Value-Based Care: A Promising Approach for Early CKD Treatment, Say Payers and Providers

Value-based care, a healthcare delivery model where providers are compensated based on patient health outcomes, is being increasingly adopted for the management of chronic kidney disease (CKD). This approach emerged from the Advancing American Kidney Health initiative launched in 2019, which aimed to increase kidney transplants and slow the progression of CKD by focusing on early interventions.

Interwell Health, a healthcare provider offering treatment services for patients with advanced CKD, is one of the companies that has embraced this model. The chief clinical officer of Interwell Health, Carmen A. Peralta, believes that commercial health plans are seeing the benefits of treating CKD at its earlier stages due to the effectiveness of value-based care. The company currently cares for more than 100,000 patients with late-stage CKD and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) through its extensive network of over 1,600 providers.

Recognizing the potential of value-based care to improve patient outcomes and control costs, Providence Health Plan recently collaborated with Interwell to manage beneficiaries with CKD in stages 3b, 4, and 5.

Before her role at Interwell, Peralta founded the Kidney Health Research Collaborative, dedicated to the early detection and management of CKD. She asserts that clinicians and health care plans are becoming more aware of the economic strain caused by CKD and are seeking more efficient disease management methods, like value-based care.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has been at the forefront of transitioning from traditional fee-for-service payment structures to a more holistic patient care approach that prioritizes health outcomes over services rendered, thus reducing costs. CMS has launched several initiatives to this end, including the Kidney Care Choices (KCC) demonstration project that emphasizes pre-dialysis care.

A study conducted by Strive Health, another provider of value-based CKD care, further emphasizes the effectiveness of this model. The research indicated that only 3.2% of patients under Strive's value-based care model experienced a significant decline in kidney function over a 12-month period, compared to a significantly higher percentage in a control group. This study highlights the potential of expanding value-based care to earlier stages of CKD, promising better health outcomes and cost savings.

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References

Payers, providers see value-based care as opportunity to treat early stages of CKD

Study Demonstrates That Patients in Value-Based Care Models Are Less Likely to Experience Significant Declines in Kidney Function

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‍About the Author

Rich Foreman brings over 30 years of technology leadership to his role of CEO and Co-Founder of KidneySoft.  As founding CTO, Rich led the team that developed the CordicoShield / CordicoFire Wellness App. Cordico was honored with the Sacramento Innovation Award in 2021. After achieving a 7 digit ARR, Cordico was acquired by Lexipol in 2020. Rich has a BS in Industrial Engineering from the University of Washington, an MPA from Troy State University and was an officer in the U.S. Navy. Rich co-authored his book, "Tap into the Mobile Economy." Rich's blog was listed in Top 20 Marketing Mobile Blogs of 2014. He has been featured on KCRA3, NEWS10, 1170 Tech AM PowerDrive, Business Radio Money 105.5, SiliconIndia, the Sacramento Business Journal, and the Sacramento Bee. Rich is also the Founding Director of the Sacramento Chapter of Startup Grind and served a term as Utility Commissioner for the City of Folsom. Rich is a regular contributor to TechWire.net and StartupSac. Rich was the Co-founder of Apptology which was named Small Business of the Year in 2014 by the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber. He was also the Founding Chief Technology Officer at Cordico. Cordico was acquired by Lexipol in 2020.  Rich also served 4 years as a Naval Officer in the Civil Engineer Corps.

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Patient Education Disclaimer

This material is for informational purposes only. It does not replace the advice or counsel of a doctor or health care professional. KidneyLuv makes every effort to provide information that is accurate and timely, but makes no guarantee in this regard. You should consult with, and rely only on the advice of, your physician or health care professional.

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