Provide transportation assistance to patients living below the NPPS
Individuals facing transportation barriers may miss or delay health care appointments, have fewer prescriptions filled, or not schedule preventive or treatment appointments.
Research gaps in transportation services that could prevent patients from seeking care at your institution and work with local government and philanthropic organizations to provide reduced-rate or free transportation passes. Survey staff, as well, to assess if transportation assistance for them is needed.
To get started:
Incorporate a screening tool into patient appointments to determine who struggles with transportation barriers.
Build partnerships with transportation entities to provide transportation for patients to and from health check-ups.
Provide shuttle or bus service to health care appointments for low-income individuals with mobility issues.
Best Practices / Innovative Programs
Denver Health Medical Center and Lyft have collaborated to develop a platform allowing the hospital to order rides for patients in need of transportation services. The service is offered to recently discharged patients and to patients who need transportation to and from outpatient clinical appointments.
The Medical Assistance Transportation Program of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center provides non-emergency transportation to medical appointments and pharmacies, at no cost to members if they need help getting to an appointment or to the pharmacy.
