Telehealth Utilization Rebounds in November, Midwest Leads Gains
Event summary
- Nationally, telehealth claim percentages rose from 14.5% to 15.0% in November 2025, a 3.6% increase.
- The Midwest experienced the largest regional increase in telehealth utilization, up 5.1% month-over-month.
- Sleep disorders re-entered the top five national telehealth diagnostic categories after being absent in October.
- Mental health conditions remain the dominant telehealth diagnostic category, though their share slightly decreased nationally.
The big picture
The rebound in telehealth utilization in November 2025, following a slight dip in October, suggests that the initial surge driven by pandemic-era waivers may be stabilizing into a more sustainable level of adoption. The regional variations in growth indicate that telehealth's trajectory is not uniform and is influenced by local market conditions. FAIR Health's data, representing a substantial portion of the commercially insured population, provides a valuable benchmark for understanding the evolving telehealth landscape.
What we're watching
- Regional Disparities
- The significant divergence in telehealth growth rates between regions, particularly the Midwest's outperformance, suggests localized factors are at play that warrant further investigation, potentially related to provider adoption or patient demographics.
- Diagnostic Volatility
- The fluctuating presence of sleep disorders within the top diagnostic categories indicates a potential sensitivity to seasonal factors or changes in clinical guidelines, which could impact telehealth service demand.
- Urban/Rural Gap
- The persistent and widening gap in telehealth adoption between urban and rural areas highlights ongoing accessibility challenges and underscores the need for targeted interventions to expand telehealth services in underserved communities.
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