VA Uber Health Connect for Veterans

FINGER LAKES -- Beginning May 25, Veterans will be able to participate in VA Uber Health Connect — an initiative that provides supplemental transportation to eligible Veterans needing access to and from medical care.

Based on survey feedback from 2,300 Veterans between March 2022 to January 2023, 83% of Veterans stated they would not have been able to access their medical care without the program.

“The VA Uber Health Connect Initiative bridges the transportation gap by ensuring Veterans have reliable transportation for their health care needs,” said National Lead of VA Uber Health Connect Indra Sandal, Ph.D. “By offering ridesharing as an additional means of transportation, VA is helping Veterans receive access to the best and soonest possible care — while still achieving cost savings.”

The VA Uber Health Connect Initiative launched as a pilot program in 2022 at ten VA Medical Centers. From January 2022 to March 2023, VA Uber Health Connect completed more than 30,000 Uber rides across 408,529 miles for Veterans. These rides have increased access, improved clinical engagement, and saved VA an estimated $35 million. The cost savings are in part from faster emergency department and inpatient discharges as well as closing the gap on an estimated 28,000 missed appointments.

This year, the program is expanding to nine new Veteran Integrated Service Networks and 60 VA Medical Centers.

According to the American Hospital Association, 3.6 million people in the United States do not obtain medical care due to transportation challenges.

Children, older adults, and Veterans are especially vulnerable to transportation barriers due to social isolation and underlying medical conditions with a greater need for frequent clinician visits.

“This is a life-altering program that offers our most vulnerable Veterans care — the moment they need it. It also advances our ability to offer more accessible, equitable healthcare to our local Veteran community.

Veterans or transportation teams interested in learning more about the program should contact their local facility. For Bath call 607-664-4899, Rochester at 585-463-2687, and Canandaigua at 585-393-7320.

VA Uber Health Connect for Veterans

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