Uber starts offering rides to the doctor

Author: Associated Press
Published:
File- In this March 15, 2017, file photo, a sign marks a pick-up point for the Uber car service at LaGuardia Airport in New York. Uber is vowing to head down a new road and become a more humane company. The promise made in a conference call with reporters Tuesday, March 21, 2017, comes amid a wave of ugly developments, including allegations of rampant sexual harassment and a video of a profanity-laced confrontation between the ride-hailing company’s CEO and a disgruntled driver. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

Uber is driving deeper into health care by offering to take patients in every U.S. market where it operates to their next medical appointment.

The ride-hailing service said Thursday its Uber Health business will handle rides set up by doctor’s offices or other health care providers and then bill that business, not the patient, for the service.

It says rides can be set up within a few hours or days in advance. Patients won’t need access to a smartphone to use the service.

Uber began testing the service last summer. Company leaders say they are expanding nationally due to need. They point to research that says millions of Americans miss appointments each year due to transportation problems.

Uber rival Lyft recently began a similar service called “Concierge.”

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