Episode Charges and Subsequent Visits After Telemedicine vs In-Person Care

Do charges and subsequent visits differ between telemedicine and in-person visits in the postpandemic period?In this comparative effectiveness research of a target trial emulation using data from 163 308 health care encounters, telemedicine visits overall were associated with lower charges and fewer subsequent visits within a 30-day episode compared with in-person visits. Episode charges for mental and behavioral disorders were comparable or even higher for telemedicine vs in-person visits.These findings suggest telemedicine may cost less than in-person care without increasing short-term subsequent use and may enable more strategic resource allocation, reduce unnecessary use, and inform future reimbursement and policy decisions.

Corresponding Authors: David A. Asch, MD, MBA, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, One College Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (asch@upenn.edu); Yong Chen, PhD, Center for Health AI and Synthesis of Evidence (CHASE), University of Pennsylvania, Blockley Hall 602, 423 Guardian Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (ychen123@pennmedicine.upenn.edu).

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