Buck Poropatich, Head of Lyft Healthcare, on removing transportation barrier and improving access

The Pulse by Wharton Digital Health

In this episode, I sat down with ⁠Buck Poropatich⁠, Head of ⁠Lyft Healthcare⁠. Lyft Healthcare launched in 2016 as part of Lyft's broader efforts to address transportation barriers in healthcare. Today, Lyft Healthcare partners with 9 of the 10 largest US health systems, non-emergency medical transportation brokers, and the top 10 payers to provide rides across the patient journey. By providing reliable transportation through its extensive network, Lyft Healthcare helps reduce patient no-shows, enhance the member experience, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. Since he joined in 2019, Buck has helped secure key partnerships with industry leaders like ⁠ChenMed⁠, ⁠CVS⁠, and ⁠Kroger Health⁠, alongside countless others. Buck and I discussed: -Lyft Healthcare’s founding story after the company discovered a hidden product-market fit in the healthcare industry. -Creative partnerships with companies like ⁠Best Buy Health⁠ and ⁠Instacart Health⁠ that have enhanced Lyft Healthcare's services and expanded their reach in the healthcare space. -Lyft Healthcare’s alignment with the shift towards value-based care, ⁠as transportation plays a strategic role in improving care adherence, member satisfaction, and managing total cost of care⁠. -Future expansion plans for Lyft Healthcare include ⁠expanding their Medicaid footprint⁠, extending their Lyft Assisted product, and leveraging mobile app technology and data modeling to improve the member experience.