Accessibility and Utilization of Telehealth Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Medicare Beneficiaries by Diabetes Status

Abstract

Due to the influence types of telehealth services (i.e., phone and/or video) can have on patient care and outcomes, we sought to examine factors associated with the types of telehealth services offered and used among Medicare beneficiaries. We analyzed the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey COVID-19 Public Use File ( N = 1,403 and N = 2,218 for individuals with and without diabetes, respectively) and performed multinomial logit models to examine factors (e.g., sociodemographics, comorbidities, digital access/knowledge) associated with types of telehealth services offered and used among beneficiaries aged ≥65 years by diabetes status. Medicare beneficiaries seemed to prefer using telehealth via phone than video. Regardless of diabetes status, having not previously participated in video or voice calls or conferencing can be a barrier to telehealth being offered and used via video for beneficiaries. For older adults with diabetes, disparities in accessibility of telehealth via video by income and languages spoken other than English were observed. [ Research in Gerontological Nursing, 16 (3), 134–146.]