HB1195: HB1195 Veterinarians; practice and provision of veterinary teletriage and veterinary telemedicine; revise provisions

26 LC 44 3479S/AP House Bill 1195 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representatives Leverett of the 123rd, Mathiak of the 82nd, Gullett of the 19th, Camp of the 135th, and Cooper of the 45th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 7 of Chapter 50 of Title 43 of the Official Co de of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to telemedicine by veterinarians and veterinary technicians, so as to revise provisions2 relating to veterinary telemedicine, teleadvice, and teletriage and the veterinary-client-patient3 relationship; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal4 conflicting laws; and for other purposes.5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6 SECTION 1.7 Article 7 of Chapter 50 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Geo rgia Annotated, relating to8 telemedicine by veterinarians and veterinary technicians, is am ended in Code9 Section 43-50-121, relating to practice of veterinary teletriage and veterinary telemedicine10 regardless of whether a veterinarian-client-patient relationshi p exists, by revising11 subsection (a) as follows:12 "(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this chapter, a licensed veterinarian or a13 veterinary technician supervised by a licensed veterinarian may practice veterinary14 teletriage, regardless of whether a veterinarian-client-patient relationship exists, if the15 following conditions are met:16 H. B. 1195 - 1 - 26 LC 44 3479S/AP (1) No licensed veterinarian or veterinary technician is available within a 50 mile radius17 of the animal's location to perform a physical examination at a veterinary facility or the18 premises where the animal is located within 24 hours of the client's request for services;19 (2)(1) The licensed veterinarian or veterinary technician requests t hat, as soon as20 reasonably practical, the client present the animal patient for a physical examination at21 the veterinary facility or at the premises where such animal is located; and22 (3)(2) The licensed veterinarian or veterinary technician informs the client, in writing,23 of the veterinarian or supervising veterinarian's full name, lo cation, license number,24 licensure status, and limitations involved in accessing veterinary teletriage, and obtains25 a signed and dated statement from the client indicating receipt o f s u c h r e q u i r e d26 information."27 SECTION 2.28 Said article is further amended by revising Code Section 43-50- 122, relating to providing29 veterinary teleadvice regardless of whether a veterinarian-client-patient relationship exists,30 as follows:31 "43-50-122.32 Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to:33 (1) Prohibit prohibit a licensed veterinarian or a veterinary technician supervised by a34 licensed veterinarian from providing veterinary teleadvice, reg ardless of whether a35 veterinary-client-patient relationship exists; or36 (2) Require a valid veterinary-client-patient relationship in order to provide veterinary37 teleadvice or veterinary teletriage."38 SECTION 3.39 This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law40 without such approval.41 H. B. 1195 - 2 - 26 LC 44 3479S/AP SECTION 4.42 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.43 H. B. 1195 - 3 -