Florida veterinarians able to diagnose and prescribe through Vetster.com with enactment of House Bill 849

Vetster, the world's fastest-growing veterinary telehealth and pet care marketplace, today announced Florida’s 12.5 million pet owners can now receive a diagnosis, treatment plan, and prescriptions through its top-rated veterinarians online. In addition to its virtual video appointments, pet owners can use VetsterRx, fulfilled by PetMedsⓇ, to have their prescriptions shipped directly to their home, or choose a local human pharmacy. In celebration of this momentous occasion, the company is offering pet owners full access to its service for $98 USD* per year (regularly $139 USD). The company is the only platform allowing pet owners to select from thousands of highly-rated veterinarians based on price, reviews, and specialty - enhancing state-wide accessibility to veterinary care.

"Vetster ensures that no matter what time of day, no matter where someone is located, no matter what the species, pet owners can find the qualified veterinary care they need for their animals,” said Mark Bordo, CEO and cofounder, Vetster. "Florida's enactment of House Bill 849 is an important piece of legislation that empowers veterinarians to leverage telemedicine as part of their virtual practice.”

The enactment of House Bill 849 (PETS Act) marks a groundbreaking moment for veterinary care in Florida. Effective July 1, 2024, this legislation empowers veterinarians to expand the services they can provide through virtual means. Now, veterinarians can establish the veterinary-client-patient-relationship (VCPR) online and provide a diagnosis, treatment plan, and prescription if needed. The legislation is a huge step forward in addressing access-to-care for pet owners during a rapidly growing veterinary crisis in North America.

Vetster provides a much-needed solution to the state's own veterinary care accessibility challenges. According to the Veterinary Care Accessibility Project, 20 counties in Florida currently have an accessibility score of 10 or lower. The PETS Act bridges this gap by enabling licensed veterinarians to deliver essential services through telemedicine, ensuring pet owners have access to professional care, regardless of location. It also offers solutions when in-clinic care is disrupted, allowing veterinarians to provide vital services remotely, which is critical in a state frequently impacted by severe weather events.

For pet owners, the new bill brings improved access, convenience, and peace of mind. Through Vetster, they can now easily book virtual appointments with licensed Florida veterinarians to address their pets' health concerns swiftly and efficiently - whether it's preventive care, diagnosing health issues, or recommending suitable behavior and nutrition options.

"Telemedicine is a vital solution to helping pets in Florida receive the care they need. It fundamentally changes and improves the health outcomes for our pets," said Cerys Goodall, COO of Vetster. "Vetster’s purpose-driven medical platform connects veterinarians and pet owners, offering full health histories and comprehensive care plans. Our platform makes pet care between clinic visits more affordable, accessible, and convenient."

Vetster for Pet Owners

Vetster’s award-winning platform puts pet owners in the driver’s seat of their pets' health. Vetster is the most transparent and feature-rich solution on the market today, allowing pet owners to choose their vet and gain access to expert advice, triage, nutrition advice, and more – anytime, anywhere. Vetster also provides transparent fees including a single annual membership to access the full features of the platform and ongoing care. Pet owners can also pay per appointment. *From July 1 through July 7 23:59 EDT, Vetster is offering pet owners in the US discounted access to its annual plan for only $98 USD. Sign up here: https://vetster.com/en-us/plus

Vetster for Veterinary Professionals

Vetster makes it easy for veterinary professionals to build their virtual practice, and create their practice on their own terms with a purpose-built solution. Perfect for clinics wanting to expand services, new graduates, veterinarians wanting to reach more patients, and those looking at retirement. Vetster provides a secure medical platform, an integrated booking and payment system and stored medical records. Vetster is trusted by thousands of veterinary experts. https://vetster.com/en-us/for-vets

To learn more about Vetster’s services, please visit vetster.com.

ABOUT VETSTER

Vetster is the world's leading veterinary telehealth and pet care marketplace connecting pet owners with top-rated veterinary professionals. Pet owners use Vetster to speak to veterinary professionals online through video, text or audio chat. Vetster’s award-winning marketplace and mobile app empower pet owners to speak with a veterinarian from the comfort of home or while traveling, scheduling appointments any time - 24/7. Create a free account today at vetster.com.

Alexandra Dorn vetster@archetype.co +1 (914) 924 4131