New Value Based Care Agreement Aimed at Improving Outcomes for People with Late-Stage Kidney Disease

New Value Based Care Agreement Aimed at Improving Outcomes for People with Late-Stage Kidney Disease

Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA) has partnered with Vantage Health Plan, A Health Maintenance Organization serving people in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi. This new value based care agreement is aimed at slowing the progression of late-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD), while also seeking to reduce unnecessary hospitalizations, improve health outcomes, and lower the total cost of care for people living with kidney failure, or end stage renal disease (ESRD).

Vantage Health Plan is an HMO formed over 25 years ago by physicians who wanted to improve healthcare and help lower healthcare costs. Coverage is available to members who live or work in any of Louisiana’s 64 parishes and is also available in numerous counties in Arkansas and Mississippi.

This new collaboration seeks to better align healthcare reimbursement with quality performance to deliver greater value to Vantage Health Plan members. It gives Vantage Health Plan members access to FMCNA’s more than 2,600 dialysis centers and home dialysis options to help them lead fuller, more active lives.

“The collaboration between Vantage and Fresenius Medical Care North America was developed to improve the quality of life for Vantage members living with renal disease,” said Dr. Gary Jones, CEO of Vantage Health Plan. “By working together, we can better coordinate care and expand access to treatment for our members. This will allow us to provide the right care in the right setting with the added benefits of lowering costs, achieving member health goals, and improving the whole experience for members and providers. That’s our aim at Vantage, ‘Making Healthcare Work!’ We are excited about the partnership!’”

The agreement provides Vantage Health Plan members with access to personalized education, support, and care management through KidneyCare:365 Health Programs, designed to support people with kidney disease throughout their journey. This includes initiatives to slow the progression of CKD, support optimal starts on dialysis, and ensure those who transition to dialysis stay compliant with treatment, while also educating and empowering more patients to choose a transplant or home therapies. Additionally, patients who are participating in this value based care program have access to CareTeam365, a dedicated interdisciplinary team of nurses, social workers, dietitians, and care coordination specialists who leverage millions of data points, algorithms, and predictive models to help identify at-risk patients and intervene early.

“This partnership will help us deliver more coordinated care and personalized treatments for people living with late-stage kidney disease,” said David Pollack, President of FMCNA’s Integrated Care Group. “Our growing partnership with InterWell Health, a renal network of high-performing nephrologists who are focused on value based care, is an important component of our ability to drive improved health outcomes and cost savings for payors like Vantage. We are dedicated to creating an integrated approach to fully address the complex needs of this vulnerable population.”

More than 700 members of Vantage Health Plan who are living with late-stage CKD or kidney failure are expected to benefit from this agreement. Learn more about FMCNA’s leading value based care programs for kidney disease.