Nonemergency Medical Transportation: Delivering Care in the Era of Lyft and Uber

Reforms under the Affordable Care Act have reduced barriers to health care access by expanding insurance coverage to millions of individuals living in the United States. With primary barriers to access removed, secondary barriers, particularly related to transportation, have become increasingly important. In 2005, it was estimated that 3.6 million individuals failed to receive nonemergency medical care due to transportation barriers.¹ These patients tended to be older, poorer, and ethnic or racial minorities.