We study the impact of telemedicine technology on antibiotic prescription rates using linked administrative data from Australia on physicians and their patients. We classify physicians by their relative use of virtual consultations after the introduction of government-subsidised telemedicine services and compare their antibiotic prescribing rates before and after telemedicine services became available. We find that more intense telemedicine adopters prescribe less antibiotics while keeping prescribing quality unchanged. Our results are not explained by patient sorting, doctor shopping, or changes in the intensity of consultations.

H44

H51

I11

I18

O33

Telemedicine

Practice style

Quality of care

Antibiotics

Difference-in-differences

Diffusion of innovations

© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.