New York Excellus Blues Finds Behavioral Health Accounts For One-Third Of 2019 Telemedicine Claims

Behavioral health services delivered via telemedicine now account for nearly one-third of all telemedicine visits for Excellus BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS), according to a review of the company's 2019 claims data. In 2018, behavioral health services accounted for less than 25% of all telemedicine visits for this payer.

In late 2019, Excellus BCBS commissioned a survey of upstate New York adults. The survey was conducted by One Research. The survey found that among 2,000 respondents:

The top mental health conditions for which plan members seek telemedicine treatment are generalized anxiety disorders, major depressive disorders, persistent depression (dysthymic disorders . . .