Telehealth, retail clinic use increasing in pivot toward lower-priced medical delivery sites

Dive Brief: Consumer use of telehealth and retail clinics spiked from 2017 to 2018, while use of urgent care centers, ambulatory surgery centers and emergency rooms dropped as consumers increasingly turn to cheaper sites of care for low-acuity medical needs. Telehealth use grew 12% and retail clinic use grew 10% during the time period, according to a new report from health cost nonprofit FAIR Health. At the same time, urgent care center use fell 11%, ambulatory surgery center use fell 12% and ER use fell 15%. However, despite increased use of telehealth and retail clinics, use of all five places of health service has slowed overall. Retail clinics and virtual care saw growth from 2013 to 2018, but at a much slower rate compared to 2012 to 2017, FAIR Health found. Similarly, for urgent care centers, ambulatory surgery centers and ERs, growth in 2009 to 2018 was at a much slower rate than 2008 to 2017.