12/08/2020

United Healthcare Delays Accumulator Adjustment Program

Beginning January 1^st UHC planned to begin their national accumulator program. Whether you participate in manufacturer financial assistance programs or not, you would have had extra reporting requirements beginning in January and money paid by a manufacturer copay card would not count towards the patient’s deductible or annual out of pocket maximum. 

• Patients could be stuck paying high out-of-pocket expenses once copay assistance is depleted, leading to increased abandonment.
• Providers & infusion sites would be impacted by the increased workload associated with identifying and reporting manufacturer assistance to UHC.
• Manufacturerswould have to weigh expanding their copay assistance program to minimize patient out-of-pocket expenses against capping programs, which could result in patients paying high out-of-pocket expenses and disrupting therapy.

After the initial announcement in October, UHC received countless letters signed by advocacy groups and professional associations and recently announced the delay of the program.  “The program will not take effect on Jan. 1, 2021 as previously communicated. We are delaying this program due to recent feedback we’ve received from healthcare professionals like you. “ 

Reference: https://www.uhcprovider.com/en/resource-library/news/featured-news/accumulator-adjustment.html