Improving Healthcare Access by Reducing Transportation Barriers.
Social determinants of health, including transportation barriers, can have a ripple effect on patients, their providers, and health systems. Health systems are improving accessibility, reducing costs, and providing better patient care by partnering with rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft.
Your Patient’s Access to Reliable Transportation is a Social Determinant of Health.
Social determinants of health, including transportation barriers, can have a ripple effect on patients, their providers, and health systems. According to research, one in five adults without access to a vehicle or public transportation reported skipping necessary healthcare services in the last year.
Patients who lack reliable transportation or require specialized transportation like wheelchairs or gurney vans are far more likely to miss medical appointments, cancel appointments at the last minute, or require hospital discharge delays.
In the past few years, rideshare companies like Lyft and Uber have appeared on the non-medical transport (NMT) scene. These companies offer a low-cost solution for patients without specialized transportation needs, providing safe and reliable transport for appointments and hospital discharges at an average of 30% less than a traditional taxi voucher.
These tech-enabled vendors not only facilitate detailed tracking of ride requests and completed trips but also provide comprehensive data and analytics on medical center expenditures, which is particularly valuable for hospital pay and charity pay programs. Uber and Lyft have also committed to expanding their offerings to include wheelchair vans in certain markets, adding more choice when it comes to patients with specialized transportation needs.
Three Things to Consider When Incorporating Non-Medical Transportation in Your Ecosystem.
While there is no quick fix or one-size-fits-all solution to address transportation barriers, ride-sharing companies have an opportunity to make healthcare more accessible. Freed Associates has worked with large healthcare systems that are incorporating ride-share transportation into their standard operating procedures while still ensuring Medicare compliance, leading to significant annual savings. Here are three things that organizations and health systems should consider when launching a rideshare partnership.
1. Patient Education and Communication is Key.
Make sure patients are aware of their options. Your health system can create a “transportation menu” explaining options for patients who don’t have reliable transportation to and from the hospital or medical appointments. It’s important to make sure your patients understand the out-of-pocket costs, feel comfortable calling a car on their own, and are supported if there are language barriers. This transportation menu is also important for patients who require specialized transport, such as people who use wheelchairs.
2. Provide Staff Training to Create a Frictionless Experience.
To address transportation needs effectively, it is crucial to establish clear workflows for your team. This includes establishing a process for staff members to discuss paying out-of-pocket, determining when charity pay may be appropriate, and setting criteria and guidelines for approving charity transport. Additionally, having guidelines for identifying the appropriate level of service needed and making sure your team understands when they may need to assist in ordering rides is essential for ensuring seamless and efficient transport arrangements.
3. Continue to Innovate on Non-Medical Transportation Options.
A lack of reliable transportation doesn’t just impact appointment attendance, it also negatively affects medication adherence, loneliness, and food access, all of which negatively impact patient outcomes and increase healthcare costs. Uber is broadening its services to include medication, durable medical equipment (DME), and meal delivery for homebound patients through their hospital-at-home programs. Establishing relationships with NMT services like this one may be a way to ensure more of your patients have access to their medication and other needed services. Additionally, healthcare organizations can partner with Uber to offer staff transport in densely populated areas or regions with safety concerns, providing safe and reliable transportation for healthcare workers.
Reliable Transportation Improves Health Equity.
Transportation barriers are key social determinants of health, and addressing transportation is crucial for improving patient outcomes, reducing health disparities, and decreasing unnecessary healthcare spending. Rideshare companies have emerged as valuable partners, offering affordable, tech-enabled transportation solutions that cater to a wide range of patient needs. Integrating NMT options, when possible, can help health systems enhance accessibility, reduce costs, and provide better and more equitable patient care.
If you are a health system or medical group serving an at-risk population of patients, reach out so we can explore the potential savings you could realize by evaluating your transportation program.
