Heritage Provider Network, Fresenius to develop physician network, collaborate on care coordination

Heritage Development Organization, an affiliate of Heritage Provider Network (HPN), and Fresenius Medical Care announced an agreement today to develop physician networks and care coordination and population health management services in select markets throughout the country. The collaboration expands the two companies’ partnership with shared savings models.

"Heritage Provider Network has a long history of providing high-quality, cost-effective coordinated care for large populations,” said Dr. Richard Merkin, president and CEO of Heritage Provider Network. “We are excited to expand our partnership with Fresenius Medical Care to bring their deep expertise in caring for people with complex chronic diseases, such as kidney failure, to our coordinated care networks. By combining the financial strength and specialized resources of Fresenius with the care coordination expertise of Heritage, we can improve patient outcomes and expand our ability to develop alternative payment models that will reduce costs for the communities we serve. We see this partnership as a model for how health care should be delivered in the United States.”

The collaboration aims for Heritage Provider Network to acquire or build coordinated care networks in markets across the country that will partner with Fresenius Medical Care, which will provide renal, vascular and related services to covered members. Through these coordinated networks, the organizations will seek to expand value-based contracting models with payors and jointly sponsor research initiatives to drive clinical innovation forward.

“Our overarching objective is to improve the quality of life and clinical outcomes for people with chronic conditions such as end stage renal disease, by assembling a network of specialized services, including renal, vascular and hospitalist services,” said Ron Kuerbitz, CEO of Fresenius Medical Care North America. “By collaborating with a premier provider of high quality, patient-centered health care such as Heritage Provider Network, we believe we can better serve the patients and communities who put their trust in us and reduce costs for the entire health care system.”