Optum seeks to make inroads on durable medical equipment
Optum says its new DME Navigator will help health plans and DME suppliers deliver equipment more quickly and affordably.
Photo: Joos Mind/Getty Images
Optum is debuting an offering it hopes will streamline the process for patients seeking durable medical equipment, speeding delivery of DME while making headway on health outcomes and cost reduction.
The UnitedHealth Group subsidiary said its new DME Navigator will help both health plans and DME suppliers deliver equipment more quickly and affordably.
WHAT'S THE IMPACT?
According to Grand View Research, the DME market is rapidly expanding and is expected to reach around $93 billion by 2030, fueled by an aging population and increased prevalence of chronic disease. And an analysis published on chronicdisease.org found that, currently, 60% of Americans have a chronic condition, with four out of 10 having two or more.
To address this, DME Navigator promises a digital ordering experience for clinicians enabling them to fill orders 90% faster, as well as electronic health record-integrated workflows with access to more than 3,000 supplier locations – as well as expanded access to limited distribution channels.
Optum also said that its digital communication tools will allow patients and ordering clinicians to chat with the suppliers directly, thus providing increased visibility into the status of the equipment and greater insight into the cost, while maintaining payment accuracy.
DME Navigator is integrated with evidence-based criteria with more than 450 DME supplies, Optum said, adding that this will help clinicians make appropriate care decisions and avoid overprescribing or ordering inappropriate equipment.
On the patient side, Optum said patients can quickly access necessary equipment such as blood pressure monitors, glucometers and other devices that allow for regular monitoring and early intervention.
THE LARGER TREND
UnitedHealth Group, Optum's parent company, reported more than $1 billion in net losses during the first quarter – which included impacts from the February 21 Change Healthcare ransomware attack and subsequent payment systems outage.
In May Optum said it was closing a plant in Ohio, which followed a report in April that Optum is closing its telehealth business.
Jeff Lagasse is editor of Healthcare Finance News.
Email: jlagasse@himss.org
Healthcare Finance News is a HIMSS Media publication.
