G. Robert Weedon
During the 2024 legislative session, Florida lawmakers have the opportunity to pass two bills that would increase access to veterinary care in the Sunshine State.
The Veterinary Workforce Innovation Act (SB 1038/HB 1245), which creates a professional associate position for veterinarians, and the Equity in Telehealth Services Act, which updates Florida law to allow veterinarians like me to take advantage of telemedicine. Act (HB 849/SB 1040) will allow us to effectively treat more animal patients.
Polk County Representative Sam Killebrew (R-Winter Haven), one of the bill sponsors, along with Sen. Jen Bradley (R-Fleming Island) for introducing this important and timely bill. appreciate.
As a semi-retired veterinarian and part-time spay/neuter surgeon at the Polk County Humane Society, I am amazed at how many pet owners are struggling to receive veterinary care, especially during a severe shortage of veterinarians. I saw firsthand how hard it was. Many of the pets I spay or neuter have never been to a veterinarian, and the shortage of veterinarians is causing a significant backlog in spaying and neutering across Florida.
The Veterinary Workforce Innovation Act created “PA” positions, similar to physician assistants in human medicine, where individuals with a master's degree in clinical care in veterinary medicine work under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. and enable more patients to access affordable care, including: We perform sterilization surgeries for pets. The bill's language builds on Florida's proven physician assistant law to help fill gaps in veterinary care, just as the physician assistant role has helped bring health care to more people. It is reflected.
The PETS law is similarly modeled after Florida's current human telehealth provider law, which allows veterinarians to treat pets that have recently missed an office visit for a variety of reasons, including unavailability of an appointment. You will be able to use virtual technology as an additional tool. Because of economic hardship, transportation difficulties, or because they live in rural or underserved areas.
As any pet owner knows, your pet may need veterinary care on weekends or in the evenings when most clinics are closed. In that case, the owner is left with one of her two options: I will wait until Monday to see if I can get a reservation. Take time off from work or take your pet to a costly emergency room for testing. Telemedicine is customized to help pet families receive care when their pets need it most.
Unfortunately, outdated regulations in Florida prevent veterinarians from using telehealth technology as an additional tool to reach more patients. Florida law currently prohibits veterinarians from providing telemedicine to pet patients unless they have recently examined the animal in person, which is cumbersome and unnecessary because it overrides the veterinarian's professional judgment. This is a requirement.
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According to a recent poll, 90% of Florida's registered voters support legislation that would create the role of veterinary PA, and 89% support expanding access to telemedicine for veterinarians. When old ways of doing things are not serving the public, with more than a third of pets not receiving regular veterinary care, it's time for innovation.
I urge all Polk County legislators to work together to ensure the passage of the PETS Act and the Veterinary Workforce Innovation Act this Congress.
G. Robert Weedon is a semi-retired veterinarian and part-time spay/neuter surgeon for the Polk County Humane Society. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Alliance for Feline and Canine Contraception.
