Paying doctors equally for virtual and in-person visits can make a real difference in care. A new study co-authored by Kate Bundorf finds that state telehealth payment parity laws significantly expanded access to psychotherapy for workers with mental health conditions. Using insurance claims data from 2019 to 2021, the researchers found that patients received more therapy sessions and made fewer emergency department visits once parity rules took effect. However, the laws did not have the same effect on preventive care for those with chronic physical conditions. The findings suggest that payment parity can strengthen behavioral health access while highlighting the need for additional policies to expand preventive care through telehealth.
Citation
Zhang, Zhang; Bundorf, M. Kate; Gong, Qing; Trogdon, Justin G.; Gilleskie, Donna; Sylvia, Sean Y. The Role of Telehealth Payment Parity on Recommended Care and Emergency Department Service Utilization Among Workers With Chronic Conditions. Medical Care. 63(10):p 779-786, October 2025. | DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/mlr.0000000000002185