Study: Telehealth Does Not Negatively Impact Cost of Care in Minnesota

Telehealth visits are commonplace in primary care clinics, and research finds no harms to cost of care in Minnesota, reports The Minnesota Star Tribune. Telehealth use increased from 3% of primary care visits among privately insured Minnesotans in 2019 to more than 20% in 2021 according to a recent report from the Minnesota Department of Health. These visits, which surged during the pandemic, continue at high levels without increasing overall health care costs. The Minnesota Department of Health’s study found no significant long-term cost savings, but telehealth remains valued for improving access, especially for rural and low- income communities.