Why the old VCPR playbook no longer fits practice

Veterinarians have long been taught a simple rule about the veterinarian-client-patient relationship, or VCPR: no exam, no prescribing. But that rule is no longer a clean fit with how state law now works in some large markets. In California, AB 1399 took effect on January 1, 2024, and allows a VCPR to be established through telehealth under defined conditions. In Florida, a 2024 law likewise permits veterinarians to use synchronous audiovisual telehealth for an initial evaluation to establish the VCPR. At the same time, California regulators have clarified that once a VCPR exists, another veterinarian at the same premises may in some cases continue refills for up to a year without a new physical exam, if record-review and continuity-of-care conditions are met. (vmb.ca.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the practical takeaway is that VCPR compliance is becoming less about a single bright-line “hands-on exam first” rule and more about state-specific definitions, telehealth authority, documentation, and prescribing guardrails. That matters for refill workflows, coverage across multi-doctor practices, and risk management, especially as AVMA policy and federal FDA rules still preserve stricter VCPR concepts in some contexts, including extra-label drug use and Veterinary Feed Directives. California’s Veterinary Medical Board FAQs also make clear that telehealth rules and refill authority are not unlimited, and veterinarians still have to meet prevailing standards of care and pharmacy-law requirements. (fda.gov)

What to watch: Expect more scrutiny of how state boards reconcile telehealth expansion, refill flexibility, and federal VCPR requirements, with California continuing to refine its regulatory framework and other states weighing similar changes. (vmb.ca.gov)