Irvine, California, May 31, 2023 Medicaid telehealth coverage between 2013 and 2019 was associated with significant growth in telehealth use and improved access to health care, whereas private policies had no such association, according to a study conducted by the University of California , Irvine.
An analysis of 20,000 records of U.S. adults under 65 with state-level Medicaid or private policies showed that live video chats increased by 6 percentage points and the ability to consistently access needed care increased by 11 points percentages for Medicaid patients.
Recently published online in the magazine Health services researchfindings were based on nationally representative data from the Association of American Medical Colleges Consumer Survey of Health Care Access.
The findings highlight the positive impact of Medicaid telehealth coverage during the study period and have important implications for policymakers as they make decisions now that the COVID-19 public health emergency is over, said corresponding author Brandy Lipton, Ph.D., associate professor of health, society and behavior in the UCI Program in Public Health. With many states having implemented or expanded telehealth protections during the pandemic, our study provides valuable insights that can inform policymakers\’ decision-making efforts going forward.
Telehealth requirements for Medicaid and private insurers are determined at the state level, leading to a diverse policy landscape across the country, with reimbursement rates and cost-sharing agreements for virtual and in-person services varying by country. depending on the insurers. The researchers found that Medicaid enrollees reported higher unmet health care needs and lower utilization, on average, than privately insured individuals, despite lower levels of cost sharing for most services. This disparity may be due to increased barriers to entry for this population, including transportation limitations, lower English proficiency, older age, and functional limitations.
Our survey of the relationship between state policies and health care utilization and access highlights the enormous potential telehealth has to help overcome barriers and improve health outcomes for all individuals, regardless of their circumstances social or demographic, Lipton said. Understanding the role of state policies in telehealth use and access will prove instrumental in shaping future decision-making efforts as the healthcare landscape continues to evolve beyond the pandemic.
Michael F. Pesko, an associate professor of economics at Georgia State University in Atlanta, co-authored the study.
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