Today’s issue of WorkCompRecap features the release of a new FlashReport from WCRI that examines the utilization patterns of telemedicine services and prices paid for them in workers’ comp systems during the first five quarters of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report focuses on two service types with the most prevalent telemedicine use: evaluation & management (E&M), and physical medicine. Key findings included that following the substantial increase in the second quarter of 2020, use of telemedicine decreased starting in Q3 of 2020 and stabilized in subsequent quarters. Telemedicine’s share of E&M services was still higher at 3% in Q1 2021 versus 0.2% pre-pandemic, while the use of telemedicine for physical medicine came closer to the pre-pandemic level. Prevalence of telemedicine use was higher among workers with sprains and strains, averaging 8% for Q2 2020 claims, while it was lower for fractures/ lacerations /contusions, at around 5%. Both figures declined in Q3 2020 to 5% and 3% respectively, and remained at that level for Q4 2020 claims.