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COVID-19

Telemedicine Use Disparities Persist Among Rural Cancer Patients Despite Pandemic

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Rural populations continue to show lower use of telemedicine despite its expansion during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published in JCO Oncology Practice. The research, conducted by the Dartmouth College Geisel School of Medicine, analyzed 2 years of Medicare fee-for-service claims (2020-2021) for patients with incident or prevalent lung or colon cancer. The findings suggest that rural residents had fewer outpatient in-person visits and more emergency department (ED) visits compared to their metropolitan counterparts, indicating persistent disparities in access to care.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study identified 355,868 patients with incident or prevalent lung or colon cancer in 2020, with 66% having lung cancer and 34% having colon cancer.
  • Median age was 76 years, with 78% of patients living in metropolitan areas, 85% being White, and 53% female.
  • In 2020, small town/rural-residing patients were less likely to use telemedicine (1.28 visits per year) compared to metropolitan patients (2.34 visits per year).
  • Rural patients had fewer total outpatient in-person visits (12.37 vs. 13.71 for metropolitan patients) and more ED visits (0.85 vs. 0.48) while inpatient utilization was similar.
  • Similar trends were seen in 2021 and by cancer type.
  • Lower rural telemedicine use continued beyond the pandemic onset, suggesting that expansion did not improve overall access to care for rural patients with cancer.

Statistics:

  • 355,868 patients with incident or prevalent lung or colon cancer were analyzed in the study.
  • 66% of patients had lung cancer, while 34% had colon cancer.
  • Median age was 76 years, with a standard deviation of 7.
  • 78% of patients lived in metropolitan areas, while 22% lived in rural or small town areas.
  • 85% of patients were White, while 15% were non-White.
  • 53% of patients were female, while 47% were male.
  • Small town/rural-residing patients had 1.28 telemedicine visits per year, while metropolitan patients had 2.34 visits per year.
  • Rural patients had 12.37 total outpatient in-person visits, while metropolitan patients had 13.71 visits.
  • Rural patients had 0.85 ED visits, while metropolitan patients had 0.48 visits.

Sources:

  • Comparing Trends in Telemedicine Use and Geographic Disparities in Utilization Among Patients With Cancer in the United States. JCO Oncology Practice, 2025.
  • Dartmouth College Geisel School of Medicine, Lebanon, NH.

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