Data from ATA Collaboration Show Telehealth's Effectiveness In Replacing Medicare Visits
American Telemedicine Association
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Contributed by: Kate Gamble
Summary
A recent analysis by the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) found that telehealth primarily serves as a substitute for in-person visits among Medicare beneficiaries, rather than increasing overall visit numbers. The study examined data from 1.67 million patients, revealing that telehealth resulted in only a 0.25 annual increase in visits per patient. These findings indicate that while virtual care has grown significantly—evidenced by a 31-fold increase—it has not dramatically altered overall healthcare utilization, prompting calls for a federal review of its impact on healthcare delivery and policy. The results challenge assumptions regarding budget modeling and underscore the need for healthcare professionals to reassess the role of telehealth within existing workflows.
