Overview

• The peer-reviewed analysis in the Journal of Medical Internet Research examined records for more than 9,300 adults in rural California.
• Video visit use was significantly lower among older adults, racial and ethnic minorities, Spanish speakers, and patients on Medicaid or Medicare.
• Activation of web-based patient portals lagged for the same groups, signaling ongoing digital inclusion challenges.
• Patients in rural California ZIP codes were more likely to be older and White compared with those in less rural areas.
• The researchers recommend telehealth education, culturally and language-specific outreach, low-cost digital access options, and evidence-based reimbursement reforms, with no broad policy fix reported to date.