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The following is a summary of “Utilization of Telemedicine for Patients Receiving In-center Hemodialysis in the United States,” published in the January 2025 issue of Nephrology by Niu et al. 

In March 2020, U.S. federal waivers allowed kidney care providers to replace in-center hemodialysis visits with telemedicine due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Researchers conducted a retrospective study on telemedicine’s impact on kidney care visits and hospitalizations. 

They used Medicare claims to identify U.S. patients receiving in-center hemodialysis during the first 16 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study examined the association between telemedicine use and the frequency of kidney care provider visits (4 or more times per month) and hospitalizations. Multivariable regression models adjusted for patient, physician, geographic, and dialysis facility characteristics and pre-pandemic visit frequency. The focus was on providers familiar with telemedicine billing, identified by prior use of the telemedicine modifier. 

The results showed that among 1,881 telemedicine providers between 3/2020-6/2021, a 35% higher telemedicine use was linked to a 1.4% increase in 4-or-more visits (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.014; 95% CI 1.007-1.022). The association was stronger in areas with longer travel distances (interaction P=0.01). No significant link was found between telemedicine use and hospitalizations. 

Investigators found that telemedicine use was linked to a slight increase in the frequency of 4 or more monthly visits but did not affect hospitalizations. The association was stronger in areas with longer travel distances for providers. 

Source: journals.lww.com/jasn/abstract/9900/utilization_of_telemedicine_for_patients_receiving.528.aspx