Amends TCA Title 44; Title 63 and Title 68.

Present law gives the board of veterinary medical examiners the power to deny, suspend, or revoke a license, or to otherwise discipline an applicant or licensee, who is found guilty by the board of, amongst other prohibited conduct, practicing veterinary medicine without establishing and maintaining a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship ("relationship"), which meets the following requirements: (1) The veterinarian has assumed responsibility for making clinical judgments regarding the health of the animal and the need for medical treatment, has obtained informed consent, and the client has agreed to follow the veterinarian's instructions; (2) The veterinarian has sufficient knowledge of the animal to initiate at least a general or preliminary diagnosis of the medical condition of the animal; (3) The veterinarian has seen the animal within the last 12 months or is personally acquainted with the keeping and care of the animal, either by virtue of an examination of the animal or by medically appropriate visits to the premises where the animal is maintained within the last 12 months; (4) The veterinarian is readily available or has arranged for emergency coverage for follow-up evaluation in the event of adverse reactions or the failure of the treatment regimen; (5) The veterinarian maintains medical records as required by the board; and (6) The relationship cannot be established or maintained solely by telephone or other electronic means. LIVESTOCK PRODUCER CLIENTS This bill provides that such a relationship exists, and a licensed veterinarian may engage in the practice of veterinary medicine for a livestock producer, if the licensed veterinarian, or the licensed veterinarian with access to the patient's medical records, does the following: (1) Conducts an initial physical meeting with the client and patient, at which the veterinarian performs a physical examination on the patient, or is personally acquainted with the keeping and care of the patient through medically appropriate visits to the premises where the patient is maintained; (2) Has sufficient knowledge of the patient to initiate at least a general or preliminary diagnosis of the patient's medical conditions; (3) Assumes responsibility for making clinical judgements for the health of the patient and the need for medical therapy, and has instructed the client on a course of therapy appropriate to the circumstance; (4) Maintains patient records; and (5) Provides oversight of treatment and is readily available to provide, or has provided for, follow-up medical care in the event of adverse reactions or failure of the treatment regimen. This bill provides that once such a relationship is established as provided above, then the relationship may be maintained by electronic or telephonic means during the 24 months that follow the date of the initial exam or premises visit. Not later than 24 months after the date of the initial physical exam or medically appropriate visit of premises, the licensed veterinarian, client, and patient must have another physical exam or premises visit. Each additional physical exam or premises visit must occur not later than 24 months after the date of the prior physical exam or premises visit in order for the veterinarian-client-patient relationship to continue. This bill authorizes a licensed veterinarian or a client to decline or discontinue such a relationship. A licensed veterinarian who in good faith engages in the practice of veterinary medicine by rendering or attempting to render emergency or urgent care to a patient when a client cannot be identified, or where a relationship is not established, is not subject to discipline based solely on the veterinarian's inability to establish a relationship. This bill authorizes a veterinarian licensed in this state to conduct an initial evaluation of a patient through electronic or telephonic means only in remote regions of this state where there is no locally available veterinarian if: (1) Travel for a physical exam or premises visit with the client is impossible; (2) The veterinarian requests that, at the earliest date when reasonably achievable, the patient be presented for an in-person examination or that the veterinarian conduct a medically appropriate visit to the premises where the patient is kept; and (3) The veterinarian provides the client with the veterinarian's identity, location, and licensure status; and any privacy or security issues involved in accessing veterinary services through electronic means.