Telehealth growth during pandemic occurred mostly in more affluent and metropolitan areas

Medical Xpress March 15, 2021
by RAND Corporation

Increases in the use of telehealth during the coronavirus pandemic among people with private insurance has occurred mostly among those who are more affluent and those who live in metropolitan areas, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

Researchers say the findings raise concerns that the pandemic may be worsening existing disparities in overall health care utilization.

Overall, the study found there was a 20-fold increase in the rate of telemedicine utilization following the outset of the pandemic in March 2020. At the same time, the rate of office-based medical encounters declined by nearly 50% and was not fully offset by the increase in telemedicine.

The findings are published online by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

“This study expands...

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