Update — March 21, 2025: Unfortunately, this bill did not receive the votes it needed to advance this year. With your help, we will continue fighting for better access to veterinary telemedicine during future legislative sessions. Thank you for each action you took to advocate for this bill.
This bill would have empowered veterinarians to use telehealth technology to provide safe, convenient and effective veterinary care to new and existing patients.
Telehealth will modernize high-quality veterinary care and make it more accessible to pet owners. People are taking advantage of virtual appointments for their own medical care, and it’s time for the Centennial State to extend the benefits of this technology to the veterinary field.
Telemedicine makes it possible to connect with a licensed veterinarian quickly and conveniently, and it benefits a wide range of people and pets. Video calls with vets from the comfort of a pet’s home can help treat a wide range of ailments and facilitate routine, preventive services.
Veterinary telemedicine is a lifeline for pet owners who live in remote or underserved areas, struggle to afford vet care, or who face other obstacles such as work schedules that conflict with normal clinic hours. Pets who are frightened of going to the vet, potentially reactive, large or difficult to transport all benefit from better access to virtual care.
Additionally, the veterinary industry is facing a critical shortage of professionals in the workforce, and Colorado families are struggling to access care for their pets. According to the Veterinary Care Accessibility Project, counties across Colorado continue to have minimal access to veterinary care; Colorado has a failing Veterinary Care Accessibility Score.
As we have seen in human medicine, expanding access to video telemedicine helps bridge gaps in care caused by workforce shortages or other barriers.
What You Can Do
Please complete the brief form below to send an email thanking your state senator for supporting this bill.
