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| Dad with his walker at Ala Moana (2012) |
An estimated 3.6 million Americans a year miss medical appointments due to unreliable transportation, costing the U.S. health-care system roughly $150 billion annually, according to Uber, citing independent studies. The U.S. Government Accountability Office pegged spending on NEMT under Medicare and Medicaid at nearly $3 billion in 2013. As the start of this year, supplemental benefits to Medicare Advantage were broadened to include a range of medical transportation that supports overall wellness and health—even rides to some massage appointments.When we were unavailable to take Mom or Dad to their appointments, we tried hiring companies who specialized in NEMT for the elderly. The results were disappointing; my parents always felt rushed, and drivers didn't seem to be interested in alleviating discomfort. Plus it's costly, because the companies require us to pay for the vehicles to wait around during the appointment.
We family members know how to collapse and set up their wheelchairs and walkers, as well as assist the patients into various sedans. There's no substitute for family drivers' TLC, but hopefully Uber and Lyft can disrupt the NEMT status quo and give us better quality at a reasonable price.
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