EAGAN, Minn., April 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and
Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue
Cross) today announced the launch of an innovative new program with
VillageHealth − a DaVita integrated kidney care program − that
addresses the holistic health needs of certain eligible members
with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end stage kidney disease
(ESKD).
The value-based agreement is designed to improve health outcomes
and reduce the total cost of care for eligible Blue Cross members
by:
- Coordinating care for all eligible members with CKD or
ESKD – VillageHealth and DaVita, in collaboration with
nephrologists and primary care physicians, will coordinate all care
into one integrated plan that can be managed on behalf of the
patient.
- Reaching patients earlier through primary care –
The program will include an awareness campaign for primary care
providers to help them improve kidney disease screening;
proactively manage early-stage CKD patients; and facilitate
appropriately-timed referrals to nephrologists.
- Using advanced predictive analytics to help identify
high-risk members – In collaboration with the Nephrology
Care Alliance (NCA), VillageHealth will help identify eligible
high-risk members and inform providers about opportunities for
individual health interventions, including home dialysis and
transplantation. Proprietary predictive analytics from DaVita use
more than one billion patient data points to help physicians target
the right care at the right time and place.
- Delivering award-winning patient education –
Working with NCA's independent nephrologists, DaVita will deliver
community-based, in-office and virtual education to help empower
eligible members to make active choices in their care.
"We have a significant opportunity to help delay the progression
of kidney disease and better meet the complex health needs of those
with kidney failure," said Dr. Mark
Steffen, chief medical officer at Blue Cross and Blue Shield
of Minnesota. "By collaborating
with VillageHealth, we are committed to enhancing the quality of
life for thousands of members, while simultaneously reducing the
cost of care by improving outcomes related to kidney disease."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1
in 7 U.S. adults are estimated to have CKD. Because symptoms
are often silent in the early stages, most are unaware of their
condition. If left untreated, CKD can progress to ESKD, when a
transplant or dialysis is necessary to sustain life.
"The earlier we identify patients and coordinate their care, the
more impact we can have on important outcomes, such as slowing
progression, transplantation or choosing home dialysis," said Dr.
Jeff Giullian, chief medical officer
at DaVita Kidney Care. "By bringing Minnesota's health care community together in
an even more collaborative way, we can deliver better care to
patients. We are honored to support Blue Cross members by
delivering holistic, integrated kidney care."
The program's early-stage CKD interventions focus on comorbid
condition management, including medication management and diet
support. Late-stage CKD interventions support patients in making
active choices in their care options, including preemptive kidney
transplants, and in-home or in-center dialysis.
For members with ESKD, anticipating and preventing
hospitalizations is an essential aspect of VillageHealth's care
model. Similar programs have reduced hospital admissions for
patients with kidney disease by nearly 30 percent. Another key
component for ESKD members is increasing the rates of
transplantation and home dialysis treatment options, both of which
can help improve patients' health care experience and quality of
life.1
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
For nearly 90 years, Blue
Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
(bluecrossmn.com) has supported the health, wellbeing and peace of
mind of our members by striving to ensure equitable access to high
quality care at an affordable price. We are on a mission to inspire
change, transform care and improve health for the people and
communities we serve by reinventing both ourselves and the broader
system. Our more than 2.5 million members can be found in every
Minnesota county, all 50 states
and on four continents. As a proud nonprofit organization, we
believe working to advance wellness for all Minnesotans is the
greatest investment we can make. Our goal is nothing less than for
everyone to be able to achieve their full health potential,
regardless of race or other socially defined circumstances. Blue
Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Association, which serves more than 107 million members across the
U.S.
About VillageHealth
VillageHealth is a DaVita
integrated kidney care subsidiary that supports people throughout
their kidney care journey – whether a person is in the early stages
of kidney disease, transitioning to dialysis or seeking a
transplant. It operates in all 50 states and aims to provide
comprehensive care, including complex chronic conditions that may
affect kidney health. VillageHealth has impacted over 100,000 lives
over 20 years of delivering integrated kidney care. Visit
VillageHealth.com for more information.
About DaVita Inc.
DaVita (NYSE: DVA) is a health care
provider focused on transforming care delivery to improve quality
of life for patients globally. The company is one of the largest
providers of kidney care services in the U.S. and has been a leader
in clinical quality and innovation for more than 20 years. Through
DaVita Kidney Care, the company treats patients with chronic kidney
failure and end stage kidney disease. DaVita is committed to bold,
patient-centric care models, implementing the latest technologies
and moving toward integrated care offerings for all. Through these
efforts, DaVita has also become the largest provider of home
dialysis in the country. As of December 31, 2020, DaVita
served 204,200 patients at 2,816 outpatient dialysis centers
in the United States. The
company also operated 321 outpatient dialysis centers in ten
countries worldwide. DaVita has reduced hospitalizations, improved
mortality, and worked collaboratively to propel the kidney care
industry to adopt an equitable and high-quality standard of care
for all patients, everywhere. To learn more,
visit DaVita.com/About.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this
press release are forward-looking statements that are subject to
risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are based
on management's current expectations. Various important factors
could cause actual results to differ materially from these
forward-looking statements, including the risks identified in our
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings. DaVita disclaims
any obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained in
this press release, except as may be otherwise required by law.
1 Modality selections and decisions related to
a patient's care are always made by the attending nephrologist and
patient, and provided pursuant to a physician's order.
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SOURCE Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota