Subject of Possible Rule Making: Telehealth veterinarian-client-patient relationships (VCPR). The veterinary board of governors (board) is considering amendments to and establishing new sections in chapter 246-933 WAC, Veterinarians—Veterinary board, to implement ESHB 2247, (chapter 202, Laws of 2026), allowing a VCPR to be established and maintained through telehealth. The board will also consider additional updates to the chapter as necessary to implement the bill.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: In 2026, the legislature passed ESHB 2247, which amended RCW 18.92.015 and added a new section to chapter 18.92 RCW allowing VCPRs to be established and maintained via telehealth. The bill allows veterinarians to establish a VCPR without an in-person, hands-on physical exam. The bill also allows a virtual VCPR to be extended indefinitely via electronic means. Veterinarians will be able to prescribe medications without performing a hands-on physical exam of the animal patient and those medications can be dispensed by other licensed veterinarians at the practice.

The bill requires veterinarians to certify with the board of having at least 14 days, with a minimum of 105 total hours, one year of practice in a clinic setting with hands-on animal experience unless telehealth medicine is less than 90 percent of the veterinarian's annual practice, or unless the veterinarian has over 20 years of practicing veterinary experience. The board may exempt individual veterinarians otherwise precluded from in-person practice from the requirements of this subsection.

To ensure animal patient safety, the board will consider setting criteria for the allowance of virtual visits, determine criteria for exempting individuals from in-person practice, and create a new section for emergency care. The board will also consider additional updates as needed to implement the bill.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Poppy Budrow, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 564-669-0026, TTY 711, email poppy.budrow@doh.wa.gov, website www.doh.wa.gov, email veterinary@doh.wa.gov.

Additional comments: The board will use existing email communication lists and other known contact information to inform interested parties of opportunities to provide input on proposed rule language. To find out more information about our rule making, visit www.doh.wa.gov. To subscribe to our email lists, please visit www.doh.wa.gov, and select the "Sign up for Updates From DOH" button at the bottom of the page. After signing in, click open the box labeled "Health Systems Quality Assurance (HSQA)." Next, select the box labeled "Health Professions," and then select "Veterinary Board of Governors."