Uber Begins Service for Health Care Patients Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. × Search search POPULAR SEARCHES SUGGESTED LINKS Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.

Uber Begins Service Linking Patients to Health Care

Doctors and other providers can arrange trips through a centralized dashboard

A new service from Uber aims to help patients get to their doctor’s office — cutting down on missed appointments. Russell Hart/Alamy on Thursday designed to efficiently get patients to and from doctor’s appointments and to allow caregivers and medical staff to schedule transportation for those they serve. Health care providers can order service for patients to and from clinics, rehab centers, hospitals and other facilities, even when the riders don’t have a smartphone. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Uber Health charges providers who sign up for the monthly service. The company said the cost may be passed on to patients but that many providers cover it while saving money by having fewer missed appointments. “Every year, 3.6 million Americans miss doctor appointments due to a lack of reliable transportation. No-show rates are as high as 30 percent nationwide,” Chris Weber, Uber Health’s general manager, wrote in a blog post announcing the service. “And while transportation barriers are common across the general population, these barriers are greatest for vulnerable populations, including patients with the highest burden of chronic disease.” The rides can be immediate, within a few hours or scheduled up to 30 days ahead, allowing for follow-up appointments. Multiple rides can be scheduled from a single dashboard. Weber said the service will make it easy to view monthly billing statements and appointments. He said participants include more than 100 health care groups, such as , home care centers and physical therapy clinics. The service, which began on Thursday, is not intended as a replacement for emergency vehicles, such as ambulances. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS