Accessibility and utilisation of telehealth services among older adults during COVID‐19 pandemic in the United States

The removal of regulatory and reimbursement barriers during the COVID‐19 pandemic in the United States presented opportunities to explore the potential of telehealth to improve access to and use of healthcare among underserved populations. Therefore, we examined factors associated with accessibility and utilisation of telehealth among older adults during the COVID‐19 pandemic. We analysed the nationally representative Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey COVID‐19 Supplement File of community‐dwelling Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years (n = 5,189), administered from 5 October 2020, through 15 November 2020. Two survey‐weighted multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the association between factors (i.e., socio‐demographics, co‐morbidities and digital access/literacy) and whether (1) beneficiaries’ regular providers offered telehealth during the COVID‐19 pandemic, and (2) those being offered telehealth used it. Furthermore, subgroup analyses by residing area and income status were conducted. Of study beneficiaries, 83.6% reported their regular providers offered telehealth during COVID‐19. Disparities in accessibility of telehealth by sociodemographic status were observed [e.g., those living in a non‐metro area (versus metro) were 7.1% (marginal effect [ME] = −7.1%; p