#United States #New York #Telehealth #FAIR Health #Respiratory Diseases

Rise in Telehealth Utilization for Respiratory Diseases in November 2024

As we step into 2025, the landscape of healthcare continues to adapt and change, with telehealth emerging as an essential service. According to the data released by FAIR Health's Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker, November 2024 witnessed a notable increase in acute respiratory conditions, significantly affecting telehealth claim statistics across the United States.

In the previous month of October, the percentage of telehealth claim lines dedicated to acute respiratory diseases and infections stood at 1.9%. However, by November, this figure surged to 2.7%, representing a remarkable 37.9% increase. The rise was seen across all regions, with the Northeast experiencing the highest increase of 43.5%, followed by the South at 29.9%, and the Midwest at 13.9%. Interestingly, while this category only slightly changed its ranking in most areas, in the West, it showed a significant leap from the 10th to the 5th position among telehealth diagnostic categories. This marks the first return to the top five positions since April 2024, pointing to an evolving trend of using telehealth to address respiratory illnesses.

The data revealed that hypertension has also made its mark in the telehealth landscape, moving from the fifth to the fourth position in the top five telehealth diagnostic categories nationally. This shift occurred while developmental disorders fell out of the top rankings altogether. In the South, hypertension similarly rose to replace endocrine and metabolic disorders.

Decline in Overall Telehealth Utilization

While specific diagnostics showed marked increases, the overall utilization of telehealth services saw a slight decline nationwide. Telehealth claim lines decreased from 4.89% of total medical claims in October to 4.82% in November, a decrease of 1.6%. The South reported a 1.9% drop, while the Northeast saw a 1.0% decline in utilization. Conversely, the West and the Midwest noted increases of 4.0% and 3.8%, respectively.

Dominance of Mental Health Services

Despite fluctuations in other areas, mental health conditions maintained their hold as the leading telehealth service category across all regions and nationally. The top five mental health diagnoses saw no changes from October to November: generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, adjustment disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder continue to dominate.

Changes in Provider Specialties

Observing the specialties providing telehealth care, family practice has climbed to the second position nationally, overtaking psychiatric nursing and psychiatrist services, which now stand at the third and fourth places, respectively. Notably, nurse practitioners have re-entered the top rankings, replacing psychologists in fifth place. Within specific regions, like the Midwest, psychiatric nursing has also risen in ranking, highlighting shifting dynamics in healthcare delivery methods.

Age Distribution in Telehealth Claims

An analysis of age demographics shows that the 31-40 age group accounted for the largest share of telehealth claim lines, closely followed by 19-30-year-olds. These groups showed consistent percentages, each accounting for 20 to 30% of claims nationally and regionally in both months under review.

Cost Observations

In terms of costs for telehealth services, a comparison reveals intriguing insights. For psychotherapy services rendered via telehealth, the costs were found to be higher compared to traditional office visits in many regions. For example, the median allowed amount for CPT 90832 (30 minutes of psychotherapy) was $65 for telehealth clients compared to $64 in office settings nationally. This trend was consistent across the Midwest and Northeast while the West recorded a decrease in telehealth costs against office charges.

Conclusion

The collected data from the Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker demonstrates the ongoing evolution of healthcare delivery methods in response to acute health needs. While overall telehealth utilization has dipped slightly, the substantial increases in telehealth claims for respiratory conditions hints at changing patient attitudes and readiness to seek remote care. As authorities and healthcare providers continue to adapt their services, data-driven insights like these will be pivotal in shaping the future of telehealth in the United States.

This data not only highlights how telehealth is becoming integral for treating respiratory ailments but also serves as an indicator of the pandemic's lasting effects on healthcare behaviors across the country. As more individuals turn to virtual consultations, understanding these trends will aid in structuring responsive healthcare strategies moving forward.