Test Ordering and Completion During Virtual vs In-Person Annual Visits

In this cohort study, high- and low-value tests were less likely to be both ordered and completed at virtual annual visits compared with in-person annual visits, particularly low-value tests and laboratory tests. Telemedicine may introduce frictions for clinicians and patients that differentially reduce low-value testing, although high-value tests were also affected; health systems could consider tools, such as gap closure alerts, to selectively promote high-value care.