![951 claims receiving telemedicine service pre-pandemic. 21.086 claims using telemedicine during pandemic. 45–54-year-olds using the most telemedicine services during pandemic 69% of telemedicine service are office visits.](../../artwork/dwc/telemedsumry.png)
Key findings
![Number of telemedicine services by year and month, September 2018 (16 services) through February 2021 (3,705 services). The high point was April 2020 (12,743 services).](../../artwork/dwc/telemed12.png)
![Telemedicine services by network. Pre-pandemic: 50% network, 50% non-network. Pandemic: 31% network, 69% non-network.](../../artwork/dwc/telemed24.png)
![Telemedicine services by service type, pre-pandemic, and pandemic. Evaluation and management - 3% pre, 69% pandemic. Medicine-other – 18% pre, 23% pandemic. Medicine-physical medicine and rehabilitation services – 3% pre, 6% pandemic. Other – 6% pre, 2% pandemic.](../../artwork/dwc/telemed21.png)
![Average number of days to first telemedicine service, January 2020 (123) through February 2021 (24).](../../artwork/dwc/telemed41.png)
DWC adopted 28 Texas Administrative Code §133.30 on September 1, 2018, in an effort to expand injured employees’ access to telemedicine services. This report examines trends in telemedicine services in the Texas workers’ compensation system since 2018. Specifically, this report compares the use and cost of these services before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report also compares telemedicine use for network and non-network claims. Findings from this report provide a baseline to track future changes in the utilization and cost of telemedicine services for injured employees in Texas.
Published: October 2021 by the Workers' Compensation Research & Evaluation Group.
For more information, contact: WCResearch@tdi.texas.gov