UnitedHealthcare is launching a new curated vendor hub aimed at connecting self-funded employers and their employees to health services.
According to a Jan. 18 news release, the UHC Hub will connect consumers to services for nutrition, financial planning, cancer care and other resources.
For employers, UnitedHealthcare will manage billing and procurement for third-party health vendors selected by United. Vendors available through the platform include weight loss program Noom, Teladoc and Cleveland Clinic's telehealth service.
"When we work with many employers, we consistently hear about the difficulties in evaluating and selecting health and well-being programs, as well as the administrative burden of managing multiple vendors and contracts," Samantha Baker, chief consumer officer for UnitedHealthcare's commercial business, told Becker's. "Not only that, but we also know some of these solutions are often underutilized by employees, in large part due to lack of awareness."
"The UHC Hub helps solve both of those challenges by streamlining the evaluation, selection, and management of various vendor solutions, while making it easier for consumers to find and take advantage of the available resources," she added.
The platform could help employers save up to 15% on the cost of contracting with programs on a standalone basis, according to the release. Vendors are selected for Hub inclusion using clinical data, ease of use criteria and their value to employers. UnitedHealth first started developing the Hub in mid-2022, and it is now available to self-funded employers with more than 1,000 employees.
"Through the UHC Hub, we are helping take the guesswork out of researching which programs are effective, while enabling employers to make more informed decisions about the solutions that most likely appeal to their workforces," Ms. Baker said.