Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

May 19, 2021

Community Factors Associated With Telemedicine Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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  • Telemedicine visits comprised 20% of total outpatient visits early in the COVID-19 pandemic (from March 18 to July 14, 2020), according to an analysis of deidentified medical claims data. Across 2,800 US counties with at least 100 Medicare Advantage enrollees, less telemedicine use (below the median) was observed in counties with a lower median income, lower population density, less broadband availability (below the median), and less pre-pandemic telemedicine use. Less telemedicine use was also associated with fewer COVID-19 cases per capita during the first 30 days of the pandemic, but this association did not persist through July 2020.

Patel et al. (May 18, 2021). Community Factors Associated With Telemedicine Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Network Open. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.10330