Shifting care from in-person to virtual settings could reduce total medical claims spending by 2.3% to 3.1%, according to an Oct. 17 study from Solera Health.
The research analyzed longitudinal medical claims data from 50 million commercially insured U.S. adults. The study first identified patients eligible for virtual care based on an outpatient visit for a qualifying diagnosis over a six-month period. Researchers then reviewed the previous 12 months of claims to assess whether patients' conditions were uncomplicated or complex, followed by a 12-month forward analysis to evaluate whether their conditions remained controlled or became uncontrolled after their initial in-person visit.
According to estimates from CMS on private insurer spending in 2022, this shift to virtual care could result in cost savings of over $50 billion each year.