Nearly half of the people who were undergoing treatment when the pandemic shutdown began used telemedicine.
Lack of insurance was associated with lower telehealth use for new conditions.
Telehealth use for chronic care jumped 40% between mid-March and early May in the first months of the coronavirus pandemic, and more than 50% for behavioral use, a new RAND Corporation study shows.
Nearly half of the people who were undergoing treatment when the pandemic shutdown began used telemedicine, according to the study, which was published this month in Journal of General Internal Medicine.
However, the study also found that telehealth for behavioral health was lower among women, people over 60, non-Hispanic Whites relative to non-Hispanic Blacks, and those with less than a high school education.
Lack of insurance was associated with lower telehealth use for new conditions. Use of telehealth was more common in the Northeast.
"While the increased use of telehealth was widespread, some groups of Americans reported using the services less often than others," said study lead author Shira H. Fischer, MD, a physician researcher at RAND.
"If telehealth use is going to remain high, we need to ensure equity of access, particularly for behavioral health care where education, age and gender were all associated with levels of use," she said.
Among the 2,052 people surveyed most telehealth users accessed their own physicians for virtual care rather than finding a new or unfamiliar physician, the survey found.
When the pandemic began, nearly 40% of the Americans surveyed were being treated for a chronic physical health condition, while 15% were being treated for a behavioral health condition. Since the pandemic started, 16% had considered seeking care for a new or recurrent condition.
Among patients who were receiving care when the pandemic began, the study found that 11% had used video conferencing from the middle of March to early May.
A survey conducted with the same patient panel in 2019 found that fewer than 4% had ever used video conferencing with a doctor.
Among people who used telehealth services, researchers found that the use of video telehealth was less common for physical health care (14% of patients) than for behavioral health care (30% of patients).
"There is a wide expectation that telehealth will continue after the pandemic ends. Lessons from the use of telehealth during this period should inform policy for the post-COVID-19 era," Fischer said.
“While the increased use of telehealth was widespread, some groups of Americans reported using the services less often than others. ”
Shira H. Fischer, MD, RAND Corp.
John Commins is a content specialist and online news editor for HealthLeaders, a Simplify Compliance brand.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The study also found that telehealth for behavioral health was lower among women, people over 60, non-Hispanic Whites relative to non-Hispanic Blacks, and those with less than a high school education.
Lack of insurance was associated with lower telehealth use for new conditions. Use of telehealth was more common in the Northeast.
Among the 2,052 people surveyed most telehealth users accessed their own physicians for virtual care rather than finding a new or unfamiliar physician, the survey found.
When the pandemic began, nearly 40% of the Americans surveyed were being treated for a chronic physical health condition, while 15% were being treated for a behavioral health condition.
Since the pandemic started, 16% had considered seeking care for a new or recurrent condition.