CMS approves additional entities for second year of Kidney Care Choices model
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CMS has approved 50 new kidney disease entities to participate in the second year of the Kidney Care Choices demonstration, which focuses on providing care for patients with advanced chronic kidney disease, according to a press release.
The Kidney Care Choices (KCC) model, which began in January 2022, is expanding along with two other CMS initiatives to test the role of ACOs in improving patient care. A goal of CMS is to have all beneficiaries with traditional Medicare in an accountable care relationship with their health care provider by 2030, according to the press release.
“Through the CMS accountable care initiatives and working with our partners, we have made significant progress in addressing our greatest health care challenges,” Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, CMS Administrator, said in the release. “Health care providers coming together as accountable care organizations provide high quality and equitable care to people with Medicare while improving the sustainability of the Medicare program.”
The new entities for the Kidney Care Choices (KCC) model include four Kidney Care First (KCF) practices and 50 Kidney Contracting Entities (KCEs). Dialysis providers Fresenius Medical Care North America, DaVita Inc., U.S. Renal Care, Dialysis Clinic Inc. and Satellite Healthcare are all represented by the new KCEs, which join 26 KCF practices and 50 KCEs continuing in the model from payment year 2022 to 2023.
The KCC entities will serve Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries in 47 states, as well as in the District of Columbia, with more than 8,398 participating health care providers and organizations and 249,983 beneficiaries in 2023, an 87% increase in the number of providers and organizations, and a 62% increase in the number of beneficiaries in the KCC model from 2022, according to the release.
“The KCC Model focuses on coordinating care for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic kidney disease stages 4 and 5 and end-stage renal disease,” according to the CMS release. “In addition to care coordination, the KCC Model focuses on key areas of concern for this population, including delaying the onset of dialysis and increasing access to kidney transplantation so more patients can live fuller and longer lives.”
Interwell Health, a physician-centered organization developed by Fresenius, will have 62,000 Medicare beneficiaries under management through partnerships with more than 1,300 nephrology providers in 26 states during 2023 as part of the KCC model, according to a press release. Those partnerships comprise 24 KCEs within the Kidney Care Choices model.
“We strongly believe that earlier education, care coordination, and support from dedicated teams can slow progression of kidney disease and increase the number of people receiving transplants,” Bobby Sepucha, CEO of Interwell Health, said in a press release. “Our innovative solutions and close partnerships with physicians are reimagining kidney care and helping patients live their best lives.”
“This program is helping drive earlier interventions as patients with kidney disease are too often rushed to the hospital with an urgent need for dialysis,” George Hart, MD, chief medical officer for Interwell Health, said in the release. “We provide physicians with all the resources needed to better support their patients and achieve the goals of this important government initiative.”
Reference:
Interwell Health expands partnership with nephrologists. www.interwellhealth.com/our-company/interwell-health-expands-partnership-with-nephrologists-in-new-government-models/. Published Jan. 18, 2023. Accessed Jan. 19, 2023.
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