Remote Monitoring: Legislative Update

 

Jake Plevelich, director of public policy for NPMA, says the association and its state partners are working to better educate regulators on the benefits remote monitoring offers to both consumers and animals.

 

“Our biggest hurdle is educating regulators on the latest remote monitoring technology,” says Plevelich. “They may be basing their opinions on old technology and are not familiar with the advances that have been made in this area.”

 

Michael Bentley, NPMA’s director of training and education, says few states have language in their regulations addressing remote monitoring and that NPMA is creating sample language that can be adopted.

 

“The pain point for some regulators was the accuracy of older technology and false/negative readings that were bad for the animal,” says Bentley. “With real-time reporting features now available regulators are looking at the technology more favorably.”

 

While the regulatory process can be slow, Plevelich says once regulators learn more about how remote monitoring works and the benefits it offers, they are accepting of the technology. He adds that PMPs interested in working with regulators in their state on updating remote monitoring regulations, should contact their state’s NPMA SPAR representative and state association to get the ball rolling. 

 

“We want to be on the same page with regulators and reaching out to them through education has proven to be an effective game plan to follow,” says Plevelich.