View article

Importance This study assesses the role of telehealth in the delivery of care at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives To document patterns and costs of ambulatory care in the US before and during the initial stage of the pandemic and to assess how patient, practitioner, community, and COVID-19–related factors are associated with telehealth adoption. Design, Setting, and Participants This is a cohort study of working-age persons continuously enrolled in private health plans from March 2019 through June 2020. The comparison periods were March to June in 2019 and 2020. Claims data files were provided by Blue Health Intelligence, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Data analysis was performed from June to October 2020. Main Outcomes and Measures Ambulatory encounters (in-person and telehealth) and allowed charges, stratified by characteristics derived from …