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State Health Compare

Percent who had a medical appointment by video or phone in the past year

Measure Overview

With federal and state governments working to expand affordable access to broadband internet, telehealth has become a popular and often necessary way for patients to access care. Telehealth services conducted by phone or by video allow individuals to be connected with a doctor, nurse, or other health professional in instances without leaving their home, which has helped expand health care access for: 
  • Those living in rural areas 
  • Those who need specialized care with no specialists in their area, and  
  • Individuals who are unable to leave their home, whether that is because of illness, difficulty finding transportation, childcare, or another obstacle. 
Tracking utilization of telemedicine and telehealth care can be an important indicator of equity and access, helping researchers and public health professionals understand who does and does not have access or the ability to utilize telehealth services. This can be used to target outreach, broadband internet expansion efforts, and more. 

Telehealth Visits by State, Age, and More: Breakdowns and Data Source 


State Health Compare provides state-level rates of individuals who had a medical appointment by video or phone during the past twelve months using data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). 

Two breakdowns are available for this measure: Age and Coverage Type.

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