Lyft to provide free rides to GBUACO patients

The Greater Buffalo United Accountable Care Organization announced a new partnership Wednesday that will allow it to move "more patients, more swiftly." GBUACO is teaming up with Lyft to provide free rides for patients. The deal was inked shortly after the ridesharing company was approved to operate in Western New York. “The major reason our Medicaid patients miss doctors’ appointments is because they cannot find an efficient mode of transport,” said GBUACO Chief Executive Officer Raul Vazquez, M.D. “This partnership with Lyft enables our care coordinators to arrange rides for our patients that are cheaper, faster, and oftentimes more comfortable and reliable.” Care coordinators will set up rides for GBUACO network patients utilizing Lyft Concierge. Concierge is a third-party web application that allows the health care provider to arrange rides online on behalf of individuals who may not have the technology, or the ability, to do it themselves.