Up to $250B of US health spending could become virtual

With more patients and providers being exposed to telehealth and virtual care, a report published Friday by McKinsey predicts that as much as $250 billion of current U.S. healthcare spending could theoretically be virtualized.

The key change has been the often-publicized surge of telehealth adoption accompanying the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Citing a handful of recent consumer and physician surveys conducted by the firm, the report's authors highlight a jump from 11% of U.S. consumers reporting use of these technologies in 2019 to 76% now saying they were moderately or highly likely to use telehealth going forward. Further, provider survey respondents said they are now conducting 50 to 175 times the number of telehealth visits than they did prior to COVID-19, with 57% noting that they now view telehealth more favorably.

"The current crisis has demonstrated the relevance of telehealth and created an opening to modernize the care delivery system," the report's authors wrote. "This modernization will be achieved by embedding telehealth in the care continuum at scale."

- Doug Myrick