the remote practice of veterinary6
medicine through the use of telecommunications technology that allows7
a licensed veterinarian with an established veterinarian-client-patient8
relationship to evaluate, diagnose, and treat a patient virtually.9
(6) "Telemonitoring" means the use of telecommunications10
technology to augment veterinary services by collecting and delivering11
health information from a patient.12
(7) "Telereferral" means a veterinarian with an established13
veterinarian-client-patient relationship who refers the client to a14
veterinary specialist to provide veterinary services using15
telecommunications technology under the established16
veterinarian-client-patient relationship.17
(8) "Telesupervision" means the supervision of individuals18
providing veterinary services using media such as audio, audio-visual19
conferencing, text messaging, e-mail, or other virtual or digital20
technologies.21
(9) "Teletriage" means the safe, appropriate, and timely22
assessment of an animal, or a group of animals, under conditions of23
uncertainty and urgency, and the possible referral to a licensed24
veterinarian, after discussion with the individual responsible for the25
animal or group of animals, using telecommunications technology. A26
veterinarian-client-patient relationship is not required for such an27
SB25-159
-4- assessment or referral. "Teletriage" does not include the rendering of a1
diagnosis but may include the provision of tele-advice.2
(10) (2) "Veterinary specialist" means a veterinarian who is3
formally recognized as a specialist from a specialty organization that is4
recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association's American5
Board of Veterinary Specialties, or its successor organization, or another6
association that recognizes veterinary specialists that the state board of7
veterinary medicine has approved by rule.8
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-315-302, amend9
(2)(a) and (3) as follows:10
12-315-302. Veterinarian-client-patient relationship -11
telehealth. (2) (a) A veterinarian-client-patient relationship must be12
established by:13
(I) An in-person, physical examination of the animal;14
(II) A
N ELECTRONIC EXAMINATION USING A SYNCHRONOUS15
AUDIO-VIDEO BASED COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ; or16
(III) A
MEDICALLY APPROPRIATE AND timely visits
VISIT to the17
premises where the animal is kept.18
(3) An established veterinarian-client-patient relationship may be19
maintained through examinations that occur using telecommunications20
technology. in between appropriate in-person, physical examinations or21
visits to the premises where the patient is kept.22
SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-315-303, amend23
(1), (2), and (4)(b)(II) as follows:24
12-315-303. Treatment of patients using telehealth - licensure25
- technology - consent. (1) (a) A person AN INDIVIDUAL must be26
licensed to practice veterinary medicine in Colorado in order to practice27
SB25-159
-5- telemedicine TELEHEALTH in Colorado.1
(b) A person AN INDIVIDUAL who is not a licensed veterinarian in2
Colorado and who uses telemedicine TELEHEALTH to provide veterinary3
services to animals and individuals responsible for the animals engages4
in the unauthorized practice of veterinary medicine. Such person5
INDIVIDUAL is subject to penalties for the unauthorized practice of6
veterinary medicine pursuant to section 12-315-114.7
(2) A licensed veterinarian shall employ sound, professional8
judgment when determining whether to provide veterinary services to a9
patient through telemedicine TELEHEALTH and shall use telemedicine10
TELEHEALTH only when such use is medically appropriate based on the11
patient's condition.12
(4) (b) A veterinary professional using telehealth to provide13
veterinary services shall inform the client, or the client's authorized14
representative, of:15
(II) Whether, in the veterinarian's professional opinion, the16
patient's condition can be accurately diagnosed or treated using17
telemedicine TELEHEALTH; and18
SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 12-315-30519
as follows:20
12-315-305. Prescribing medication through telehealth.21
(1) (a) Except as provided in subsection (3) SUBSECTIONS (1)(b) AND22
(1)(c) of this section, only a licensed veterinarian with an established23
veterinarian-client-patient relationship may prescribe medication through24
