Apria Healthcare and Byram Healthcare Join Optum’s New National Preferred DME Network
Owens & Minor, Inc. (NYSE: OMI) today announced that its subsidiaries, Apria Healthcare, LLC and Byram Healthcare Centers, Inc., have entered into a new national provider agreement with Optum Health, a leading patient-centered care organization.
This agreement designates Apria and Byram as preferred providers within Optum’s newly formed national durable medical equipment (DME) network, expanding access to high-quality, home-based medical supplies for millions of patients across the United States.
A Partnership to Advance Home-Based Care
Apria and Byram are widely recognized as national leaders in home-based health solutions, specializing in medical equipment and supplies that support patients with both chronic and acute conditions. As part of Owens & Minor’s Patient Direct segment, these businesses collectively serve millions of patients each year by delivering essential equipment directly to their homes.
By joining Optum Health’s national DME network, Apria and Byram will play a critical role in helping patients access reliable and affordable medical products more efficiently. The partnership aligns with a broader industry trend: the shift toward home-based care and patient self-management, which can lower total health care costs while improving quality of life.
Optum Health, part of UnitedHealth Group, is one of the nation’s most influential care delivery organizations. With approximately 136,000 aligned physicians and advanced practice clinicians across 1,900 clinical sites, Optum Health combines advanced care delivery, integrated solutions, and a focus on equity to simplify the healthcare experience. By incorporating Apria and Byram into its preferred DME network, Optum is extending that mission into the home care space.
Meeting Growing Patient Needs
The demand for durable medical equipment has never been greater. Millions of Americans live with chronic conditions such as diabetes, respiratory disease, and sleep disorders. Many of these patients require ongoing use of specialized equipment such as continuous glucose monitors, insulin pumps, CPAP machines, oxygen therapy devices, or wound care supplies.
Perry Bernocchi, Executive Vice President and CEO of Patient Direct at Owens & Minor, emphasized the importance of this partnership:
With so many people living with chronic health conditions that require support from specialized medical equipment, we are excited to work with Optum Health as part of their newly formed national preferred DME network. It can be challenging to manage equipment needs, particularly for people managing more than one health condition. We look forward to working with Optum Health and using our expertise to provide their patients and members with greater value and more choice on the products they need to care for themselves in the comfort of their home.
The collaboration is expected to ease logistical challenges that patients and families often face in coordinating equipment, training, and maintenance. By streamlining access through Optum’s integrated platform, patients can expect more reliable service, simplified ordering processes, and a wider selection of high-quality products.
A Comprehensive Range of Equipment and Supplies
As preferred providers within the new DME network, Apria and Byram will offer patients an expansive portfolio of equipment across multiple therapeutic areas. This includes:
- Diabetes care – insulin pumps, glucose monitors, testing supplies, and related accessories.
- Sleep health – CPAP and BiPAP devices, masks, humidifiers, and replacement parts.
- Respiratory care – oxygen therapy systems, nebulizers, ventilators, and support supplies.
- Wound care – advanced dressings, negative pressure wound therapy equipment, and related solutions.
- Urology supplies – catheters, drainage bags, and other continence management products.
- Ostomy care – pouches, wafers, adhesives, and accessories designed to support daily living.
These categories represent some of the most critical areas of need for patients living with long-term conditions. By leveraging Apria’s and Byram’s logistics networks, patients will be able to receive these supplies quickly and reliably at home, minimizing interruptions to their care routines.
Supporting Providers and Care Teams
The agreement with Optum Health is not only a win for patients but also for healthcare providers. Physicians, advanced practice clinicians, and care managers will benefit from easier access to a trusted network of equipment suppliers.
Provider network stakeholders are now being introduced to the new preferred DME network through targeted communication and educational outreach. Apria and Byram are supplying training materials and resources via Optum’s provider portal, ensuring that clinicians have the information they need to prescribe, order, and track equipment on behalf of their patients.
In addition, Apria and Byram are mobilizing their sales and operations teams to directly connect with providers in the Optum network. These efforts aim to reduce administrative burdens and make the process of obtaining medical equipment more seamless for providers, allowing them to focus more fully on patient care.
Enhancing the Patient Experience
For patients, the benefits of this partnership go beyond access to products. Apria and Byram are well known for their patient-first approach, which includes personalized service, ongoing education, and support for equipment use and troubleshooting.
This emphasis on service is critical for individuals managing multiple conditions. For example, a patient with diabetes and sleep apnea may require both glucose monitoring devices and CPAP equipment. Coordinating supplies through a single, integrated network simplifies the process, reducing the risk of missed treatments or complications.
Furthermore, patients can expect to benefit from Optum’s focus on equitable access. The network is designed to reach individuals in both urban and rural communities, ensuring that patients in underserved areas can also take advantage of high-quality home care solutions.
Industry Implications
The formation of a national preferred DME network reflects broader shifts within the healthcare industry. As payers, providers, and suppliers seek to lower costs and improve outcomes, partnerships that strengthen home-based care are gaining momentum.
Durable medical equipment represents a significant share of healthcare spending, particularly for patients with chronic conditions. By creating a streamlined network of preferred suppliers, Optum Health is aiming to achieve cost efficiencies while ensuring consistent quality standards.
For Owens & Minor, this agreement underscores the growing importance of its Patient Direct segment, which has become a cornerstone of the company’s long-term growth strategy. By integrating Apria and Byram more deeply into major healthcare networks, Owens & Minor is positioning itself as a leading partner in the future of home-based care.
