Report
Mobile Health Vans Bring Care to Hard-to-Reach Places
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Center on Health Insurance Reforms (CHIR) - Georgetown UniversityMarch 30, 2026 Center on Health Insurance Reforms (CHIR) - Georgetown University National scopeWhy this matters
Mobile health vans help make healthcare more accessible and affordable by bringing services directly to where people live and work, filling important gaps in our healthcare system..
Overview
Many Americans can't get basic healthcare because they live in places that are hard to reach, even though the U.S. spends nearly $5 trillion on healthcare each year. Mobile health vans are a smart solution - they bring doctors, nurses, and clinics directly to communities using special vehicles. These mobile clinics can provide primary care, mental health services, addiction treatment, and dental care right in neighborhoods, at schools, churches, and workplaces. They work especially well in rural areas where regular clinics and telehealth can't reach everyone. The Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance Reforms studied over 160 research papers about mobile health and created reports showing how federal and state governments can support and expand these programs. Mobile health vans help make healthcare more accessible and affordable by bringing services directly to where people live and work, filling important gaps in our healthcare system.
{"full_text":"Expanding Access to Care Through Mobile Health | Center on Health Insurance Reforms \n\nExpanding Access to Care Through Mobile Health\n\nEveryone should be able to get the health care they need, no matter where they live. Despite nearly $5 trillion spent on health care annually, millions of Americans living in hard-to-reach places are unable to access basic health care services.
Expanding mobile health, which brings health care workers and clinics directly into the community through the use of specialized vehicles, can be a cost-effective way to increase the availability and proximity of care for many. Mobile health vans often expand the reach of fixed site facilities and telehealth, particularly in rural areas, or operate independently in areas that fixed site facilities and telehealth can’t reach.
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