Virtual or in-person care? Behavioral health patients say they lack choice
The demand for behavioral health has skyrocketed since the pandemic, but 32% of patients do not get the type of visit they want – and many say their clinician doesn’t consider their preference, according to a RAND study.
Telehealth services had already been growing before the pandemic. But the need for service while in lockdown accelerated its usage and there is no turning back.
Patients with behavioral health issues are losing their ability to choose between telehealth or in-person care, according to a study from Rand. A survey of more than 2,000 people showed that one-third of patients receiving therapy or medication visits reported that their clinicians did not offer both forms of care.
Also, 32% said they did not receive their preferred type of care and 45% did not believe their clinician considered the preferences of their patients. Telehealth use has remained at 10 times pre-pandemic levels, Rand researchers wrote, with additional studies finding that patients’ preference for behavioral telehealth has continued into this year.
“These findings suggest that patients’ modality preferences need to be a greater consideration in both clinical discussions and policy decisions,” Jessica Sousa, lead author of the study and a senior policy analyst at RAND, said in a statement. “Expanding telehealth increases access to care, but telehealth alone might not be sufficient. Ideally, patients should have access to some amount of in-person care, given that many prefer it or may need it.”
Eighty percent of people undergoing individual therapy had telehealth visits in the prior year compared with 42% who reported in-person visits. Meanwhile, those attending visits to get medication were about even in their use of in-person and virtual care, with 54% receiving telehealth visits compared with 58% seeking in-person visits.
A previous survey conducted by Rand in December 2021 showed that most consumers are less interested in using telehealth if the out-of-pocket cost is higher than for in-person care, suggesting the continued expansion of telehealth will be sensitive to financial issues.
Related: Telehealth used more by older patients than younger ones
Patients may like telehealth in certain circumstances such as when they need care for minor health issues,” said Zachary S. Predmore, an associate policy researcher at RAND. “But their willingness to use telehealth is very sensitive to costs. Patients may not perceive video visits to have the same value as in-person health care.”