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With pressure building on Congress to solidify telehealth payment flexibilities set to expire at the end of the year, we must ensure legislators weigh the ability of virtual health care services to promote health equity. Telehealth services can help advance the goal of ensuring all people have equal opportunity to reach their full health potential, regardless of circumstances. Telehealth is reaching historically marginalized populations: A U.S. Census Bureau survey found that Medicare and Medicaid enrollees, Black Americans and individuals earning less than $25,000 reported high levels of telehealth use from April 2021 to August 2022. Services such as audio-only calls and online specialist consultations can expand access to care, helping overcome traditional barriers such as geographic distance and limited local health care facilities.
Advancing health equity through telehealth — or, “techquity”— requires stakeholders to assess benefits, address barriers to access and encourage greater investment into telehealth policy and innovation.
To remedy disparities in health care access, we need innovative technology solutions to improve patient outcomes and health care system efficacy. For example, some pediatric health care systems have integrated telehealth care pathways to better support patients and families — incorporating telemedicine stations in schools, establishing satellite clinics and deploying telemedicine carts to underserved areas lacking internet infrastructure. These provide more families with consistent care while helping reduce barriers and disruptions.