Uber Health has announced a partnership with ModivCare to facilitate patient access to medical appointments by offering on-demand rides and non-emergency medical transportation through an integrated Uber Health Application Programming Interface (API).
According to the announcement, this nationwide partnership aims to eliminate barriers to healthcare, particularly in underserved communities. ModivCare patients will be able to request rides via integration with Uber Health’s API. ModivCare serves 30 million patients across the United States and managed 48.2 million trips in 2020. The company said that it holds over 40% of the U.S. non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) broker market and anticipates that the partnership will enhance care coordination.
Uber Health highlighted that nearly six million Americans miss medical care annually due to transportation issues, noting that even one missed appointment can lead to patients discontinuing visits with their regular providers. They emphasized that lack of transportation can result in rescheduled appointments, delayed care, and missed or delayed medication use. The release described transportation access as a critical social determinant of health affecting long-term outcomes for vulnerable communities.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that state Medicaid programs often employ transportation brokers or managed care organizations to arrange non-emergency transportation for beneficiaries unable to attend medical appointments independently. In a report to Congress, GAO found Medicaid fraud investigations resulted in approximately 200 criminal convictions, civil settlements, and judgments against transportation providers in 25 states from fiscal years 2015-2020, highlighting oversight challenges.
Uber Health said its Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-secure solution has been operational since 2018 and is utilized by healthcare organizations focused on population health management. The company noted its platform supports non-emergency medical transportation, meals, and prescription delivery, with over 2,000 organizations having used Uber Health for patient transportation access.
