A cross-sectional analysis of Medicare beneficiaries found that one-in-six used telehealth between 2021 and 2023, with nearly half of all mental health visits conducted virtually.
The analysis also shows that telehealth was frequently used to manage other common medical issues, including diabetes, hypertension, and COVID‑19. These findings raise concerns that limiting Medicare coverage for non‑mental health telehealth visits could disrupt care for medically vulnerable patients, according to the study published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Researchers from the University of Utah School of Medicine and University of Michigan Medical School aimed to understand how Medicare beneficiaries use telehealth and which medical conditions are most often treated remotely. They analyzed data from the nationally representative Medical Expenditure Panel Survey between 2021–2023, linking each outpatient visit to its associated medical condition and classifying whether it occurred in-person or via telehealth.
Across medical conditions, telehealth usage was substantial. 45.1% of mental health visits were telehealth visits, and 29 million telehealth visits for non-mental health conditions occurred annually. The findings suggest that telehealth has become an essential component of care for older and medically vulnerable adults. The authors warn that rolling back telehealth flexibilities may reduce access and strain health systems already facing high demand.
