Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-933-010 Definitions and 246-933-200 Veterinary client patient relationship (VCPR). The veterinary board of governors (board) is considering establishing additional standards for telemedicine services. The board is considering amending WAC 246-933-200 and 246-933-010 and creating a new rule section.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: In February 2022, the board received a rule-making petition requesting, at a minimum, that VCPR be established "either physically or through indirect supervision via remote video observation and guidance of an examination of the patient by a Washington State Licensed Veterinary Technician." The petitioner clarified an option to allow the VCPR to be maintained between medically necessary examinations via telephone or other types of consultations. However, a rule change should prohibit the prescribing of Schedule II controlled substances without first performing a hands-on examination.

In March 2022, the board received [a] second rule-making petition requesting the board modify veterinary telemedicine rules to allow a veterinarian to prescribe preventative medicines without the requirement for an annual in-person examination of the animal.

The board will consider a third rule-making petition at their September 2022 business meeting requesting the board amend rules to allow VCPR virtually.

At its March 21, 2022, meeting, the board reviewed both rule-making petitions and agreed to begin rule making to consider changes to WAC 246-933-010, 246-933-200, and possibly adding [a] new section to set additional standards for veterinary telemedicine services. The board agrees there are areas of veterinarian services that may be appropriate for veterinary telemedicine. The rule-making petitions request specific changes; the board agrees to consider those requests during the rule-making process along with establishing new veterinary telemedicine standards.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Loralei Walker, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7853 [7852], phone 360-236-4947, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 711, email loralei.walker@doh.wa.gov, website https://doh.wa.gov.

Additional comments: Notices will be emailed through the program's GovDelivery interested parties list. To sign up, please go to https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new. Stakeholders will be invited to participate in meetings and rule drafting workshops. At the formal proposal stage of rule making, proposed rule language will be posted on the department's rules comments website to receive public comment for the public hearing.