2024-03-22 | Felipe O. Marcondes, MD, MPH; Sharon-Lise T. Normand, PhD; Benjamin Le Cook, PhD; Haiden A. Huskamp, PhD; Jorge A. Rodriguez, MD; Michael L. Barnett, MD, MS; Lori Uscher-Pines, PhD; Alisa B. Busch, MD, MD, MS; Ateev Mehrotra, MD, MPH
This study examines racial and ethnic differences in telemedicine use among individuals enrolled in traditional Medicare from March 2020 to February 2022. The primary outcome was the number of telemedicine visits per patient during the second pandemic year. The study found that, in unadjusted analyses, Black individuals, Hispanic individuals, and individuals of other racial groups had more telemedicine visits per person compared to White individuals. However, after controlling for demographic and clinical characteristics and geography, these groups had fewer telemedicine visits. Specifically, Black individuals had 7.9 fewer telemedicine visits per 100 beneficiaries, Hispanic individuals had 13.2 fewer, and individuals of other racial groups had 9.2 fewer. These differences persisted in fully adjusted models, suggesting that after accounting for geographic region and other factors, Black and Hispanic individuals received less telemedicine than White individuals. The study also found that Black and Hispanic individuals had fewer total visits (telemedicine plus in-person) compared to White individuals, indicating a continued disparity in access to care. The findings highlight the need for policies to improve digital health equity and address racial and ethnic disparities in telemedicine use.This study examines racial and ethnic differences in telemedicine use among individuals enrolled in traditional Medicare from March 2020 to February 2022. The primary outcome was the number of telemedicine visits per patient during the second pandemic year. The study found that, in unadjusted analyses, Black individuals, Hispanic individuals, and individuals of other racial groups had more telemedicine visits per person compared to White individuals. However, after controlling for demographic and clinical characteristics and geography, these groups had fewer telemedicine visits. Specifically, Black individuals had 7.9 fewer telemedicine visits per 100 beneficiaries, Hispanic individuals had 13.2 fewer, and individuals of other racial groups had 9.2 fewer. These differences persisted in fully adjusted models, suggesting that after accounting for geographic region and other factors, Black and Hispanic individuals received less telemedicine than White individuals. The study also found that Black and Hispanic individuals had fewer total visits (telemedicine plus in-person) compared to White individuals, indicating a continued disparity in access to care. The findings highlight the need for policies to improve digital health equity and address racial and ethnic disparities in telemedicine use.