The Humane Society of the United States Testimony in Support of HB 5804

Summary

Testimony dated March 3rd, 2022 from the Michigan State Director of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) in support of House Bill 5804. The HSUS states that the bill would increase access to veterinary care by allowing practices to establish or maintain a veterinary-client-patient relationship (VCPR) through telemedicine services. It notes that families may face time constraints, transportation issues or pets that react poorly to clinic visits, and that telemedicine was used without incident in numerous states during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. The testimony says the HSUS is not advocating for any mandate requiring veterinarians to offer telemedicine and urges a favorable vote on HB 5804.

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An ES THE HUMANE SOCIETY

OF THE UNITED STATES

Testimony in Support of HB 5804
March 3rd, 2022
Molly Tamutevich, Michigan State Director
The Humane Society of the United States

On behalf of our Michigan supporters, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is writing to
express our support for House Bill 5804, which will increase access to veterinary care and allow more
pet owners, no matter their circumstances, to utilize vital services and help assure the health and
wellbeing of their companion animals.

One of the first barriers to access, is getting clients in the door. Many families have time constraints that
are incompatible with the hours veterinary clinics keep or have transportation issues and cannot travel
to an office. Or have a pet that reacts poorly to visiting veterinary clinics. There are numerous scenarios
where virtual care could alleviate those problems and allow a veterinarian to first establish a
relationship with a patient and caretaker ahead of an in-person visit. Veterinarians are already using
techniques to establish veterinary-client-patient relationships (VCPR) without ever touching an animal,
for example using low-stress handling. In situations where a pet is acting aggressively, veterinarians are
typically not preforming physical examinations but instead relying on visual cues and patient history. The
broader definition of sufficient knowledge that HB 5804 allows, gives veterinarians the ability to exercise
their professional judgement in making clinical decisions about a patient’s health. DVMs have
undergone rigorous education and training to prepare them for practice and we should trust their
judgement in veterinary medicine, including in the utilization of telemedicine. Additionally, by allowing
practices to establish or maintain a VCPR through telemedicine services, communities that have
traditionally been underserved and would have greater access to important pet-keeping resources.

Telemedicine is one of the most effective methods for providing animal weliness services equitably and
was utilized without incident in numerous states during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. We are
not advocating for any mandate by the legislature requiring veterinarians offer telemedicine services or
establish VCPRs exclusively through electronic means, but those who choose to offer these services can
not only provide quality, and potentially lifesaving care, but can also improve efficiency within their
practices and offer more flexible scheduling options to clients.

Pet companionship should not be reserved solely for those above a certain income threshold. Pets offer
joy and comfort to their caregivers, and it has been well-documented that companion animals also
provide numerous physical and mental health benefits. However, without adequate access to veterinary
services and pet resources, both families and pets suffer, and in many instances, this results in
relinquishment which negatively affects ali parties involved.

We thank the committee for your attention to this important issue and urge the committee to vote
favorably on HB 5804 to better serve Michigan’s pet owners and veterinary community.


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