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Decline in Telehealth Utilization Across the US in September 2024

In September 2024, a notable decrease in telehealth utilization was recorded across all regions in the United States, following a temporary rise in August. The data, compiled by FAIR Health’s Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker, indicates that telehealth claim lines fell from 4.96% of total medical claim lines in August to 4.80% in September, representing a nationwide drop of approximately 3.3%.

Regional Breakdown of Telehealth Utilization

The decline varied by region, with the West experiencing the most significant reduction at 5.4%. Meanwhile, the South and Northeast saw decreases of 1.5% each, and in the Midwest, utilization dropped by 2.8%. These figures reflect changes in telehealth usage among the commercially insured population, specifically excluding Medicare Fee-for-Service, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid.

Diagnostic Insights

In September, a new development emerged in the diagnostic categories associated with telehealth. For the first time this year, abnormal blood pressure readings entered the top five telehealth diagnoses in the West, accounting for 1.5% of telehealth claims. Mental health conditions continued to dominate as the most prevalent diagnostic category nationally, followed by acute respiratory diseases and infections, which moved up the ranks to hold the second position. Endocrine and metabolic disorders, previously second, dropped to third, while hypertension returned to the top five, replacing overweight and obesity, which was no longer ranked.

Utilization by Age Group

The age demographics of telehealth utilization remained consistent, with the 19-30 and 31-40 year age groups comprising the largest shares of claims, each group accounting for between 20% and 30%. Notably, the 19-30 age group claimed the highest percentage within the Midwest, at 26.8%, marking an increase in that demographic's engagement with telehealth services compared to the 31-40 age group, where claims slightly decreased.

Mental Health Diagnoses

The rankings for mental health diagnoses did not shift from August to September. The top five diagnoses across all regions included generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, adjustment disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Provider Specialties

The analysis of provider specialties indicated a change from August to September. Across the US, psychiatric nurses fell from third to fourth place among telehealth provider specialties, while psychiatrists moved up from fourth to third. In the South, nurse practitioners also saw a drop in rankings, while psychiatric nurses improved slightly. The rankings in the Midwest, Northeast, and West, however, remained consistent.

Cost Analysis for Telehealth Services

A cost analysis revealed that, on average, the costs associated with psychiatric diagnostic evaluations were higher when administered through telehealth compared to in-office visits. In September 2024, the national cost for this evaluation via telehealth was recorded at $141, compared to $135 when conducted in an office setting. Regionally, costs varied, with the Midwest showing similar trends.

Conclusion

The Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker, established in May 2020, continues to serve as a vital tool for monitoring the evolution of telehealth services across the United States. With continuing fluctuations in utilization and profound impacts on healthcare accessibility, this data is crucial for understanding trends and adapting future healthcare strategies. FAIR Health remains committed to providing insight into telehealth dynamics and healthcare costs, supporting transparency in the healthcare landscape.

To read more about the Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker and access data visualizations, visit FAIR Health's official platform.