Key Points
Question
What is the association of telehealth vs in-person encounters with outcomes of care during the COVID-19 pandemic in the US?
Findings
In this cohort study of 40.7 million US commercially insured adults with acute clinical conditions, those with an initial telehealth encounter, compared with an in-person encounter, had higher odds for any follow-up encounter, an emergency department encounter, and in-patient admissions. For people with chronic conditions, the odds were lower for those with an initial telehealth encounter.
Meaning
The contrasting patterns of follow-up care among members receiving telehealth for acute and chronic conditions have implications for health services during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.