Audio-Only Telehealth Remains Common at Safety Net Health Clinics

RAND Corporation: Audio-Only Telehealth Remains Common at Safety Net Health Clinics

According to a recent RAND Corporation report, rapid adoption of telehealth helped safety net clinics in California to maintain consistent levels of service after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the use of audio-only care has persisted in the clinics longer than in other types of health care settings. Researchers say the higher rates of audio-only telehealth in safety net settings raises questions about the quality of care and equity for low-income patients, since the quality of care for audio-only telehealth has not been established. The study found that overall visit volumes remained about the same throughout the study period, with the share of audio-only and video visits dramatically increasing during the pandemic, particularly for behavioral health. The researchers emphasized the need to understand the impact of audio-only visits on the quality of medical care, as well as where it fits into a hybrid model of care where patients receive a mix of telehealth and in-person visits.