Trends in Use of Telehealth for Behavioral Health Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Considerations for Payers and Employers

This study by Norah Mulvaney-Day, David Dean Jr., Kay Miller, and Jessica Camacho-Cook examines trends in telehealth use during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on behavioral health care. The authors analyze how telehealth utilization increased rapidly across all services early in the pandemic, with behavioral health use exceeding that of physical health and remaining elevated through 2021, even as overall telehealth use declined.

The analysis also explores differences in telehealth use across behavioral health populations, including trends for mental health conditions compared to substance use disorders. The findings are intended to inform payer and employer decision . . .