#United States #New York #mental health #Telehealth #FAIR Health

Surge in Telehealth Claims for Mental Health

In April 2025, a clear trend emerged across the United States as the percentage of patients submitting telehealth claims for mental health conditions saw a notable increase. This surge was not only observed at the national level but also across every US census region, according to the latest findings from FAIR Health’s Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker.

Telehealth Statistics Overview

Mental health issues continue to dominate telehealth claims, representing a staggering 63.0% of all patients filing claims in this category for April, up from 61.6% in March. This consistent growth indicates a growing reliance on virtual healthcare solutions among patients facing mental health conditions. Remarkably, this data exclusively reflects individuals with commercial insurance, deliberately excluding Medicare Fee-for-Service, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid participants.

The findings also shed light on changing trends in diagnostic categories. For the first time in April 2025, diabetes mellitus made its way into the top five telehealth diagnostic categories in the Southern region, accounting for 2.0% of claims. Previously, this diagnosis had not registered in the top five across any regions for the year. Such shifts indicate an evolving landscape in telehealth services, marking a significant moment in the integration of chronic disease management into remote healthcare.

Utilization Trends

While the overall percentage of patients utilizing telehealth nationwide dipped slightly from 14.3% in March to 14.2% in April—a decrease of 0.8%—regional variations highlighted interesting dynamics. Particularly, there was a notable decline in telehealth claims in both the Midwest (5.7% drop) and the South (1.2% drop). Conversely, both the Northeast (growing by 2.0%) and the West (an increase of 0.7%) saw a rise in telehealth engagement.

Additionally, despite a slight national decrease, the percentage of telehealth claim lines as part of overall medical claim lines displayed an upward trend, increasing from 4.96% to 5.01%. These lines represent individual services or procedures claimed, showcasing how telehealth is being integrated into broader healthcare practices.

Urban vs. Rural Access

The data revealed an indication of disparities in access to telehealth between urban and rural settings. For April, 14.3% of urban patients had a telehealth claim compared to only 7.4% in rural areas. The West demonstrated the largest discrepancy, where 18.6% of urban patients accessed telehealth solutions versus a mere 8.1% from rural regions. Such statistics call for discussions on widening access to telehealth services, ensuring that rural populations are not left behind in the digital health revolution.

Demographics and Age Distribution

Further examination of patient demographics revealed that the most significant segments engaging with telehealth were those in the age groups of 19-30 and 31-40. In fact, 23.3% of patients aged 19-30 utilized telehealth services, while 22.6% from the 31-40 age bracket did as well. The youngest age groups (0-9) and seniors (65+) represented the smallest shares of telehealth claims, maintaining a figure below 10% each.

Leading Procedure Categories

Diving into procedure categories, psychotherapy services and established patient outpatient services retained their prime positions nationally as the most commonly billed services during telehealth consultations. In April, psychotherapy procedures accounted for approximately 47.49% of telehealth claims. Established patient services followed closely, marking a slight decrease from previous figures indicating an evolving patient preference towards mental health therapies.

Conclusion and Outlook

The insights from the Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker underscore significant changes in patient behavior and the ongoing adoption of telehealth services in addressing mental health concerns, particularly as the nation navigates through various healthcare transformations. As we progress into 2025 and beyond, the continued expansion and adaptation of telehealth will be crucial in shaping the future of mental health care delivery, helping to erase barriers that many patients face in receiving timely and effective treatment.

As healthcare stakeholders analyze these patterns, the next steps must focus on enhancing telehealth accessibility, ensuring quality of care, and addressing the unique needs of diverse patient populations, particularly in underserved areas. FAIR Health remains committed to tracking these evolutionary trends to provide healthcare systems and patients with vital information for better health outcomes.