Healthcare Disparities in Telemedicine Access and Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study investigates disparities in telemedicine access and use among racial groups in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our analysis of a dataset from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reveals that telemedicine access and use varied significantly across racial groups, which the NCHS categorized as “Black,” “Hispanic,” “White,” or “Other.” Hispanic respondents were more likely to lack a regular place of care, which might explain their lower access to telemedicine, relative to other groups. White respondents reported relatively high telemedicine access. Black respondents also reported relatively high rates of telemedicine use, contrary to the literature suggesting lower healthcare access among African Americans. Findings underscore the need for public health agencies to disseminate information about telemedicine to all community members. We suggest future research exploring the socioeconomic barriers impacting individuals' ability to access and use telemedicine.