Contraceptive care service provision via telehealth early in the COVID-19 pandemic at rural and urban FQHCs

The Journal of Rural Health: Contraceptive care service provision via telehealth early in the COVID-19 pandemic at rural and urban FQHCs

The purpose of this study was to investigate telehealth use for contraceptive service provision among rural and urban federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in Alabama and South Carolina during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study found that, while telehealth for contraceptive care increased during this time period, fewer rural clinicals than urban clinics provided telehealth for contraceptive counseling, emergency contraception, and sexually transmitted infection care. Key facilitators of telehealth were reimbursement policy, electronic infrastructure and technology, and funding for technology. These differences highlight the need for supportive strategies to increase access to care for low-income rural populations.