Bill > HB4220

This bill establishes comprehensive guidelines for creating and maintaining a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) in Michigan, focusing on ensuring quality veterinary care through both in-person and telehealth interactions. The bill requires veterinarians to take responsibility for making clinical judgments about an animal's health and mandates that they have current knowledge of the animal through in-person examinations, telehealth consultations using real-time audio and visual technology, or medically appropriate site visits. When using telehealth, veterinarians are restricted from examining non-companion animals or issuing certain health certificates and must use electronic diagnostic equipment. The bill also limits prescription capabilities during telehealth consultations, allowing only 14-day supplies with restrictions on controlled substances and requiring in-person examinations for ongoing treatment. Veterinarians must be available for emergency coverage and encourage follow-up in-person examinations if telehealth cannot fully address health concerns. The legislation defines key terms like "companion animal," "telehealth," and "qualified individual" and includes a tie-bar provision requiring another related bill (House Bill 4221) to be enacted for this bill to take effect, thus ensuring coordinated legislative action.

Government Affairs

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-HB-4220