Highlights:

• A third of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries have limited healthcare access because they do not have adequate transportation access, according to a new survey from Lyft Healthcare and Evidation Health emailed to journalists. Respondents reporting such were more likely to have at least one chronic illness or a mental illness, come from a low-income household, or be over age 65, the survey of 9,000 people showed.
• Patient access to care is a complex issue affecting a vast array of patients across the country. Although care access barriers can take multiple forms, simply having a ride to the hospital or clinic is a leading issue. It is difficult for a patient to obtain or maintain wellness if she cannot make regular visits to her clinician or to the pharmacy to pick up her medications.
• And when comparing Medicaid and Medicare respondents, Medicaid beneficiaries have significantly greater transportation insecurity. Medicaid beneficiaries missed a medical appointment because of limited medical transportation at double the rate of Medicare beneficiaries and ran out of medications at triple the rate of Medicare beneficiaries. Dual eligible patients missed medical appointments at triple the rate of Medicare beneficiaries and ran out of medications at quadruple the rate.
• Although Medicaid plans must offer members access to NEMT, only 29 percent of Medicaid beneficiaries are aware of this access. And of those who were aware of the NEMT or rideshare benefit, only 37 percent used it, the survey showed.

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