CMS Innovation Center opens Kidney Care Choices demonstration for new applicants
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The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation Center is soliciting applicants for its second round of the Kidney Care Choices model, according to a press release.
The first round of the Kidney Care Choices (KCC) model started in January with 85 applicants. The performance period will continue through Dec. 31, 2026. The performance period for the second cohort of KCC model participants has a term of 4 performance years from 2023 to 2026.
The CMS Innovation Center (CMMI) does not plan to conduct any further solicitations after the 2023 year, according to the release.
The KCC model focuses on directing care to patients with stage 4 to 5 chronic kidney disease. “The tendency now is for patients with kidney disease to follow the most expensive path, with little prevention of disease progression and an unplanned start to in-center hemodialysis treatment,” according to the CMMI website. “By increasing education and understanding of the kidney disease process, aligned beneficiaries may be better prepared to actively participate in shared decision making for their care.”
While the KCC model is open to dialysis providers and physician practices, a second option – the Kidney Care First (KCF) model – is open to nephrology practices only, subject to certain eligibility requirements.
“Participating nephrologists, nephrology professionals and nephrology practices receive adjusted capitation payments for managing care of aligned beneficiaries with CKD stage 4 or 5, and for those on dialysis,” according to the CMMI website. “These payments are adjusted on the basis of health outcomes and utilization compared to both the participants’ own experience and national standards, and also performance on quality measures.”
Practices enrolled in the KCF model can also receive a bonus payment when patients receive a kidney transplant, with the full amount of the bonus paid during the course of 3 years. The payments continue if the transplant remains successful.
Those interested in applying for the second round of the KCC and KCF model can find an application here.
Reference:
https://innovation.cms.gov/innovation-models/kidney-care-choices-kcc-model