Telehealth Use Nearly Tripled Since Pre-Pandemic, Varies Widely by Specialty

Telehealth utilization among U.S. physicians has significantly increased since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining levels nearly three times higher than pre-pandemic figures. In 2024, 71.4% of physicians reported weekly use of telehealth, compared to 25.1% in 2018. This sustained adoption reflects a shift in healthcare delivery modes and indicates evolving physician practices and patient preferences. The American Medical Association (AMA) Policy Research Perspectives report highlights variability across medical specialties in telehealth usage. Psychiatrists are the most frequent users, with 85.9% engaging in video visits weekly and 56.9% conducting over 20% of their visits via videoconferencing. Additionally, 68.2% of psychiatrists utilize telehealth (video or audio) for more than 20% of weekly visits, underscoring telehealth's vital role in behavioral health care. Other high-use specialties include endocrinology, neurology, and gastroenterology, though their telehealth proportions are notably lower compared to psychiatry. Conversely, some specialties show minimal telehealth adoption, indicating potential barriers or differing care delivery requirements. The data sources include the AMA’s biennial Physician Practice Benchmark Survey and 5% Medicare claims data for 2024. Medicare claims analysis reveals that 3.7% of telehealth-eligible physician service spending was billed as telehealth, with psychiatrists accounting for the highest share at 31.2%. The expiration of payment and regulatory flexibilities introduced during the COVID-19 public health emergency has introduced uncertainty. These flexibilities, important for Medicare patient access to telehealth, were temporarily extended into early 2025, pending legislative action. The AMA supports the CONNECT for Health Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation aiming to permanently remove geographic restrictions for Medicare telehealth services. This includes allowing telehealth visits irrespective of patient location and eliminating requirements for periodic in-person visits following telemental health services. Digital health integration, including the use of AI and enhanced electronic health record usability, remains a significant focus area. The AMA’s Center for Digital Health and AI advocates for physician involvement in AI deployment to optimize patient care and clinician experience. The report also explores factors influencing physician telehealth adoption, including practice ownership variation and reasons for reluctance among some clinicians. Understanding these dynamics is essential for policy formulation and technology implementation strategies. With telehealth established as a continuing modality for healthcare delivery, ongoing research and policy advocacy aim to ensure equitable access, regulatory clarity, and improved care quality. The AMA provides resources such as webinars, CME courses, and playbooks to support best practices in telehealth adoption. This evolution in care delivery signifies a transformative period in the U.S. healthcare landscape, with telehealth poised to remain integral in patient-clinician interactions. Further legislative and technological developments will influence its trajectory and impact on healthcare systems nationwide.