New pet telemedicine law in Florida comes into effect in July

The southern state became the 7th in the US to regulate the model following Governor Ron DeSantis’s signature.

The much-awaited Providing Equity in Telehealth Services (PETS) Act has been signed into law by Florida’s Gov. Ron DeSantis. It will come into effect from 1 July 2024.

The PETS Act allows veterinarians in the state to leverage telemedicine technology to boost access to veterinary care and tackle the state’s veterinary workforce shortage.

Senator Jennifer Bradley, one of the sponsors of the bill, says that the new legislation will provide greater flexibility and benefit pet owners “who face difficulties accessing veterinary care.” This includes senior citizens, working families, disabled individuals, and those living in rural areas.

Florida joins 6 other US states that have already regulated veterinary telemedicine: Arizona, Idaho, New Jersey, California, Vermont and Virginia.

Industry support

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has commended the Governor for signing the “critical bill into law.”

“Empowering veterinarians to use telehealth can reduce animal suffering, keep more pets in their homes, and extend the capacity of animal shelters to serve their communities,” says Jennifer Hobgood, ASPCA Senior Director of State Legislation for the Southern Division.

Muskaan Gupta

Associate News Editor at GlobalPETS