In brief: Latest UHC-Synapse deal, Dexcom stolen sensors, WeOxy debut
By HME News Staff
Updated 10:00 AM CDT, Fri May 29, 2026
SKOKIE, Ill. – UnitedHealthcare has announced that Synapse Health will manage durable medical equipment (DME) orders for certain UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans in additional states beginning Sept. 1, 2026.
For individual HMO & PPO plans, Synapse Health will manage DME for members in Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.
For chronic special needs plans (C-SNP), Synapse Health will manage DME for members in Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.
For dual special needs plans (D-SNP), Synapse Health will manage DME for members in Connecticut, Georgia and Maine.
Most DME providers will need to join the Synapse Health network to continue to provide standard DME for most UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Plan members. Synapse Health will contact them with details about joining their network, or providers can email JoinOurNetwork@synapsehealth.com.
For more information on specific DME product categories affected, go here.
UnitedHealthcare and Synapse Health have announced numerous expansion agreements over the last year, including in December.
AAHomecare people news: A milestone, a new role and a new hire
WASHINGTON – Gordon Barnes, senior director of communications for AAHomecare, will retire June 5 after being with the association for more than 20 years. Over two decades, Barnes has written more than 1,500 member communications, hosted hundreds of webinars with industry experts, and coordinated more than 3,000 Capitol Hill meetings and thousands of emails and calls to Congress, according to AAHomecare. “Gordon’s deep policy knowledge, sharp writing, and strong commitment to our mission have made the communications shop a key Association asset,” said Tom Ryan, president. “Beyond his professional contributions, we will miss Gordon’s wit and friendship. His impact will be felt for years to come.” Barnes was toasted at the recent Washington Legislative Conference. Following his retirement:
- Tilly Gambill will expand her role as senior director of marketing communications. The new position will further integrate policy communications, digital strategy and the overall direction of the association’s marketing and education efforts, said AAHomecare. With more than 15 years in progressive communications, marketing, and education leadership roles at AAHomecare, Gambill has built strategic campaigns, digital programs, grassroots initiatives, and member-focused events that advance patient access, strengthen advocacy and elevate the visibility and value of the organization.
- Jordan Cornelius has joined AAHomecare as its new marketing communications project manager. A Towson University graduate, Jordan brings a foundation in content creation, social media, brand management and event support. In this role, she will help grow education programs and events, as well as manage website updates and social media.
WeOxy steps into HME channel, taps industry vet to lead sales
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – WeOxy has soft launched the WeOxy Q5, its next-gen portable oxygen concentrator (POC), and appointed industry veteran John Stelzner as vice president of sales. The company is offering qualified DME providers the opportunity to request a WeOxy Q5 at no cost to evaluate with their own patients.
About John Stelzner
Stelzner brings decades of respiratory and HME industry experience, including as vice president of sales, Eastern U.S., at Philips Respironics; vice president of sales and business development at Philips; and vice president of sales at ABM Respiratory Care, where he led the company to market leadership in cough stimulation.
“WeOxy has built something genuinely different — clinically superior, operationally better for providers, and designed in a way patients will actually embrace,” he said. “After 40 years in this industry, I know how rare that combination is.”
About WeOxy Q5
The Q5 offers an extended battery life with fast charging speeds using a universal USB-C platform. Additional features include a three-year sieve bed warranty, a five-year overall device warranty, and a direct strap-mount design intended to reduce drop risk and eliminate the need for carrying bags. WeOxy operates on a replacement-first policy and will ship a new unit the same day if there is a problem.
Dexcom warns of stolen sensors meant to be discarded
SAN DIEGO – Dexcom says certain lots of Dexcom G7 sensors originally designated as scrap and intended for destruction were stolen during the destruction process, then sold by third parties.
Company identifies affected lots
At this time, Dexcom has identified two lots of Dexcom G7 sensors (1725204004 and 1725069002) that were stolen, sold and used by some customers.
“Nothing matters more to Dexcom than the safety of our users and maintaining the trust of the diabetes community,” said Jake Leach, president and CEO of Dexcom. “We are treating this matter with the utmost seriousness and are working closely with regulators and other authorities to ensure user safety, determine exactly how this product was stolen and hold the perpetrators fully accountable for their crimes.”
