#USA #mental health #Washington #FAIR Health #Telehealth Claim

Telehealth Claims Show Decline Across Regions

In a recent report from FAIR Health, it was revealed that the percentage of patients filing claims for telehealth services has seen a significant decrease as of October 2025. The data indicates a shift in healthcare utilization patterns across various regions of the United States, with the Midwest being the only region to report an increase in telehealth claims during this period.

National Overview

The overall percentage of patients with a telehealth claim dropped from 14.7% in September to 14.5% in October, marking a 1.7% decline nationally. This downward trend is consistent across most regions:

• - The Northeast experienced a decrease of 2.2%.
• - The South and West both reported reductions of 2.5%.
• - In stark contrast, the Midwest observed a nominal increase of 0.02%.

These figures draw attention to the complex nature of health service accessibility and preferences in various regions, raising questions about the factors influencing this decline.

Telehealth Service Utilization

Additionally, the analysis of telehealth claim lines reveals that utilization has decreased from 5.0% in September to 4.9% in October, representing a 0.5% decline. The Northeast region reported a 4.1% drop, while the West saw a decrease of 3.6%. Meanwhile, the Midwest and South noted slight increases in telehealth utilization, with increases pegged at 2.4% and 0.04%, respectively.

Shift in Diagnostic Categories

A noteworthy change in diagnostic categories was also highlighted in the report. For the first time in 2025, noninflammatory female disorders entered the top five telehealth diagnostic categories nationwide, taking fifth place and displacing sleep disorders, which are no longer among the top rankings. The data indicated the position of noninflammatory female disorders in specific regions:

• - Fifth in the Midwest.
• - Fourth in the Northeast.
• - Second in the West.

Conversely, this category did not rank among the top five in the South during both September and October.

Mental Health Services Dominate

Mental health conditions continue to dominate the landscape of telehealth claims, accounting for the largest share of claims across all regions. From September to October, the percentage of claims related to mental health increased from 62.1% to 63.9% nationally. This trend emphasizes the growing recognition and pursuit of mental health care through telehealth services, suggesting a critical response to increasing mental health challenges.

Urban vs. Rural Usage

The data further delineated disparities in telehealth service usage between urban and rural areas. Nationally, 14.6% of urban patients made telehealth claims, compared to only 7.4% of rural patients. The Midwest showed the largest disparity, with urban patients utilizing telehealth services at a rate that was 2.3 times that of rural users. In the Northeast, the differences were narrower, with urban usage at 16.8% versus 11.4% for rural patients.

Age Distribution Insights

An analysis of age demographics revealed that the 19-30 age group represented the highest proportion of telehealth claims, both nationally and across all regions. In October, 24.0% of patients aged 19-30 had claims, followed by 23.2% from the 31-40 age group. In contrast, patients in the younger (0-9) and older (65+) age categories displayed the lowest engagement with telehealth services, rarely exceeding 10% in claims.

Preferred Procedure Categories

The report summarized that psychotherapy services, alongside established patient office or outpatient services, ranked as the foremost procedure categories for telehealth claims. Psychotherapy services were noted to lead nationally during October, comprising 48.0% of telehealth claims. Established patient services followed closely at 47.5%.

In conclusion, the dynamics of telehealth claim percentages and diagnostic categories in October 2025 reflect changing patient attitudes and accessibility towards healthcare services. With the Midwest standing out for its unique growth and mental health services at the forefront, these trends call for ongoing analysis and adaptive healthcare strategies to meet varying regional needs.