Primary Care Access and the Role of Telemedicine for Traditional Medicare Beneficiaries

How have primary care access and access disparities changed over time for traditional Medicare beneficiaries, and what is the role of telemedicine?In this serial cross-sectional study of 258 324 127 beneficiary-years, primary care visit rates declined and access dropped from 62% in 2017 to 60% in 2023, with virtual visits comprising 7% of primary care visits in 2023. Access disparities by race, income, and geography widened between 2019 and 2023, and patients in historically underserved groups were more likely than others to use telemedicine to access primary care.Telemedicine plays a small but potentially important role in primary care access overall and in certain populations.

Corresponding Author: Ishani Ganguli, MD, MPH, Division of General Internal Medicine and Primary Care, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 1620 Tremont St, Third Floor, Boston, MA 02120 (iganguli@bwh.harvard.edu).

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