JAMA Health Forum: Characteristics of Mental Health Specialists Who Shifted Their Practice Entirely to Telemedicine

JAMA Health Forum: Characteristics of Mental Health Specialists Who Shifted Their Practice Entirely to Telemedicine

While most mental health specialists have in-person and telemedicine visits, some have transitioned to fully virtual practice, perhaps for greater work-life flexibility (including avoiding commuting) and eliminating expenses of maintaining a physical clinic. This study found that, in 2022, 13.0 percent of mental health specialists serving commercially insured or Medicare Advantage enrollees had shifted to telemedicine only. A virtual-only practice allowing clinicians to work from home may be more attractive to female clinicians, who report spending more time on familial responsibilities, and those facing long commutes and higher office-space costs. The research suggests that introducing in-person requirements for visits and prescribing could cause care interruptions, particularly for conditions such as opioid use disorder.