Effect of an Internet-Based System for Doctor-Patient Communication on Health Care Spending

We studied the effect of a structured electronic communication service on health care spending, comparing doctor office and laboratory spending for a group of patients before and after the service became available to them relative to changes in a control group. In the treatment group, doctor office spending and laboratory spending fell in the period after the service became available, relative to the control group (p < 0. 05). A rough estimate is that average doctor office spending per treatment group member per month fell 1. 71 after availability of the service, and laboratory spending fell roughly 0. 12. Spending associated with use of the electronic service was 0. 29 per member per month. We conclude that use of structured electronic visits can reduce health care spending.