Arizona’s Medicaid program now covers Lyft, a ride-sharing service, as a transportation option for eligible beneficiaries to get to and from medical appointments.
The state’s policy, which went into effect in May, allows ride-sharing companies to provide non-emergency transportation services for beneficiaries who cannot secure their own travel arrangements to medical appointments. So far, Lyft is the only ride-sharing company to sign up under the policy. Beneficiaries will continue to request transportation services through their health plan or its transportation broker, not directly from the ride-sharing companies.
Arizona is the first state with such a policy and could serve as a model for other states seeking to reduce transportation barriers for patients in need.
To learn more about addressing transportation challenges, see America’s Essential Hospitals’ brief on essential hospitals and states confronting transportation barriers to improve health.
Contact Senior Director of Policy Erin O’Malley at eomalley@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.
