Tag: UnitedHealthcare
UHC, Synapse Health expand DME agreement to Northeast
May 28, 2026HME News Staff
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...
Payers move deeper into TPA model, according to poll
May 1, 2026Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
YARMOUTH, Maine – The accelerating shift to third‑party administrators (TPAs) appears to be gaining steam: Ninety‑two percent of respondents to a recent HME Newspoll say payers are already using or transitioning to this model, and most of the rest expect it within a year.
“I think this has the potential to be very disruptive and negative for small DMEs,” wrote one respondent. “The TPAs don’t seem interested in engaging suppliers of our size that have a personal...
‘Less friction, more flow’
April 17, 2026Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
SKOKIE, Ill. – With its fourth major payer contract with UnitedHealthcare set to launch in April, Synapse Health will be operating in 22 states. The company still considers itself a startup, however, and is constantly learning as it goes, says President Mandira Singh.
“With each launch, we’ve built more predictable processes and tools to support providers,” she said. “I think a lot of this (was a matter of) time, but a lot of it was also learning as we've...
AASM asks UnitedHealthcare to address delays in PAP and respiratory fulfillment
April 13, 2026HME News Staff
DARIEN, Ill. – The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) recently sent a letter to UnitedHealthcare, raising concerns about the payer’s use of Synapse Health for durable medical equipment (DME) fulfillment for CPAP therapy.
“AASM members report that operational barriers associated with Synapse Health have delayed initiation of medically necessary therapy and created avoidable administrative burden for patients, clinicians, and DME suppliers, particularly related to treatment...
UnitedHealthcare, Synapse Health agreement expands to additional states
December 23, 2025HME News Staff
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 April 1, 2026.
For individual HMO and PPO plans, Synapse will manage DME for members in these states: Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
For chronic special needs plans...
UHC, Synapse delay to ‘accommodate onboarding’
August 16, 2024Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
YARMOUTH, Maine – UnitedHealthcare’s decision to delay the start date of its new capitated agreement with Synapse Health speaks to the complexity of shifting to an alternative delivery model.
In an emailed statement to HME News, a spokesperson for Synapse Health said the decision was made to accommodate provider onboarding and training schedules.
“The Synapse Health model is based on partnership, and our network is made up of the highest-quality provider...
In brief: UHC delays Synapse agreement, NCPA files cyberattack lawsuit & more
July 24, 2024HME News Staff
MINNEAPOLIS – UnitedHealthcare recently notified HME providers that it is delaying the implementation of its new capitated arrangement with Synapse Health for standard DME in Georgia and North Carolina, AAHomecare has reported.
The arrangement, which impacts the insurer’s Medicare Advantage plan members enrolled in HMO and PPO plans in the two states, will now go into effect Sept. 1 instead of Aug. 1 to allow more time for providers to familiarize themselves with new processes...
UHC delays Synapse arrangement
July 22, 2024HME News Staff
MINNEAPOLIS – UnitedHealthcare recently notified HME providers that it is delaying the implementation of its new capitated arrangement with Synapse Health for standard DME in Georgia and North Carolina, AAHomecare has reported.
The arrangement, which impacts the insurer’s Medicare Advantage plan members enrolled in HMO and PPO plans in the two states, will now go into effect Sept. 1 instead of Aug. 1 to allow more time for providers to familiarize themselves with new processes...
Providers: ‘It never seems to really work out in our favor’
May 31, 2024Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
YARMOUTH, Maine – HME providers in Georgia and North Carolina are finding it hard to see the benefits of participating in a new capitated agreement between Synapse Health and UnitedHealthcare.
Synapse says providers in its network will benefit from not having to perform administrative tasks like collecting documentation and can, therefore, accept lower reimbursement.
“Is there really that much administrative cost to be made up in this that you're willing to look...
Synapse Health: ‘There’s something in this for everyone’
May 17, 2024Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
EVANSTON, Ill. – Synapse Health’s Tony Kilgore hopes his background in DME will offer some reassurance to reluctant providers as the company implements its new capitated agreement with UnitedHealthcare.
The agreement, for standard DME in Georgia and North Carolina for UHC’s Medicare Advantage plan members enrolled in HMO and PPO plan, was announced May 1 and takes effect Aug.1.
“We're all from the industry, we've walked in the shoes, we've...