Telehealth Utilization Sees Nationwide Increase Among Patients in May
In May 2025, there was a notable increase in the utilization of telehealth services across the United States. According to the Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker by FAIR Health, the percentage of patients making telehealth claims rose slightly, from 14.2% in April to 14.3% in May. This statistic reflects a national trend seen across all four US census regions, indicating a growing acceptance and reliance on virtual healthcare consultations. The West region led the way, showcasing the highest percentage of patients using telehealth at 18.7%, while the Midwest reported the lowest at 10.8%. This disparity highlights regional differences in healthcare access and acceptance.
An interesting trend observed was in the diagnostic categories associated with telehealth. For the first time this year, diabetes mellitus broke into the top five conditions for telehealth consultations in both the Midwest and West regions. In the Midwest, diabetes took the fifth spot, while in the West, it secured the fourth position, pushing acute respiratory diseases down. This shift illustrates how chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, are gaining attention through telehealth platforms as patients seek manageable care options.
Meanwhile, mental health conditions remained the most common diagnosis nationally and across all regions, although its share of telehealth claims slightly declined, from 63.0% in April to 62.1% in May. This indicates that while mental health services continue to lead in telehealth usage, there may be a drop in demand leading to an adjustment in utilization rates.
Examining the urban versus rural divide, data indicated that urban areas saw a higher incidence of telehealth claims. Nationally, 14.5% of patients in urban settings utilized telehealth, compared to only 7.5% in rural settings. The West region exhibited the starkest contrast, with urban patients partaking in telehealth at 18.8% versus 7.9% in rural locales. In contrast, the Northeast demonstrated a less significant difference, with urban patients claiming telehealth services at 16.7% and rural patients at 11.4%. This disparity suggests that urban dwellers may have more access to necessary technologies and broadband capabilities that facilitate telehealth.
Another noteworthy finding is the age distribution of telehealth claimants. The age groups of 19-30 and 31-40 consistently showed the highest percentages of claims, with the latter group overtaking the former for the largest share, marking 22.8% for ages 31-40 and 22.4% for ages 19-30. Interestingly, individuals aged 0-9 and 65 and older accounted for the smallest shares, indicating a potential gap in telehealth accessibility or preference among younger and older age groups.
Regarding procedural categories, psychotherapy services reiterated their dominance as a top choice for telehealth procedures, rivalling established patient office consultations in rankings across various regions. Nationally, established patient office services claimed 47.7% of telehealth claims, while psychotherapy services ranked highest in the Midwest and Northeast regions, signaling a continued preference for mental health support.
FAIR Health's Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker, introduced in May 2020, aims to monitor telehealth's progression monthly, reflecting transformative shifts in healthcare delivery. Its data enriches the understanding of telehealth's roles and adaptations in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, enhancing transparency for both providers and consumers alike. Through this initiative, stakeholders can access a detailed infographic outlining telehealth trends, from the rise in claims to demographic insights based on region, diagnostic categories, and procedural choices. This service emphasizes the importance of adapting telehealth practices as healthcare continues to evolve in a post-pandemic world, ensuring that patients receive timely and relevant care regardless of their location. For ongoing updates, the tracker can be accessed directly online, offering further insights into this significant shift in healthcare servicing and delivery.
An interesting trend observed was in the diagnostic categories associated with telehealth. For the first time this year, diabetes mellitus broke into the top five conditions for telehealth consultations in both the Midwest and West regions. In the Midwest, diabetes took the fifth spot, while in the West, it secured the fourth position, pushing acute respiratory diseases down. This shift illustrates how chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, are gaining attention through telehealth platforms as patients seek manageable care options.
Meanwhile, mental health conditions remained the most common diagnosis nationally and across all regions, although its share of telehealth claims slightly declined, from 63.0% in April to 62.1% in May. This indicates that while mental health services continue to lead in telehealth usage, there may be a drop in demand leading to an adjustment in utilization rates.
Examining the urban versus rural divide, data indicated that urban areas saw a higher incidence of telehealth claims. Nationally, 14.5% of patients in urban settings utilized telehealth, compared to only 7.5% in rural settings. The West region exhibited the starkest contrast, with urban patients partaking in telehealth at 18.8% versus 7.9% in rural locales. In contrast, the Northeast demonstrated a less significant difference, with urban patients claiming telehealth services at 16.7% and rural patients at 11.4%. This disparity suggests that urban dwellers may have more access to necessary technologies and broadband capabilities that facilitate telehealth.
Another noteworthy finding is the age distribution of telehealth claimants. The age groups of 19-30 and 31-40 consistently showed the highest percentages of claims, with the latter group overtaking the former for the largest share, marking 22.8% for ages 31-40 and 22.4% for ages 19-30. Interestingly, individuals aged 0-9 and 65 and older accounted for the smallest shares, indicating a potential gap in telehealth accessibility or preference among younger and older age groups.
Regarding procedural categories, psychotherapy services reiterated their dominance as a top choice for telehealth procedures, rivalling established patient office consultations in rankings across various regions. Nationally, established patient office services claimed 47.7% of telehealth claims, while psychotherapy services ranked highest in the Midwest and Northeast regions, signaling a continued preference for mental health support.
FAIR Health's Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker, introduced in May 2020, aims to monitor telehealth's progression monthly, reflecting transformative shifts in healthcare delivery. Its data enriches the understanding of telehealth's roles and adaptations in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, enhancing transparency for both providers and consumers alike. Through this initiative, stakeholders can access a detailed infographic outlining telehealth trends, from the rise in claims to demographic insights based on region, diagnostic categories, and procedural choices. This service emphasizes the importance of adapting telehealth practices as healthcare continues to evolve in a post-pandemic world, ensuring that patients receive timely and relevant care regardless of their location. For ongoing updates, the tracker can be accessed directly online, offering further insights into this significant shift in healthcare servicing and delivery.
Topics Health）
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