The first half of the 2025-2026 legislative session has been historically unproductive for the Michigan legislature. As of November 18, 2025, only 31 bills have been enacted into law. By comparison, there were 275 bills enacted into law in 2024. While there is still time for more bills to be enacted before the end of this year, it is clear that the contentious budget cycle and partisan friction between the Republican-controlled House and the Democrat-controlled Senate have significantly decreased the policy work being done in Lansing.
Despite the slow start to this legislative session, we do have some good news to share. HB 4220 and HB 4221, bills that would expand access to veterinary care by allowing veterinarians to see animal patients via telehealth without requiring a prior in-person examination, passed the House in an 84-17 vote (with 9 members absent and not voting).
Background
In most states, a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) is required before a veterinarian can treat a patient. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), a VCPR is created when:
- You have chosen a veterinarian to care for your animal.
- That veterinarian has seen your animal recently enough (typically through a hands-on examination) to understand their health needs.
- You agree to follow your veterinarian’s instructions, and they agree to take responsibility for your animal’s care.
Federal law requires all licensed veterinarians, regardless of the state in which they practice, to establish a VCPR before issuing a veterinarian feed directive (VFD) or before prescribing a drug for an extra-label use.
Unlike the majority of states, Michigan has no statute or administrative rules regarding the establishment of a VCPR. Michigan does have an administrative rule enacted by the Michigan Board of Veterinary Medicine (which is part of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs) regarding a veterinarian’s use of telehealth. One of the prerequisites before telehealth may be used is that the veterinarian “(d) Have sufficient, current knowledge of the animal patient to render telehealth services demonstrated by satisfying 1 of the following: (i) Except in the case of an emergency, have recently examined the animal patient in person. (ii) Have conducted medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises where the group of animal patients is kept.” A previous version of this rule allowed a veterinarian to use telehealth without a prior in-person examination of the animal patient.
Since the 2021-2022 legislative session, bills have been introduced that would require Michigan veterinarians to establish a VCPR before providing care to a patient. A major point of contention has been whether a veterinarian should be able to use telehealth to establish a VCPR without a prior in-person examination of the patient. You can find past articles about those bills here and here.
The primary benefit of telehealth for a veterinary practice is to provide tele-triage, answer simple inquiries a client might have about their pet, and provide discussion-based care in a convenient and cost-effective way. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of telehealth was not restricted, and it provided a safe and effective means to access veterinary care when in-person appointments were not an option. As it pertains to our work at Michigan Humane, telehealth services could help us meet people where they are. If they are disabled, lack transportation, or have a pet that is aggressive or would be excessively stressed by a visit to the clinic, they need another way to connect with a veterinarian. Telehealth can also help our veterinarians determine if an animal needs urgent care and would allow us to work with our Field Services and Community Solutions teams to keep pets with their families.
HB 4220 and HB 4221
Michigan Humane supports HB 4220 and HB 4221 because they would improve access to veterinary care. By allowing highly educated, licensed veterinarians to establish a VCPR through “conducting an examination of the animal through telehealth using real-time interactive audio and visual electronic technology,” veterinarians can exercise their professional judgment and decide when pets need to have an in-person examination and when veterinary telemedicine would be a safe method for providing care. This legislation applies only to companion animals and limits what prescriptions can be provided via telehealth.
Having passed the House, the bills will now move to the Senate, where they will likely be assigned to the Regulatory Affairs committee.
We are going to keep working to improve animal welfare and create a more humane community while serving as a voice for animals through advocacy. Together, we can continue to make a difference in animals’ lives. If you know someone who you think would be interested in this information, please forward this to them and encourage them to sign up for our Legislative Action Network at https://horizon-lab.news/advocacy/%3C/a%3E.