Journal of Medical Internet Research: Statistical Analysis of Telehealth Use and Pre- and Postpandemic Insurance Coverage in Selected Health Care Specialties
This study analyzed telehealth use across specialties in Arkansas before and after the pandemic (2017-2022) using data from electronic medical records from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical Center. The study found an 89 percent increase in telehealth visits across all specialties. In-person visits covered by Medicare and Medicaid decreased by 15 percent between 2019 to 2022. During 2020 to 2022, about 22.84 percent of total telehealth visits during this period were covered by Medicare and 53.58 percent were in psychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology, and family medicine. Additionally, the study found a decrease in average indirect waiting time for telehealth visits, from 48.4 to 27.7 days, and a reduction in appointment length, from 93.2 minutes in 2020 to 39.59 minutes in 2022. The indirect waiting time for psychiatry telehealth visits was almost 50 percent shorter than that for in-person visits. These findings highlight the potential benefits of telehealth in providing access to health care, particularly for patients needing psychiatric care.
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