If you’re an able-bodied, technological person, you probably don’t need to worry too much about getting from one place to another. Chances are good you can drive somewhere, walk to a bus stop, use your smartphone to hail a ride-sharing service, or any number of other ways of getting from place to place. Not everybody is quite so lucky. The elderly can often have difficulties getting around, and one area where this can be particularly problematic is with getting to medical appointments. SPLT, an enterprise-first carpool company, has teamed up with LYFT to provide reliable transportation options for Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) in underserved markets.
SPLT is hoping to improve upon a system that generally requires riders to jump through hoops, and wait for excessive amounts of time for rides to and from their medical appointments. Rather than requiring several days’ notice ahead of an appointment, the new SPLT system will only require hours. Instead of patients getting stranded for hours after their appointment, SPLT would like to reduce that wait time to minutes.
Since many who would benefit from this type of service probably don’t have smartphones, they are working to ensure that no smartphone will be needed. Users will only need to provide the patient’s name, as well as a pick up and drop off location and they’ll then be paired with a LYFT driver to take them to and from their appointment. This service will start in SPLT’s hometown of Detroit, with hopes of expanding to the rest of Michigan and beyond.
You can read more about this partnership in the full press release below.
FULL PRESS RELEASE
Lyft Partners with SPLT to Disrupt Non-Emergency Medical Transport (NEMT)
Detroit, MI (August 8, 2016) – SPLT (splt.io), an enterprise-first carpooling app and service, announced today they are working with Lyft to provide Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) to underserved markets. The underserved demographic seeking a reliable transportation solution consists largely of seniors. While many American seniors own smartphones, more than a quarter do not. The NEMT solution that Lyft and SPLT are offering does not require usage of a smart phone. In fact, requesting transportation is as simple as inputting a patient’s name, pickup and drop-off location and a Lyft driver will be matched to provide the ride. Lyft and SPLT’s plan to increase access to medical care will start in Michigan.
Since moving their business to Detroit a year ago to participate in the #1 startup program in the automotive industry: Techstars Mobility, SPLT has established local traction, partnering with Fortune 500 companies such as DTE Energy, Honda, and Magna to launch its enterprise carpool platform. SPLT received investment from Detroit-based investment firm, Fontinalis. “It’s our mission to connect people and communities through effective, affordable, safe and accessible transportation, and SPLT’s concept is a great way to deliver our services to the underserved,” said Gyre Renwick, Head of Enterprise Healthcare Partnerships at Lyft. “Getting a patient to their doctor appointment can lower the cost – and increase — the quality of care.
Anya Babbitt, Founder & CEO of SPLT agrees the opportunity is exciting, “We are grateful to be part of the inspiring Detroit Story and we are compelled to work towards the betterment of NEMT in Detroit, and Michigan as a whole.”
In the current NEMT system, 3.6 million Americans miss or delay medical care every year due to access to transportation. Current incumbents in this space require patients to book transportation at least four days prior to their appointment. Following the appointment, patients are often left stranded several hours before their driver arrives. “The inefficiencies in this industry are enormous and patients have no voice or alternative,” said Babbitt. “Patient Trust is what we plan to bring back to the NEMT experience.” SPLT and Lyft are focused on the reduction of pre-booking times to a matter of hours and patient wait time to minutes.
State governments and health care providers face challenges managing NEMT while Medicaid expands under the Affordable Care Act. SPLT’s early discussions with healthcare systems across the Midwest have been positive, with pilots planned for Fall 2016. “We look forward to working with SPLT with our non-emergency medical transportation companies in Michigan and beyond” said Dr. Paul LaCasse, EVP Post-Acute and Diversified Business Operations, Beaumont Health. NEMT will vastly improve with automation of reimbursement software, optimized dispatch of drivers using Lyft, and better customer service through automated voice messages and texts, with all ages and populations in mind.