telemedicine A LICENSED VETERINARIAN MAY USE TELEHEALTH TO ORDER ,25
PRESCRIBE, OR MAKE AVAILABLE A PRESCRIPTION DRUG IN ACCORDANCE26
WITH ALL APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS .27
SB25-159
-6- (b) A licensed veterinarian USING TELEHEALTH shall use1
professional judgment when determining if it is appropriate to prescribe2
medication through telemedicine NOT ORDER, PRESCRIBE, OR MAKE3
AVAILABLE A PRESCRIPTION DRUG THAT IS A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE , AS4
DEFINED IN SECTION 18-18-102 (5), UNLESS THE VETERINARIAN HAS5
PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED AN IN-PERSON, PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF THE6
PATIENT OR MADE MEDICALLY APPROPRIATE AND TIMELY VISITS TO THE7
PREMISES WHERE THE PATIENT IS KEPT.8
(c) A
LICENSED VETERINARIAN USING TELEHEALTH SHALL NOT9
ORDER, PRESCRIBE, OR MAKE AVAILABLE A PRESCRIPTION DRUG THAT IS10
AN ANTIMICROBIAL DRUG FOR A PERIOD LONGER THAN FOURTEEN DAYS OF11
TREATMENT. THE VETERINARIAN SHALL NOT ISSUE ANY ADDITIONAL12
ANTIMICROBIAL DRUG PRESCRIPTION , INCLUDING A REFILL, UNLESS THE13
VETERINARIAN HAS CONDUCTED AN IN -PERSON, PHYSICAL EXAMINATION14
OF THE PATIENT.15
(2) A licensed veterinarian who prescribes medication through16
telemedicine
TELEHEALTH is subject to the limitations on prescriptions17
specified in section 12-30-109.18
(3) In accordance with section 12-315-105 (2)(b)
RELATING TO19
EMERGENCY VETERINARY SITUATIONS , a licensed veterinarian who does20
not have an established veterinarian-client-patient relationship with an21
animal and its owner may use telemedicine
TELEHEALTH to administer,22
distribute, or dispense a prescription drug that has been prescribed by23
another licensed veterinarian who has an established24
veterinarian-client-patient relationship.25
SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-315-306, repeal26
(4) as follows:27
SB25-159
-7- 12-315-306. Referrals. (4) (a) A veterinary specialist to whom1
a patient is referred shall not prescribe medications to the patient unless2
the veterinary specialist establishes a veterinarian-client-patient3
relationship through an in-person, physical examination of the patient.4
(b) The licensed veterinarian with the established5
veterinarian-client-patient relationship may prescribe medications to the6
patient after consultation with the veterinary specialist to whom the7
patient was referred.8
SECTION 7. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-315-307, amend9
(1) and (2) introductory portion as follows:10
12-315-307. Supervision using telehealth - rules. (1) A licensed11
veterinarian may, provide, at the veterinarian's discretion, telesupervision12
of USE TELEHEALTH TO SUPERVISE A registered veterinary technicians13
TECHNICIAN for tasks that do not require direct or immediate supervision,14
pursuant to board rules.15
(2) A supervising licensed veterinarian who has an established16
veterinarian-client-patient relationship may use telesupervision17
TELEHEALTH to supervise registered veterinary technicians who are not18
located on the same premises as the supervising veterinarian if:19
SECTION 8. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 12-315-30820
as follows:21
12-315-308. Emergency care - continuity of care. (1) A22
licensed veterinarian who practices veterinary medicine through23
telemedicine shall be available in person at a veterinary premises that is24
accessible to the client and patient or shall arrange for another licensed25
veterinarian in Colorado to be at a veterinary premises that is accessible26
to the client and patient in case of an emergency or for necessary27
SB25-159
-8- follow-up evaluations.1
(2) A licensed veterinarian shall provide the A client with a plan2
for emergency or follow-up care when providing veterinary services3
through telemedicine TELEHEALTH.4
SECTION 9. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act5
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the6
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except7
that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V8
of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this9
act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take10
effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in11
November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the12
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.13
SB25-159
-9-