24 Ophthalmology Business • March 2017
Overcoming patient
transportation obstacles
by Liz Hillman, Staff Writer
of nonemergency transportation as a
benefit. However, some of the specif-
ics of this benefit—who can qualify,
prior authorization, etc.—are left up
to the state to implement. There are
still challenges facing this benefit,
including cost and oversight.
2
In ad-
dition, patients often face long wait
times and no-show drivers, causing
some to ultimately miss the care they
were scheduled to receive.
As such, some programs are es-
tablishing relationships with alterna-
tive ride programs like Uber and Lyft.
Dr. Habash said she has been looking
to bring such a service to Bascom
to surgery is a big hindrance for
the patient," said Ranya Habash,
MD, voluntary assistant professor of
ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye
Institute, Miami. "It requires a family
member or friend to take the day off
work and is particularly tough on
patients who live alone."
In fact, a 2005 study published
in the Transportation Research Record:
Journal of the Transportation Research
Board estimated that 3.6 million
people in the U.S. miss medical care
opportunities due to a lack of trans-
portation.
1
Medicaid covers some measure
Ride services
help to increase
appointment
retention,
improve care,
and reduce costs
O
ne of the barriers
to nonemergency
medical care, which
includes many
ocular services, is
getting a ride to and from appoint-
ments and surgical procedures.
"Believe it or not, getting a ride
continued on page 26
