Has increased telehealth access during COVID-19 led to over-utilization of primary care?

Telehealth use for primary care has skyrocketed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Enthusiasts have praised this new medium of delivery as a way to increase access to care while potentially reducing spending. Over two years into the pandemic, the question of whether telehealth will lead to an increase in primary care utilization and spending has been met with contradictory answers. Some evidence suggests that telehealth may be used as an addition to in-person visits. Others like Dixit et al. have found that telehealth can actually substitute for in-person care rather than contribute to overutilization. As telehealth continues to evolve, outcomes, utilization, and quality of care should be closely monitored.

Automated summary

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of telehealth in primary care has increased significantly. However, there are contradictory views on whether telehealth will lead to an increase in primary care utilization and spending. Some evidence suggests that telehealth may be used as an addition to in-person visits, while other studies indicate that telehealth can actually substitute for in-person care.