To assess the impact of telemedicine waiver expiration on Medicare beneficiaries' healthcare contact days and the associated burden of care.
Key Findings:
Telemedicine services were widely used by Medicare beneficiaries, with many occurring on days without in-person care.
Expiration of telemedicine waivers could significantly increase the number of in-person healthcare contact days for beneficiaries.
Identified patient characteristics associated with increased telemedicine use may inform targeted interventions.
Interpretation:
The study highlights the importance of telemedicine for reducing care burdens among older adults and the potential negative impact of waiver expirations on access to care.
Limitations:
The study is observational and may not capture all variables affecting telemedicine use, potentially biasing results.
Results are based on assumptions of 100% substitution of telemedicine services with in-person care, which may not reflect real-world scenarios.
Conclusion:
Continued support for telemedicine waivers is crucial to maintain access to care for Medicare beneficiaries and mitigate their burden of care, particularly in light of potential increases in in-person healthcare contact days.
