Article

Non-Acute Facilities Can Help Drive On-Time Appointment Success With Uber Health

August 27, 2025
uber health app shown on cell phone in car
Non-acute healthcare facilities, such as physician clinics, ambulatory surgery centers and rehabilitation centers, may experience transportation as a barrier to patient care. Many patients miss appointments because they lack access to transportation, or have physical limitations preventing them from driving.

Each year in the U.S., 3.6 million people do not receive medical care due to transportation issues, according to the American Hospital Association (AHA). “Transportation issues can affect a person’s access to healthcare services,” AHA notes. “These issues may result in missed or delayed healthcare appointments, increased health expenditures and overall poorer health outcomes.”

Non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) can potentially benefit all types of non-acute providers. For example, residents of long-term care facilities or continuing care retirement communities may need rides to appointments or social events, but can face obstacles with transportation. According to the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, more than 600,000 older adults in the U.S. rely on public transportation to visit their doctor. 

“For caregivers of older adults, providing transportation to places such as doctor’s appointments and social events is one of their biggest responsibilities,” explains the National Council on Aging.

While taxis offer a solution, they typically require riders to pay in cash or credit card at the end of the ride instead of by an app, which may be inconvenient for some patients, and hailing a taxi in real-time can be less convenient than booking a ride through an app. One option that offers payment and booking convenience is Uber Health. 
 
“Uber Health delivers a better patient experience with transportation, same-day prescription, and home delivery for groceries and over-the-counter items, enhancing benefit coordination,” according to Uber Health.

TRANSPORTATION DESIGNED FOR PATIENT CARE

More than one in five adults with limited access to public transportation forgo healthcare, according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In addition, among adults in the U.S., 5% forgo healthcare due to barriers to transportation, according to the Healthcare Financial Management Association. That percentage jumps to 17 for adults with disabilities. 

Transportation barriers can affect patients’ quality of care. “Difficulty reaching appointments leads to missed screenings, delayed diagnoses and non-adherence to treatment plans,” explains Qualify Health. “These missed opportunities can worsen chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease, increasing the risk of complications and ultimately leading to poorer health outcomes.”

Uber Health helps address transportation as a social determinant of health. Healthcare facilities can leverage Uber Health to arrange patient transportation, which can help reduce missed appointments and improve access to care.

The Uber Health platform offers scheduling flexibility to accommodate patient needs, which can ultimately help facilities increase patient satisfaction and retention.
 
With Uber Health, facilities can also take advantage of:

  • Transparent pricing. There are no hidden fees. 
  • Centralized billing. Facilities can easily track their spending on patient transportation. Trip details are collected in the Uber Health dashboard, and payment can be made through one monthly statement.
  • Peace of mind for patients. Patients are alerted when their ride is on the way. 
  • Flexible ride scheduling. Providers can arrange rides on-demand or schedule a ride in advance.

Patients do not need to have the Uber app to use the service.

A NEW LEVEL OF CONVENIENCE FOR PATIENTS

One of Uber Health’s strengths is its flexibility, meeting the needs of patients with busy schedules, mobility issues or lack of transportation. Another benefit is that Uber Health is a HIPAA-enabled solution, built with privacy controls. Some insurance plans cover the cost of the rides. 
 
For example, many Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans cover transportation to medical appointments. “Original Medicare will also cover some nonemergency transportation if it’s deemed medically necessary,” according to GoodRx. “Medicare Advantage (MA) plans meet or exceed original Medicare’s benefits. In fact, many MA plans will cover routine medical transportation for doctor appointments as a perk of choosing these private alternatives to original Medicare.”

A MOBILITY PLATFORM FOR STAFF

Uber Health isn’t just for patients. It’s also a solution for healthcare professionals. Facilities can use the platform to help staff members get to and from work, while reducing the stress of commuting.
 
Healthcare employees can also leverage the platform to conduct home visits, enabling clinical workers to travel efficiently to their patients without relying on their personal vehicles. With Uber Health, non-acute providers can ensure that employees have the transportation needed to serve patients and residents in their place of living, which supports timely care and expands access to essential healthcare services in the community.

“Provista now offers a contract with Uber Health, making it easy for clients to access the platform and offer rides to patients, residents and staff.”

PROVIDING CONVENIENCE WITH UBER HEALTH AND PROVISTA

Offering transportation services is one way that non-acute providers can address the problem of no-shows. As noted by MeetCaregivers, studies show that limited transportation options increase the rate of missed or postponed health appointments, lower health outcomes and result in higher costs.
 
Provista now offers a contract with Uber Health, making it easy for clients to access the platform and offer rides to patients, residents and staff. The accessibility and convenience of Uber Health can help to modernize how non-acute healthcare facilities approach non-emergency transportation, enabling them to provide convenient options that can help to improve patient care and overall experiences. Provista clients can talk to their representatives about using Uber Health. 

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