Industry Variation in Risk of Delaying Care During COVID-19

Impact of the Early COVID-19 Pandemic on the Number of HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis Uses and the Proportion of Preexposure Prophylaxis Users Receiving Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing Services

“…5 Utilization of in-person health care services declined beginning in March and April, 2020, relative to 2019 and January/ February, 2020. 6,7 Health care delivery systems also implemented and expanded practices to increase virtual care, telehealth, or telemedicine to provide medical services and/or increase their capacity to care for COVID-19 patients, often by shifting resources from other health care services. 8,9 Despite this continued availability of services, the COVID-19 pandemic and related response measures may have impacted the decision of individuals to either initiate or continually receive PrEP, including laboratory testing services at the time of refill of PrEP prescription, during this period.…”

“…In response to this public health threat, governments implemented public health measures aimed at mitigating the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, including stay-at-home orders 5 . Utilization of in-person health care services declined beginning in March and April, 2020, relative to 2019 and January/February, 2020 6,7 . Health care delivery systems also implemented and expanded practices to increase virtual care, telehealth, or telemedicine to provide medical services and/or increase their capacity to care for COVID-19 patients, often by shifting resources from other health care services 8,9 …”