OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
S.B. 268 Bill Analysis
135th General Assembly
Click here for S.B. 268’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Introduced
Primary Sponsors: Sens. Wilkin and S. Huffman
Effective date:
Jeff Grim, Research Analyst
SUMMARY
 Allows a licensed veterinarian to conduct veterinary telehealth services with a client and
the client’s animal if:
 The veterinarian obtains the informed consent from the client, including an
acknowledgement that the standards of care prescribed by the law governing
veterinarians equally apply to in-person and telehealth visits;
 The veterinarian provides the client with the veterinarian’s name and contact
information and secures an alternate means of contacting the client if the telehealth
visit is interrupted; and
 Before conducting an evaluation of a patient via a telehealth visit, the veterinarian
advises the client concerning certain information, including that the veterinarian
may ultimately recommend an in-person visit.
 Allows a licensed veterinarian to prescribe drugs or medications after establishing a
veterinary-client-patient relationship via telehealth services with several provisos,
including that the veterinarian may issue an initial prescription for up to 30 days and,
after a subsequent telehealth visit, one refill for up to 30 days.
 Regarding establishing a veterinary-client-patient relationship and demonstrating
knowledge of a patient to establish a relationship, adds to that the demonstration may
include an examination of the patient in real time via telehealth services.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
Veterinary telehealth services
The bill establishes requirements and procedures for veterinarians licensed to practice
in Ohio to conduct veterinary telehealth services with clients and the client’s animal. A licensed
veterinarian may conduct telehealth services if all of the following apply:
May 16, 2024
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
1. The veterinarian obtains the informed consent from the client, including an
acknowledgement that the standards of care prescribed by the law governing
veterinarians equally apply to in-person and telehealth visits. The veterinarian must
maintain documentation of the consent for at least three years.
2. The veterinarian provides the client with the veterinarian’s name and contact
information and secures an alternate means of contacting the client if the telehealth
visit is interrupted. Following the telehealth visit, the veterinarian must make available
to the client an electronic or written record of the visit. The record must include the
veterinarian’s license number.
3. Before conducting an evaluation of a patient via a telehealth visit, the veterinarian
advises the client of all of the following:
a. The veterinarian may ultimately recommend an in-person visit;
b. The veterinarian is prohibited under federal law from prescribing certain drugs or
medications based only on a telehealth visit;
c. The appointment for a telehealth visit may be terminated at any time; and
d. The veterinarian may recommend the client to a licensed veterinarian who can see
the patient in person.1
Telehealth drug prescriptions
The bill allows a licensed veterinarian to prescribe drugs or medications after
establishing a veterinary-client-patient relationship via telehealth services (see below), except
that all of the following apply:
1. The veterinarian may issue an initial prescription for up to 30 days. The veterinarian may
issue one refill for up to 30 days if the veterinarian sees the patient for another
telehealth visit. For additional refills, the patient must visit the veterinarian in person.
2. The veterinarian must notify the client that certain prescription drugs or medications
may be available at a pharmacy and, if requested, the veterinarian will submit a
prescription to a pharmacy of the client’s choosing;
3. The veterinarian must not order, prescribe, or make available a controlled substance
unless the veterinarian has performed an in-person physical examination of the
patient.2
Veterinary-client-patient relationship
Current law establishes conditions under which a veterinary-client-patient relationship
serves as the basis for interaction between a veterinarian, their client, and the client’s animal
1 R.C. 4741.041(A).
2 R.C. 4741.041(B).
P a g e |2 S.B. 268
As Introduced
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
(patient). One of those conditions requires the veterinarian to have sufficient knowledge of the
patient to initiate at least a general or preliminary diagnosis of the patient’s medical condition.
To demonstrate that knowledge, the veterinarian must have seen the patient recently and be
acquainted personally with the keeping and care of the patient by (1) examining the patient, or
(2) making medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises where the patient is kept.
The bill adds that the demonstration may include an examination of the patient in real
time via telehealth services in accordance with the bill.3
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 05-14-24
ANSB0268IN-135/ts
3 R.C. 4741.04(B).
P a g e |3 S.B. 268
As Introduced


Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 4741.04