Can Subsidized Transportation Options Slow Diabetes Progression?

Nov 11, 2020 10:00 AM in Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Populations with diabetes can successfully manage their condition if they have regular access to primary care along with access to quality food, physical, and social environments that support healthy lifestyles. Lack of safe, convenient, and affordable transportation options can make it difficult for low-income populations to access these resources. A research team led by Georgia State University will use a randomized trial to test several low-cost ways of improving transportation opportunities for low-income urban diabetic patients, including providing public transit vouchers, ride-share credits on Lyft, a cash benefit, or mobility counseling compared with usual medical care alone. The team will estimate the impact of these mobility enhancements on access to care, diabetes progression, healthcare utilization and costs. The research team will collaborate with Grady Health System, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, the Atlanta Regional Commission, and the Atlanta Regional Collaborative for Health Improvement to conduct the study.