AJMC February 24, 2025
Higher telemedicine adoption among Medicare beneficiaries was associated with a slight increase in total visits but a reduction in certain low-value tests and related spending.
Telemedicine helps facilitate patient access to physician visits, but it may also reduce the use of low-value tests and related costs and harms, according to a study published today in JAMA Internal Medicine.1
Low-value care refers to medical tests and services offered in annual check-ups, symptom-based visits, and preoperative visits that provide minimal benefit but can lead to direct and cascading harms2; this persistent issue worsens patient outcomes. Therefore, the researchers noted that low-value care contributes to excess medical spending and diverts resources from high-value care.1
Although low-value care use declined early in the COVID-19...
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