Telehealth Use Remained Steady in 2021 for Medicare Beneficiaries

mHealth Intelligence: Telehealth Use Remained Steady in 2021 for Medicare Beneficiaries

A study by the University of Michigan’s Institute for Healthcare Policy found that telehealth use remained steady, serving as a substitute for in-person care for Medicare beneficiaries and avoiding a spike in visits and costs. In 2021, about one in three Medicare beneficiaries met with a provider virtually at least once. In the second half of 2021, nine percent of monthly Medicare appointments occurred virtually. At the same time, in-person care decreased. The study suggests that telehealth has been used as a substitute for in-person care rather than an expansion of care.