CVS Health to offer free rides to eligible Hartford area residents in pilot to expand health care options [Hartford Courant]

CVS Health Corp., the pharmacy and health insurance giant, said Wednesday it will launch a pilot program in the Hartford area on Feb. 1 that will provide free rides to eligible residents for doctor visits, workforce development or educational programs.

CVS has partnered with Uber Health, Uber’s health care division, to provide the rides to clients of the Chrysalis Center, the Hartford-based nonprofit that provides social services.

The rides will be coordinated through Chrysalis Center and it is expected that as many as 1,500 residents could be eligible. Free rides would be provided to such services as vaccination appointments, workforce training programs and medical visits.

Initially, Chrysalis Center will be given $25,000 in the program and clients will be given vouchers to pay for the rides. When the pilot ends, the program will be evaluated for additional funding.

In addition to Hartford, the transportation program is being piloted in Atlanta and Columbus, Ohio and is expected to be expanded into more cities later this year.

CVS, the parent of Hartford-based health insurer Aetna Inc., said the pilot program is part of its “Health Zones” initiative that seeks to reduce health care inequities in communities where residents don’t have easy access to medical care.

“By working with Hartford-based organizations and Uber Health, we will address key social determinants of health, including transportation, giving people in need access to health care services so they can live healthier lives and access to jobs and educational programs that can help them reach their full potential,” said Eileen Howard Boone, senior vice president of corporate social responsibility and philanthropy.

The push to create Health Zones comes as CVS and other health care companies and insurers are challenged to do something about the skyrocketing cost of health care across the country.

The Health Zones initiative targets what CVS sees as the six social “determinants” of better health: housing, education, access to food, labor, transportation and health care.

Since 2013, CVS said it has invested $14.8 million in affordable housing in Hartford, and the health zones provide “wraparound services” where people can find healthful food and jobs along with health care.

In addition to Chrysalis Center, the Health Zones initiative will work on separate with other community-based organizations in Hartford such as the Charter Oak Health Center, Connecticut Food Bank/Foodshare, KNOX and YWCA Hartford.

Kenneth R. Gosselin can be reached at kgosselin@courant.com.

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