About The Study: In this cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries across all 3,436 hospital service areas (HSAs), high levels of telehealth use were associated with more clinician encounters, more ambulatory care–sensitive hospitalizations, and higher total health care costs. COVID-19 cases were still high during the period of study, which suggests that these findings partially reflect a higher capacity for providing health services in HSAs with higher telehealth intensity than other HSAs.
About The Study: In this cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries across all 3,436 hospital service areas (HSAs), high levels of telehealth use were associated with more clinician encounters, more ambulatory care–sensitive hospitalizations, and higher total health care costs. COVID-19 cases were still high during the period of study, which suggests that these findings partially reflect a higher capacity for providing health services in HSAs with higher telehealth intensity than other HSAs.
Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Sara Parker-Lue, Ph.D., email sparkerlue@air.org.
To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/
(doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.11006)
Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.
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Cite Scienmag News
Courtney Benton. (May 13, 2024). Telehealth expansion and Medicare beneficiaries’ care quality and access. Scienmag. https://scienmag.com/telehealth-expansion-and-medicare-beneficiaries-care-quality-and-access/
Courtney Benton. "Telehealth expansion and Medicare beneficiaries’ care quality and access." Scienmag, 13 May 2024, https://scienmag.com/telehealth-expansion-and-medicare-beneficiaries-care-quality-and-access/. Accessed 5 September 2026.
Courtney Benton. "Telehealth expansion and Medicare beneficiaries’ care quality and access." Scienmag. May 13, 2024. https://scienmag.com/telehealth-expansion-and-medicare-beneficiaries-care-quality-and-access/
