Primary care telehealth in a dynamic healthcare environment from digital divide to healthcare outcomes.

ABSTRACT: With expanded telehealth availability in primary care, its impact on quality of care and associated costs remains debated. Analyzing 199,829 Medicare beneficiaries in Mississippi (2019-2021), we found telehealth utilization associated with significant sociodemographic disparities, reduced inpatient admissions, and lower 30-day readmissions. By accounting for primary care utilization, our findings suggest that the higher absolute costs observed among telehealth users may reflect underlying healthcare needs rather than telehealth utilization.

SUBMITTER: Zhang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12006327 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature