How OBGYNs Adapted Provision of Sexual and Reproductive Health Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Key Takeaways
  • OBGYNs have continued to provide sexual and reproductive health care during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they have been faced with great challenges and change within their practices. More than half of OBGYNs saw a decline in patient visits from March to June 2020. Most attributed the decline to fewer patients seeking care or practice specific limitations, rather than state restrictions on health care services.
  • Few OBGYNs reported using telehealth visits prior to the pandemic, but the vast majority said they had incorporated telehealth into their practice as of June 2020. Almost all reported some sort of challenge related to delivering care via telehealth, including limitations in conducting a physical exam, patients having difficulty using telehealth, and the inability to conduct diagnostic testing. If they were to continue to offer telehealth after the resolution of the COVID-19 emergency, most OBGYNs said they would need to be reimbursed at a comparable rate to that of in-person care.
  • Four in five OBGYNs said their practice experienced at least one financial or staffing challenge as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The most commonly cited experiences were reducing operating hours, reduction in pay for clinicians, and furloughing or laying off non-clinical staff.
  • Almost all OBGYNs reported they are continuing to provide many contraceptive services in-person during the COVID-19 pandemic. Half reported prescribing hormonal contraceptive pills via telehealth, but very few are utilizing telehealth for sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, or for providing instruction on self-administered contraceptive injections or intrauterine device (IUD) removal.
  • The majority of OBGYNs said that it was more difficult to address reproductive preventive care and manage chronic gynecological conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. About six in ten OBGYNs are very or somewhat worried that patients who face delays in sexual and reproductive health care, such as contraceptive care, STI treatment, or obtaining an abortion, will face negative health consequences.

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on health care access and delivery. While patients’ other health care needs have generally not declined, providers have been tasked with figuring out how to address these needs while mitigating risk to both patients and staff related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many providers have altered their practice models dramatically, including the rapid adoption of telehealth and reconfiguring practice workflows. While obstetrician-gynecologists (OBGYNs) do not represent the entirety of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care providers, their experiences offer us insight into the field at a time of great change and adaptation.

At the time the novel coronavirus had started to spread widely within the U.S., KFF was underway fielding a national survey of OBGYNs to understand SRH care provision across the U.S. Realizing that practice patterns had likely changed due to the pandemic, we took the opportunity after the initial survey release to add a subset of questions related to provision of care during the COVID-19 pandemic. A nationally representative sample of 855 office-based U.S. OBGYNs answered the COVID-19 supplemental questions from July 8, 2020 to September 1, 2020. In this brief, we report on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the provision of SRH care by U.S. OBGYNs.

The margin of sampling error for these questions is +/-6 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All comparisons noted in this brief are statistically significant (p <0.05). A summary of physician and practice characteristic definitions can be found in the methodology section.

Declines in Visit Volume

At the time of the survey, more than half (54%) of OBGYNs said they had seen a decrease in the number of patient visits since the COVID-19 pandemic started in March 2020. Approximately a third (35%) saw about the same number of patients, while a minority (10%) saw more patients since the beginning of the pandemic (Figure 1). Those who were in small practices, defined as ≤ 3 full-time equivalent (FTE) doctors or advanced practice clinicians, appear to have been hit the hardest, with 73% of OBGYNs at small practices reporting a decrease in patients compared to 46% and 48% of OBGYNs at medium (4-10 FTE) and large practices (>10 FTE). Also, more OBGYNs age 65+ reported seeing declines in patient visits, compared to all younger age groups (80% for age 65+, 59% for age 55-64, 58% for age 45-54, 38% for age <45); this is also the age group that had the largest share of OBGYNs who did not utilize any telehealth in June 2020 (Table 2).

When those who reported a decrease in patient volume were asked to identify the primary driver of the decline, most attributed the decline to fewer patients seeking care (45%) or practice specific limitations (37%). State restrictions on health care services was less commonly (7%) cited as the primary reason for declines in patient volume (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Most OBGYNs Saw Declines in Visits During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Attributed To Fewer Patients Seeking Care​

Telehealth Utilization

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of telehealth grew rapidly among OBGYNs. Prior to the start of the COVID-19 emergency in the U.S. (March 1, 2020), the vast majority (86%) of OBGYNs said they did not conduct any telehealth visits. By June 2020, however, almost all (84%) reported conducting telehealth visits (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Few OBGYNs Used Telehealth Prior To the COVID-19 Pandemic. Three Months Later the Vast Majority Were Doing So​

The average share of overall practice visits that OBGYNs reported conducting via telehealth grew from 1.5% before the COVID-19 emergency to 18% in June 2020. Physicians who had been using telehealth before the pandemic reported using telehealth for a significantly higher share of visits on average in June 2020 compared to those with no prior experience (35% vs. 16%). The average share of total visits conducted via telehealth also differed by physician characteristics, with higher shares of telehealth visits reported among female physicians and those under age 54. There were also differences by practice location, with those practicing in urban locations, the West and Northeast (areas initially hit hardest by the pandemic) and in Medicaid Expansion states reporting a higher share of telehealth visits (Table 1). No differences were identified by practice size.

Table 1: Average share of total visits conducted via telehealth in June 2020, by demographics
Thinking about telehealth visits (e.g. virtual visits conducted via video or phone), what percentage of your practice visits were via telehealth in June 2020?
Average
Overall 18%
Used Telehealth Prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic Yes 35*
No 16
Gender Female 20*
Male 14
Age <45 21
45-54 23*
55-64 11
65+ 14
Region West 26*
Northeast 21*
Midwest 16
South 13
Urbanicity Urban 19*
Suburban 18
Rural 11
Practice in Medicaid Expansion State Yes 21*
No 12
* Indicates a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) from reference group in bold

When looking at how often OBGYNs utilized telehealth for patient visits, most did so for a minority of visits in June 2020; few (9%) were using telehealth for >50% of their total visits (Figure 3). Therefore, while the majority of OBGYNs have used some telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, most continued to deliver the bulk of their visits via in-person care.

Figure 3: Most OBGYNs Not Using Telehealth Prior To the Pandemic. In June 2020, Most Were Doing So for a Minority of Visits​

While there was a major spike in telehealth adoption by June 2020, a small but sizable share of OBGYNs (14%) did not conduct any telehealth visits. A higher share of male OBGYNs compared to female, and older doctors compared to younger doctors reported no telehealth use in June 2020. Additionally, while there has been much discussion about the potential for telehealth to expand access in rural regions where transportation barriers can be a limiting factor in obtaining care, OBGYNs in rural areas were more likely than those in urban and suburban areas to have not adopted telehealth during the pandemic. About 1 in 4 OBGYNs practicing in rural areas, small practices and in states without Medicaid expansion reported no telehealth use (Table 2).

Table 2: Who has not adopted telehealth into their practice during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Share of OBGYNs who reported no telehealth use in June 2020
Overall 14%
Used Telehealth Prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic Yes 1*
No 16
Gender Female 9*
Male 23
Age <45 6*
45-54 9*
55-64 20
65+ 28
Practice Size1 Large 9*
Medium 10*
Small 22
Urbanicity Urban 12*
Suburban 8*
Rural 29
Practice in Medicaid Expansion State Yes 9*
No 24
Question wording: “Thinking about telehealth visits (e.g. virtual visits conducted via video or phone), what percentage of your practice visits were via telehealth in June 2020?” Those who indicated 0% telehealth visits classified as no telehealth use.
*Indicates statistically significant difference (p<0.05) from reference group in bold
1Practice size defined by number of full-time equivalent (FTE) doctors and advance practice clinicians: small ≤3 FTE, medium 4-10 FTE and large >10 FTE.
Telehealth Challenges

Among OBGYNs who provided telehealth care in June 2020, nine in ten (90%) experienced a telehealth-related challenge. The most cited challenge was the limitation in conducting physical exams (76%), followed by their patients having trouble using telehealth (63%), the inability to conduct diagnostic testing via telehealth (51%), lack of guidance on telehealth best practices (29%) and lack of training on how to use telehealth effectively (26%). A small minority cited high financial costs associated with establishing a telehealth program as a challenge (6%) (Figure 4).

Figure 4: Nine in Ten OBGYNs Cite Challenges To Delivering Care via Telehealth​

For OBGYNs who had not been using telehealth prior to the pandemic, a higher share reported telehealth challenges (93%) compared to those who had used telehealth prior (75%). Those without prior telehealth use more often cited lack of training (29% vs. 5%), lack of guidance on best practices (32% vs. 14%) and limitations in conducting a physical exam (80% vs. 54%) as challenges, compared to those with prior telehealth use (Figure 5).

Figure 5: OBGYNs With Prior Telehealth Experience Cited Fewer Telehealth-Related Challenges Compared To New Users ​

When thinking about the sustainability of telehealth beyond the COVID-19 emergency in the U.S., reimbursement was an issue cited by many. About half of OBGYNs (52%) reported they would need to be reimbursed at the same rate for telehealth compared to in-person care to continue conducting telehealth visits (Figure 6). About one in four (28%) said they would need to be reimbursed at 75-99% compared to in-person care to continue to offer telehealth. Few (11%) would accept <75% reimbursement for telehealth compared to in-person care, and 7% said they would not offer telehealth at all after the resolution of the COVID-19 emergency. Notably, a larger share of OBGYNs practicing in public clinics said they would not offer telehealth in the future, compared to those in private practice (16% vs. 5%).

Figure 6: Most OBGYNs Expect To Be Reimbursed for Telehealth at a Comparable Rate To In-Person Care​

Financial and Staffing Challenges

Four in five (81%) OBGYNs said their practice experienced at least one financial or staffing challenge as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The most commonly cited experiences were reducing operating hours (56%), reducing pay for clinicians (39%) and furloughing or laying off non-clinical staff (37%). Fewer reduced pay for non-clinical staff (17%), furloughed or laid off clinicians (16%) or closed the practice temporarily (13%) (Table 3). Half of OBGYNs reported that their practice experienced more than one of these challenges.

Table 3: Challenges Experienced by OBGYN Practices During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Which of the following, if any, has your practice experienced because of the impact of COVID-19?
Reduced operating hours 56%
Reduced pay for clinicians 39%
Reduced pay for non-clinical staff 17%
Furloughed or laid off clinicians 16%
Furloughed or laid off non-clinical staff 37%
Closed the practice temporarily 13%
Closed the practice permanently 1%
Merged with another practice 3%
At least one of the above 81%
More than one of the above 50%
None of the above 19%

Financial and staffing challenges affected different shares of OBGYNs depending on practice type and setting (Figure 7). Temporarily closing their practices was reported by a higher share of OBGYNs in the Northeast (26%) compared to the West (10%), Midwest (9%) and South (10%); this was also the case for OBGYNs in small practices (22%) compared to those in medium (11%) and large practices (6%). Reducing operating hours was more common among OBGYNs in urban (59%) and suburban (71%) practices compared to those in rural practices (41%), as well as OBGYNs working in private practice (60%) compared to public clinics (37%). Additionally, a higher share of OBGYNs in private practice than public reported reduced pay for clinicians (42% vs. 22%).

Figure 7: Higher Shares of Certain OBGYNs Reported Modifying Practice Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic​

Delivery of Reproductive Health Care

mode of Delivery

Despite the rapid growth in telemedicine visits, the vast majority of OBGYNs continued to provide basic contraceptive services and STI testing during the COVID-19 pandemic via in-person care. This includes LARC placement (92%), IUD removal (95%), contraceptive injections (93%), prescription of hormonal contraceptive pills (75%) and STI testing for symptomatic patients (94%) (Table 4).

Table 4: Most OBGYNs Continued to Provide SRH Services In Person During July-August 2020
Indicate if, and how, you are currently providing the following services during the COVID-19 emergency?
Providing in-person Providing via telehealth Not currently providing this service
LARC placement 92% n/a 5%
IUD removal 95% 2%a 2%
Contraceptive injections 93% 3%b 3%
Prescription of hormonal contraceptive pills 75% 51% <1%
STI testing for symptomatic patients 94% 9% 1%
Notes: Respondents could select multiple response options.
a Instructing patients on IUD self-removal; b Instructing patients on SQ self-injection

Some OBGYNs reported utilizing telehealth to deliver these services. Nearly half (51%) of OBGYNs report prescribing OCPs via telehealth since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Younger OBGYNs age <45 (64%) and 45-54 (63%) were about twice as likely to provide OCPs via telehealth than older OBGYNs age 55-64 (34%) and 65+ (28%). Prescribing OCPs via telehealth was also more common among female OBGYNs compared to male (61% vs. 33%), OBGYNs in urban locations compared to rural (55% vs. 35%), and those in large practices compared to small (64% vs. 44%). Providers in the West (67%) reported higher rates of providing OCPs via telehealth compared to those in the Midwest (45%) and South (44%), as well as those in states with Medicaid expansion compared to states without Medicaid expansion (57% vs. 39%) (Table 5).

Table 5: Provision of OCPs via Telehealth Varies by Physician and Practice Characteristics
Share who had prescribed OCPs via telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic
Overall 51%
Gender Female 61*
Male 33
Age <45 64*
45-54 63*
55-64 34
65+ 28
Practice Size1 Large 64*
Medium 51
Small 44
Urbanicity Urban 55*
Suburban 49
Rural 35
Region West 67*
Northeast 52
Midwest 45
South 44
Practice in Medicaid Expansion State Yes 57*
No 39
Question wording: “Please indicate if, and how, you are currently providing prescription of hormonal contraceptive pills during the COVID-19 emergency.” Table represents those who are providing this service via telehealth.
*Indicates statistically significant difference (p<0.05) from reference group in bold
1Practice size defined by number of full-time equivalent (FTE) doctors and advance practice clinicians: small ≤3 FTE, medium 4-10 FTE and large >10 FTE.

Despite innovations in telehealth for use in STI care and contraception, very few OBGYNs reported utilizing telehealth for STI testing (9%), or for providing instruction on self-administered contraceptive injections (3%) or IUD removal (2%) (Table 4). Providers who were using telehealth for >25% of their patient visits in June 2020 reported higher use of telehealth for STI testing (20% vs. 6%), contraceptive injections (8% vs. 1%) and OCP prescription (63% vs. 48%) than providers using telehealth for ≤25% of their visits.

Very few OBGYNs reported that they were not providing the aforementioned services at all at the time this survey was fielded (July 8 to September 1, 2020). In the Northeast (14%), the region hit particularly hard early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, a higher share of doctors reported they were not providing LARC placement at the time of the survey compared to those in the West (4%), Midwest (2%) and South (3%). Similarly, a somewhat higher share of OBGYNs in the Northeast were not providing contraceptive injections (8%) compared to the Midwest (1%) and South (1%) [no statistically significant difference was found from the West (3%)]. It is possible that practices have resumed provision of these services since the fielding of this survey.

Access and Delays in Care

The majority of OBGYNs said it was more difficult to address their patients’ needs during the COVID-19 pandemic; this was true for both reproductive preventive care needs (71%), like STI and cervical cancer screening, as well as chronic gynecological conditions (77%), like addressing fibroids, endometriosis and menopausal symptoms (Figure 8).

Figure 8: Majority of OBGYNs Say COVID-19 Has Made It More Difficult To Address Patients’ Needs ​

Most OBGYNs expressed concern that patients who experience delays in SRH care as a result of the COVID-19 emergency will face negative health consequences. At least six in ten OBGYNs reported being very or somewhat worried about delays in contraceptive care, prenatal care, follow-up care for abnormal pap smears, STI treatment, and obtaining an abortion (Figure 9).

Figure 9: Most OBGYNs Very or Somewhat Worried About Delays in Reproductive Health Care Due To COVID-19​

Negative health consequences due to delays in obtaining an abortion were of particular concern to certain groups of OBGYNs. A higher share of female compared to male, urban and suburban compared to rural, and younger compared to older OBGYNs said they were very or somewhat worried about delays in abortion care. Additionally, a higher share of OBGYNs who provide abortions said they were very or somewhat worried about delays in abortion care, compared to OBGYNs who do not provide abortions (Figure 10).

Figure 10: Worry About Delays in Abortion Care Varies by Physician Characteristics ​

Conclusions and Implications

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, OBGYNs across the country have been faced with the challenge of how to provide quality sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care to patients during a public health emergency. Our survey finds that most OBGYNs are continuing to provide SRH services, however not without great adaptation. Almost all have changed the way they deliver care, including quickly adopting telehealth, and most have changed, at least temporarily, the way their practice operates, including reducing operating hours and staffing. This rapid response has likely put stressors on both patients and providers. While we were not able to elicit the patient perspective in this survey, we saw that OBGYNs reported declines in patient volumes, largely attributed to fewer patients seeking care, and that OBGYNs worry about the negative health consequences that may result from delays in care. This suggests that patients are facing heightened barriers to accessing care, and that OBGYNs are facing new challenges to providing that care.

While our study provides a snapshot into how OBGYNs adapted their care provision during the Summer of 2020, we recognize that in a rapidly changing environment much has likely evolved since this survey was fielded, and will continue to evolve in the months to come. As the pandemic surges in much of the country, practices may need to reevaluate how they are providing care. OBGYNs, as well as other health care providers, will need to continue to make decisions about how best to meet the sexual and reproductive health care needs of their patients, at a time when patient need for these services has not diminished.

Methodology

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