This JAMA Research Letter finds that visits at FQHCs participating in CHCF’s Connected Care Accelerator declined only modestly for primary care and remained stable for behavioral health during the first six months of the pandemic, with telehealth (particularly by telephone) replacing in-person visits. The authors conclude that “eliminating coverage for telephone visits could disproportionately affect underserved populations and threaten the ability of FQHCs to meet patient needs.”

This JAMA Research Letter finds that visits at FQHCs participating in CHCF’s Connected Care Accelerator declined only modestly for primary care and remained stable for behavioral health during the first six months of the pandemic, with telehealth (particularly by telephone) replacing in-person visits. The authors conclude that “eliminating coverage for telephone visits could disproportionately affect underserved populations and threaten the ability of FQHCs to meet patient needs.”