United Health Group: Telehealth Enabled a 26 Percent Increase in Outpatient Behavioral Health Visits Among Commercially Insured Individuals
According to a report from UnitedHealth Group (UHG), telehealth flexibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a 26 percent spike in overall utilization of in-network outpatient behavioral health. UHG used data from commercially-insured Optum Behavioral Health plan members to compare behavioral health care utilization from before the pandemic to utilization after the pandemic started. In 2019, 99 percent of outpatient behavioral health care was conducted in an office. However, by the second quarter of 2021, only 35 percent of all outpatient behavioral health care visits were in an office. The report concluded that improving access for individuals covered by Medicare and Medicaid, as well as some commercially insured individuals, would require efforts to address disparities in access to technology and broadband, improve digital literacy, and increase the supply of behavioral health providers. For additional coverage, see Health Payer Intelligence.
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