Bill will limit pets’ access to telehealth

The legislature recently passed House Bill 1048, which purports to expand veterinary telehealth. However, this bill does nothing to increase veterinary telemedicine access — instead, it takes us backward, limiting how Coloradans can access veterinary care.

Veterinary telehealth is already utilized in Colorado. The only real change in HB-1048 is a new restriction requiring pet owners to travel to a veterinarian’s office before they can receive any treatment — including telemedicine. Ideally, every animal visits their veterinarian in person when needed, but the reality is many Coloradans cannot get an appointment or find a veterinarian in their community whom they can access and afford. Recognizing this need, Florida, Arizona and California expanded veterinary telemedicine last year, passing bills nearly unanimously with 351 total yes votes to only seven no.

This is because, as we have seen in human health care, telemedicine is a great way to expand care and reduce costs for rural and underserved communities. Yet, instead of taking this successful approach, Colorado legislators voted to narrow the scope of veterinary telehealth by allowing only people who have the means and resources to physically access our current, broken system to get the care they need.

All Colorado pets deserve veterinary care, and HB-1048 makes it even more difficult for struggling pet owners to support their beloved animal companions. Gov. Jared Polis should veto this misguided bill and instead drive real solutions to the veterinary care crisis in Colorado.

— Janice Kercheville, Denver

— Editor’s note: Kercheville is the board chief of the Dumb Friends League.