Pros and Cons of Telehealth

RAND senior policy researcher Lori Uscher-Pines presents the pros and cons of telehealth. Advantages include improved access to care in communities lacking health providers, appointment flexibility for those with work or caregiving responsibilities, and reduced stigma and increased privacy for patients with substance use disorder. Drawbacks of telehealth include the potential for overutilization and the inability for providers to conduct physical exams and use all of their senses in diagnosis and treatment decisions.