Testimony Before the Michigan House of Representatives Rules and Competitiveness Committee Regarding HB 5804

Summary

Testimony dated 03/03/2022 by Vittorio Nastasi, a Policy Analyst with the Reason Foundation, before the Michigan House of Representatives Rules and Competitiveness Committee regarding HB 5804 on veterinary medicine. The testimony states that a Reason Foundation report reviewed telehealth policies in all 50 states and found that only three states require an in-person visit before human patients can receive telehealth services, with Michigan among the 47 states without such restrictions. It says the Michigan Board of Veterinary Medicine finalized rules last year authorizing telehealth without a previous in-person visit, and that HB 5804 would codify that progress into law. Nastasi argues that in-person requirements are most costly for rural pet owners and people without reliable transportation.

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Testimony Before the Michigan House of
Representatives Rules and Competitiveness
Committee Regarding HB 5804: Veterinary
Medicine

Prepared for: Michigan House of Representatives, Rules and Competitiveness — FOUNDATION
Committee

Prepared by: Vittorio Nastasi
Date: 03/03/2022

Mr. Chair and committee members, my name is Vittorio Nastasi, and I am a Policy Analyst with
the Reason Foundation. Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments today.

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the ability of telehealth to promote access to quality
care without the need for in-person visits. Unfortunately, laws and regulations often fail to keep
pace with technological innovation. A recent report published by Reason Foundation reviewed
telehealth policies in all 50 states and found significant room for improvement.

However, one area where nearly all states received top marks was the ability to establish a
patient-provider relationship via telehealth. According to our analysis, only three states require
an in-person visit before human patients can receive telehealth services. Michigan is among the
47 states without such restrictions.

Last year, the Michigan Board of Veterinary Medicine finalized rules authorizing telehealth
without requiring a previous in-person visit. This approach makes sense and affords animal
owners flexibility and convenience.

In most cases, it makes more sense for a patient and provider to meet first over telehealth to
determine if an in-person visit is necessary. In such cases, requiring an in-person visit prior to the
provision of telehealth services is both unnecessary and inefficient. Burdensome in-person
requirements are most costly for rural pet owners and people without reliable access to
transportation.

HB 5804 would codify the progress made by the Board of Veterinary Medicine last year into
law. This would ensure owners have convenient and affordable access to care for their pets.

As with human medicine, telehealth cannot and should not replace in-person care. However,
telehealth is a safe, efficient, and cost-effective option for many veterinary needs. State law
should therefore promote access to care by embracing the benefits of technological innovations
like teleheaith.

Contact: Reason Foundation is a national 501(c)(3} public policy research education
Vittorio Nastasi organization with expertise across a range of policy areas. Reason Foundation offers
vittorio.nastasi@reason.org pro-bono consulting to public officials and other stakeholders to help design and

imptement practical policy solutions. For more information visit reason.org


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