Veterinarians from across Ohio convened at the Statehouse on April 30 for the annual Legislative Day, during which more than 50 members met with their elected officials and contributed nearly $4,000 to VPAC, OVMA’s political action committee.

For the second year running, veterinary telemedicine was a major focus of conversations with legislators, who are currently considering a bill on the topic. Participants also discussed state funding for veterinary education, which is part of the biennial budget bill.

SB 60: Veterinary Telemedicine

Introduced by Sens. Shane Wilkin and Steve Huffman, Senate Bill 60 would, if enacted as written, create veterinary telehealth visit requirements and procedures. The bill has generated debate within the veterinary community, in particular over the provision that would allow practitioners to establish a veterinary-client-patient relationship (VCPR) by virtual means.

Since its introduction, OVMA has engaged in conversations with the sponsors, which resulted in the addition of several important measures crucial to protecting Ohio’s pets, food supply, and veterinarian liability. These measures included:

• A limit to a 14-day prescription, with one 14-day refill before an in-person visit is required
• Mandating that the veterinarian be licensed in Ohio to practice telemedicine in Ohio
• Not allowing the use of telemedicine to establish a VCPR if the client is engaged in commercial food production

The bill is a reintroduction of legislation that died in the previous General Assembly. Over the last 16 months, OVMA has had numerous discussions on the topic with members and has found that veterinarians have a wide range of opinions on the subject. For that reason, the Board of Directors chose to neither oppose nor support the bill, but rather take the position of interested party to best reflect the overall view of the membership. This position allows OVMA to remain engaged on the legislation and provide constructive input to the process.

As of press time, SB 60 is pending in the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, chaired by Sen. Tim Schaffer. If you, as an independent veterinary professional, would like to express your own opinion on SB 60, you may send an email to Sen. Wilkin and Sen. Huffman, the bill’s sponsors, and Sen. Schaffer, the chair of the committee currently reviewing the legislation.

Protect OHIO

Gov. Mike DeWine’s budget proposal (House Bill 96, also known as the biennial state operating budget) included $20 million per fiscal year as a supplemental appropriation to The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. However, during the Finance Committee process, the House of Representatives cut the funding to $15 million per fiscal year and later passed the revised bill by a vote of 60-39.

OVMA, OSU CVM, and other commodity groups (such as the Ohio Pork Council, the Dairy Producers Association, and the Ohio Farm Bureau) have been advocating for the protection of this funding in the Senate and the restoration of the $5 million in each year.

Legislative Day participants shared key points about Protect One Health In Ohio (Protect OHIO), an initiative developed by OSU CVM aimed at strengthening Ohio’s veterinary workforce, public health, and its $125 billion agricultural economy. The program, which needs an additional $15 million over the biennium in order to launch, is comprised of three pillars:

• Educate more Ohio veterinarians to serve rural and large animal needs
• Provide strong mentorship and support to large animal and rural veterinarians
• Establish emerging infectious disease center

Couldn’t participate? You can still have an impact!

A strong V-PAC is essential for an effective government relations program! Donations from dedicated veterinary professionals like you are used to support legislators who consistently listen to the veterinary perspective on key issues.

To contribute, please contact Government Relations Counsel Michael Guastella.

Collaborative study indicates gaps in FMD knowledge, preparedness

Last fall, the Ohio Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, conducted a survey to evaluate levels of awareness and preparedness among Ohio producers regarding a potential foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak.

Though the sample size was limited, the preliminary results indicate gaps in awareness, preparedness planning, and understanding of response protocols, underscoring the need for continued outreach, targeted education, and enhanced coordination across all sectors of the livestock industry.

According to the state veterinarian’s office, ODA plans to validate the results through broader engagement with a more diverse and representative cross-section of Ohio producers. The information will directly guide the development of Ohio’s FMD Emergency Response Plan and shape future programming to address the specific needs identified by producers.

“Our objective is to ensure that Ohio’s agricultural community is well-positioned to manage an FMD outbreak efficiently and to minimize potential impacts to animal health, public confidence, and the economy,” assistant state veterinarian Dr. Kristy Shaw explained in a statement.