During the COVID-19 pandemic, state and federal policymakers created new policies allowing health care providers to be paid for telehealth services, leading to its rapid adoption. Studies show that telehealth and in-person care often yield similar outcomes. Yet, access is not equal. Few studies have evaluated how telehealth delivery impacts different population groups.

While telehealth can support increased access to care for people who experience transportation barriers to in-person appointments, recent research points to inequities in the rates of telehealth being used. Older adults, people of color, low-income individuals, and people with disabilities are more likely to experience barriers to accessing telehealth. As federal and state telehealth policies are updated, policymakers, providers, and health plans will need to understand how to use telehealth services to address health equity goals and best meet the needs of individuals who may experience barriers to health care access.

This Better Care Playbook Evidence Roundup explores emerging evidence on how telehealth impacts access to care and includes resources for using telehealth to advance equitable access to care. It can help inform health care providers, policymakers, and health plans seeking to more effectively use telehealth services for high-risk populations.