The visits have provided access to primary care for communities of color, which have been disproportionately harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Federally qualified health centers in Massachusetts have logged more than one million telehealth visits since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, the state's consortium of FQHCs announced Tuesday.
Massachusetts FQHC Consortium telehealth data between May 2020 and May 2021 show that telemedicine visits have provided access to primary care for communities of color, which have been disproportionately harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Of the 767, 234 Massachusetts health center patients who accessed primary care via telemedicine visits during that year-long period, more than 52% were white, nearly 21% were Black/African American, more than 6% identified as more than one race, more than 5% were Asian/Pacific Islander, and 1% were Native American. Of those identified by ethnicity, nearly 31% were Latinx/Hispanic, the consortium said.
Of the total number of patients taking part in behavioral health telehealth visits during the same span, nearly 56% were white, more than 23% were Black/African American, more than 5% were of more than one race, 4.65% were Asian/Pacific islander, and less than 1% were Native American. By ethnicity, 31% again identified as Latinx/Hispanic.
"While telehealth played an essential role in maintaining continuity of care throughout the pandemic, our health centers see its continued popularity among low-income communities and communities of color, even as in-person visits are now available," said Christina Severin, President and CEO of C3.
"As we pass one million telemedicine visits, the numbers validate what we’ve seen: telehealth provides opportunities for increased access to care and diminishes health inequities faced by Medicaid patients as a result of institutionalized racism in our health care system. We thank our donors who are supporting our efforts in addressing this injustice," she said.
The milestone comes as the consortium passed the halfway mark of its Phase II $12 million fundraising goal – thanks to an $878,000 grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation – to attain sustainable telehealth capacity at health centers and address health disparities in the communities they serve.
"The digital divide disparately impacts poor communities and communities of color," said Michael Curry, President & CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers.
"Access to broadband and other technology is a social determinant of health that must be prioritized in order to avoid the deepening of existing racial health inequities," he said.
“Access to broadband and other technology is a social determinant of health that must be prioritized in order to avoid the deepening of existing racial health inequities.”
Michael Curry, president / CEO, Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers
John Commins is the news editor for HealthLeaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Of the 767,234 patients who accessed primary care via telemedicine visits over one year, more than 52% were white, nearly 21% were Black/African American, more than 6% identified as more than one race.
Of the total number of patients taking part in behavioral health telehealth visits during the same span, nearly 56% were white, more than 23% were Black/African American, more than 5% were of more than one race.