Variation in Telehealth Use in a National Home Test-to-Treat Program for Acute Respiratory Infections

Abstract

Background:

Home test-to-treat (HTTT) programs deliver timely antiviral treatment for acute respiratory infections, including COVID-19 and influenza, through at-home testing and telehealth. Because access is often measured by visit occurrence, variation in how and when care is delivered may be overlooked. We hypothesized that telehealth access follows distinct process-based patterns.

Methods:

We analyzed de-identified encounters from the national HTTT program (September 2023–July 2024); 6,213 of 8,160 eligible individuals remained after exclusions for missing data. Phenotypes were derived by k-means clustering of standardized variables capturing encounter timing, modality preference, process duration, and sociodemographic and digital access attributes. Ten-day surveys assessed symptom duration and health care utilization.

Results:

Three phenotypes emerged: Delayed/Disrupted Access (n = 1,537; 24.7%), Digitally Engaged but Socioeconomically Vulnerable (n = 1,460; 23.5%), and Mainstream Access and Efficient Utilization (n = 3,216; 51.8%). Mean process duration differed (15.93 [SD 3.84] vs. 3.69 [3.31] vs. 2.87 [2.41] h; p < 0.001). Synchronous preference was lowest in the Digitally Engaged group (22.9%); antiviral prescribing was high (88.6–91.9%). Among 10-day respondents (n = 1,023), symptom duration did not differ. Emergency department visits were most frequent in the Digitally Engaged group (2.3% vs. 0.0% and 0.5%; p = 0.02) and urgent care in the Delayed/Disrupted group (5.8% vs. 4.1% vs. 2.0%; p = 0.02).

Conclusions:

Telehealth use in a national HTTT program formed distinct phenotypes defined by timing, modality, and care-process efficiency. Evaluating equity requires attention to how and when care is delivered, not simply whether it occurred.