Patients got used to emailing their doctors with health questions during the pandemic. Now hospitals are charging them.

• Hospitals are charging patients for their emails and other correspondence with doctors. 
• Some hospital officials say the strategy increases healthcare access, but advocates worry charges could deter patients who need care. 
• One study found that patient emails decreased following the implementation of paid correspondence. 

Patients got used to emailing their doctors for quick answers to health questions during the Covid pandemic. But for some patients, those messages are getting costly.