Uber’s presence has decreased ambulance usage by at least 7 percent per capita in the cities that offer the ride-sharing service, according to a study published in October.
Authors Leon S. Moskatel and David J.G. Slusky pointed out ambulance transportation can cost more than $1,000, with insurers sometimes only partially covering the expenses or refusing to pay if the transportation isn’t deemed medically necessary. Uber can offer an alternative, cheaper form of transportation to the emergency room in less severe cases and allow patients to choose their hospital versus being at the mercy of ambulance routes.
Moskatel and Slusky wrote the observed decrease in ambulance rates associated with Uber’s presence “likely caused a reduction in wait time for the remaining ambulance volume. Given that even a reduction of a few minutes can drastically improve survival rates for serious conditions, this could be associated with a substantial welfare improvement.”
The full study is available below:
Daniel joined TriMed’s Chicago editorial team in 2017 as a Cardiovascular Business writer. He previously worked as a writer for daily newspapers in North Dakota and Indiana.