Journal of Primary Care & Community Health: Shifting Patterns in Primary Care Telehealth Utilization Among Medicare Beneficiaries and Providers

Journal of Primary Care & Community Health: Shifting Patterns in Primary Care Telehealth Utilization Among Medicare Beneficiaries and Providers

This study examined primary care patient sociodemographic characteristics, telehealth utilization patterns, and provider adoptions before and during the pandemic. Among 201 677 Medicare beneficiaries accessing primary care, 1364 used telehealth before the pandemic, compared to 73 994 during the pandemic. Telehealth was associated with more primary care visits, broader access, and higher continuity of care. Primary care physicians increased their share of telehealth services to 39 percent, while specialties such as neuropsychiatry and psychiatry showed the highest adoption rates, reaching 55 percent and 38 percent, respectively.