A study published this week in *JAMA Network Open* found that increased telehealth utilization in primary care clinics was not linked to a rise in low-value services—those with little clinical benefit but significant costs. This research, which analyzed data from over 577,000 Medicare beneficiaries, found no correlation between increased telehealth use and most forms of low-value care, such as unnecessary screenings or tests with little clinical benefit but significant costs. This finding challenges concerns that virtual care might lead to more wasteful services and higher healthcare spending.
This finding challenges concerns that virtual care could lead to unnecessary services and higher healthcare spending. The study specifically examined services like CT scans for uncomplicated acute rhinosinusitis, imaging for headaches without complications, and cervical cancer screenings for women over 65. Notably, high telehealth use was associated with a reduction in low-value cervical cancer screenings and thyroid testing, suggesting that telehealth may even help minimize wasteful care in some cases.
The study’s authors noted that cervical cancer screenings declined because pap smears require in-person visits, while the decrease in thyroid tests could be due to the convenience of virtual care limiting opportunities for lab tests. These findings offer reassurance to policymakers concerned about telehealth’s potential to drive up healthcare costs through unnecessary services.
A study published in *JAMA Network Open* this week found no link between increased telehealth use in primary care and a rise in low-value services, such as unnecessary CT scans or screenings. Analyzing data from over 577,000 Medicare beneficiaries, the research showed that telehealth did not lead to higher healthcare spending on low-value care. In fact, it was associated with a reduction in cervical cancer screenings and thyroid tests, suggesting telehealth may help reduce wasteful care. The authors noted that virtual care’s convenience could limit unnecessary testing, offering reassurance to policymakers concerned about telehealth’s potential impact on costs.
