Can Telemedicine Be Equitable? New Studies Say “It Depends”
License: Licensed by JMIR Source: iStock by Getty Images Copyright: nicomenijes URL: https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/mother-and-daughter-on-a-video-call-with-doctor-gm1302654051-394330627 March 3, 2022 By: Chris Tachibana, PhD Telemedicine surged with the COVID-19 pandemic. But does offering care by phone or video improve or worsen disparities? Should policies to facilitate telemedicine become permanent? The dramatic rise in telemedicine is documented in a study by LDI Fellows Ari Friedman, Hummy Song, Angela T Chen, Alon Bergman, and Guy David, collaborating with the data team from Independence Blue Cross based in southeast Pennsylvania. Using claims data, they found that weekly telemedicine visits among plan members increased from a mean of 773 before pandemic stay-at-home orders to more thanRead More →