Telehealth Needs Policy Support, Further Research to Help Close Care Gaps: Bidisha Mandal, PhD

Bidisha Mandal, PhD, a professor at Washington State University, continued the conversation about her study, “Telehealth for Primary and Preventive Care Among Food-Insecure Individuals,” recently published in The American Journal of Managed Care^®, by contextualizing her findings for different audiences and suggesting future research directions.¹

She first outlined steps that health systems can take to minimize care gaps for patients experiencing food insecurity. Mandal specifically recommended routine food insecurity screenings and hybrid care models that combine telehealth with community support to help overcome barriers.

She then explained how to interpret the contrast between in-person and telehealth visits among food-insecure individuals. While overall care use is lower than that of their counterparts, telehealth accounts for a larger share of visits for this population.

“Telehealth is helpful, but it’s really a mitigating tool rather than a complete solution,” she said.

As a result, Mandal emphasized that policymakers should view telehealth as a “powerful” tool in need of policy support to ensure payment parity across insurance types. She also highlighted the importance of investing in digital access and connecting patients to social and community resources.

“Thoughtful regulation and support can help telehealth reach its full potential to expand care and reduce disparities,” Mandal claimed.

Lastly, she identified areas for further research, underscoring the need for studies that examine whether telehealth increases total access to care and improves health outcomes over time.

“I’m hopeful about the potential of telehealth to help people who face real barriers to care,” Mandal concluded. “With the right support and policies, it can make it easier for everyone to get the care they need to stay healthy.”

Watch part 1 to learn more about the study’s primary objectives, methods, and main findings.²

References

1. Mandal B. Telehealth for primary and preventive care among food-insecure individuals. Am J Manag Care. 2026;32(1):16-22. doi:10.37765/ajmc.2026.89867
2. McCormick B, Mandal B. Food-insecure individuals rely more on telehealth than their counterparts: Bidisha Mandal, PhD. AJMC^®. March 2, 2026. Accessed March 4, 2026.