Help Pets Access Vet Care!

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AZ. S.B. 1286 — Expanding Access to Veterinary Telehealth

ASPCA Position: Support

Sponsor: Senator John Kavanagh

Arizona lawmakers are considering a bill that would continue to improve access to veterinary care by removing restrictions that have prevented veterinarians from prescribing common pet medications through telehealth appointments. Please urge your lawmakers to support this bill.

This bill expands upon legislation enacted in 2023, that enabled licensed veterinarians to treat new patients over telehealth. Current rules cap telehealth prescriptions at unnecessarily short timeframes. This important bill would let veterinarians prescribe medications at more reasonable intervals that make sense for the pet’s needs.

Arizona pet owners and animal shelters are struggling to access timely veterinary care amid an ongoing veterinary workforce shortage. Telehealth makes it possible for licensed veterinarians to prescribe common medications safely and conveniently, so pets receive the attention and treatment they need from the comfort of their homes.

Why Telehealth Is Important

Veterinary telehealth has helped Arizona’s pet owners overcome common barriers to care. People who live in rural or underserved areas, experience challenges with transportation or whose work schedules make in-person appointments difficult have all benefited from Arizona’s access to veterinary telehealth. Pets like it, too! Large, fearful or senior animals who are more difficult to transport and who may struggle with in-person visits exemplify the importance of veterinary telehealth.

Now it’s time to adjust rules that force veterinarians to prescribe only short-term prescriptions through telehealth, even when pets often need more.

What You Can Do

Please use our easy form below to send an email urging your state senator to support this bill and further expand veterinary telehealth across the Grand Canyon State.

Advocacy Alert

Your Message

Subject Please Support S.B. 1286 to Expand Access to Veterinary Telemedicine

Dear Lawmaker,

Message

As your constituent, I am writing to respectfully urge you to support S.B. 1286, legislation that would expand access to veterinary telemedicine for pet owners across Arizona.

Arizona is facing a significant veterinary workforce shortage, making it increasingly difficult for pet owners to access timely care for their animals. When pets cannot receive prompt treatment, manageable conditions can worsen, leading to unnecessary suffering and sometimes forcing families to relinquish their pets to already overcrowded animal shelters.

Veterinary telemedicine can help address these challenges by allowing licensed veterinarians to provide remote consultations for appropriate cases. Telemedicine can be especially helpful for pet owners who live in rural or underserved areas, face transportation barriers, have demanding work schedules or care for animals that are difficult to transport.

Many common issues such as eye, ear or skin concerns, parasite prevention, gastrointestinal or mobility issues, and behavioral or nutritional consultations, can often be treated through telemedicine at the veterinarian’s discretion.

S.B. 1286 extends allowable prescription duration limits that currently constrain veterinarians’ ability to provide appropriate care through telemedicine. Expanding access to safe and convenient telemedicine services will help more Arizona families get the veterinary support they need while helping keep pets healthy and in loving homes.

For these reasons, I ask that you please vote YES on S.B. 1286. Thank you for your time and consideration of my views.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]
[Your Address]

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