Dexcom traced sales of this stolen product back to Pharmsource, LLC, which is not an authorized Dexcom distributor but supplies some independent pharmacies and DME distributors in the United States. Pharmacies that purchased product from Pharmsource should take extra care to review their inventory.
Customer notifications under way
Dexcom is notifying customers directly across numerous communication channels. This issue primarily impacts the U.S., therefore communication to customers there will precede communication to customers outside of the U.S.
Users with sensors from affected Dexcom G7 lots (1725204004 and 1725069002) should not use those sensors and can call Dexcom Customer Support in the U.S. at 1-844-478-1600 to request replacements. More information on how to determine if sensors are from an affected lot and what action to take is available at http://www.dexcom.com/theft-check. Dexcom is working to update this website with resources for users outside the U.S. and will notify those users as soon as it is updated.
Potential risks tied to stolen product
- Lot 1725204004: Dexcom G7 sensors that are not properly sterilized have an increased risk of skin infection.
- Lot 1725069002: Dexcom G7 sensors from a lot with an elevated internal testing failure rate have an increased risk of having no sensor readings available.
Dexcom says there have been no reported severe adverse events associated with the stolen product.
Elevance Health to expand access to digital tools
INDIANAPOLIS – Elevance Health is expanding its Get Connected for Health program to ensure that individuals – especially those in underserved communities – have the tools, connectivity and support needed to help them better manage their health care. Get Connected for Health provides eligible members with a high-quality smartphone preloaded with a curated suite of digital and virtual health tools, along with unlimited data, talk and text service at no cost. These tools include telehealth services, health plan apps, and personalized health and wellness applications designed to meet individual needs. “Consumer experience is about meeting people where they are and simplifying their health care journey,” said Saurabh Tandon, chief experience officer at Elevance Health. “By expanding access to digital tools and services, we are helping remove barriers that can prevent individuals from getting the care they need.” In addition to Get Connected for Health, CareBridge, a value-based care company within Elevance Health, supports a wide range of individuals including those enrolled in Medicaid plans, individuals in Dual-Special Needs Plans (who qualify for both Medicaid and Medicare), and people receiving home and community-based services. It provides patients with easy-to-use, cellular-enabled tablets that connect them directly to their care teams.
Abbott secures European clearance for dual glucose/ketone device
ABBOTT PARK, Ill. – Abbott has secured CE Mark for a dual glucose ketone sensing technology for people with diabetes. Branded as Libre Duo and Libre Duo 10 Day, the systems are designed to continuously measure glucose and ketone levels every minute, providing real-time visibility into both glucose levels needed for daily diabetes management and rising ketones that can lead to a diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) emergency. The company says this marks the first time people with diabetes will be able to monitor ketones without traditional blood or urine tests. "Abbott has a long-established pattern of setting the pace in health tech innovation," said Chris Scoggins, executive vice president of Abbott's diabetes care business. "People living with diabetes routinely tell us that the risk of serious complications is a constant part of everyday life. Our Libre Duo systems offer people with diabetes, families and healthcare providers clearer, earlier information about what's happening inside their body, allowing them to act sooner when safety matters most." Abbott plans to begin launching Libre Duo systems in select European countries later this year. Libre Duo systems will integrate with Abbott's Libre digital health ecosystem, enabling users to share glucose and ketone data with caregivers and healthcare providers. Abbott is also working with leading pump companies to allow automated insulin delivery (AID) systems to connect with the sensors. Libre Duo systems are not yet cleared or available for sale in the United States.
Medline grows partnership with T.J. Regional Health
NORTHFIELD, Ill. – Medline has signed an expanded prime vendor agreement with Glasgow, Ky.-based T.J. Regional Health to provide care to patients across south-central Kentucky through its network of two hospitals and other outpatient and specialty care facilities. With this agreement, T.J. Regional Health will gain access to Medline’s portfolio of lab products, expanding its existing access to medical-surgical supplies. The agreement also provides access to Medline’s robust distribution capabilities to support more efficient ordering and reliable delivery of medical supplies. “Partnering with Medline as our lab Prime Vendor strengthens our ability to deliver timely, high-quality diagnostic services for our patients,” said Neil Thornbury, CEO of T.J. Regional Health. “Having streamlined access to a comprehensive portfolio of laboratory products, combined with reliable distribution, allows our team to operate more efficiently, maintain consistency in our testing processes and ultimately support better clinical outcomes across our organization.”
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