Racial and Ethnic Differences in Hypertension-Related Telehealth and In-Person Outpatient Visits Before and During...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Cardiovascular Disease Management

Background:

• Limited data exists on telehealth utilization and associated costs for hypertension management within the Medicaid population.
• Understanding these trends is crucial for informing healthcare policy and practice, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze trends in hypertension management through telehealth and in-person outpatient visits among individuals enrolled in Medicaid.
• To compare the costs of telehealth versus in-person hypertension care for Medicaid recipients.
• To examine these trends across different racial and ethnic groups.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the MarketScan® Medicaid database to examine outpatient visits for hypertension among individuals aged 18-64.
• Calculated rates of telehealth and in-person visits per 100 individuals and the proportion of telehealth visits to total visits.
• Analyzed total and patient out-of-pocket (OOP) costs per visit for telehealth and in-person care in 2021.

Main Results:

• From February to April 2020, hypertension-related telehealth visits per 100 persons increased from 0.01 to 6.13, while in-person visits decreased.
• The proportion of telehealth visits rose significantly across all racial and ethnic groups, including non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic individuals.
• In 2021, average total costs per visit were $83.82 for telehealth versus $264.48 for in-person visits; patient OOP costs were $0.55 (telehealth) and $0.72 (in-person).

Conclusions:

• Telehealth significantly increased for hypertension management among Medicaid recipients during the COVID-19 pandemic, irrespective of race or ethnicity.
• Telehealth visits for hypertension management were substantially less expensive than in-person visits.
• Findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and healthcare providers regarding the role and cost-effectiveness of telehealth in managing hypertension within the Medicaid population.