Minnesota Study of Telehealth Expansion and Payment Parity

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) conducted a study of the impact of the 2021 Minnesota Telehealth Act (Laws of Minnesota 2021, chapter 7, article 6) on private sector health insurance from 2022 to fall 2024. The policy expanded telehealth in Minnesota and extended payment parity to include telephone-only visits. During the 2023 legislative session, the Minnesota legislature passed a law that extends coverage for audio-only telehealth care until June 30, 2025.

This study focused on the impact of the Minnesota Telehealth Act on:

• Access to health care services, quality of care, health outcomes, patient satisfaction, and value-based payments and innovation in health care delivery
• Disparities and equitable access for underserved communities
• Health care costs and premiums
• Access to and availability of in-person care—including specialty care, particularly in rural areas

Contact

For more information about this study, please contact the study's coordinators at health.telehealthstudy@state.mn.us. 

Note

A parallel study by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) focuses on the policy’s impact on Minnesota Health Care Programs—including Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare. MDH consulted with DHS and the Department of Commerce throughout the study.