CVS Kidney Care, Satellite Healthcare to expand care for patients with kidney disease
CVS Kidney Care, a CVS Health company, and Satellite Healthcare today announced a strategic relationship to advance the care of patients with kidney disease. CVS Kidney Care and Satellite Healthcare will collaborate to provide comprehensive kidney care, and to expand awareness of and access to transplantation and in-home dialysis initially in two locations, Los Angeles and Austin, Texas.
"We have known for many years that more frequent, longer dialysis improves patient outcomes. Realistically this can only be done in the home. Our relationship with Satellite Healthcare will help us make this option a reality for more patients," said Alan Lotvin, executive vice president CVS Health, and president of CVS Caremark. "We anticipate expanding this strategic relationship over time, as people with chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal failure need earlier intervention and better options than they have today."
Satellite Healthcare is among the nation's leading not-for-profit providers of kidney dialysis and related services. It was the first health organization to launch comprehensive support for the entire spectrum of home self-care dialysis treatments. Together, the two companies will focus on increasing transplantation and the use of home therapies and will engage patients, payers, and physicians in these efforts. Ascend Clinical, a leading provider of clinical laboratory testing services to the dialysis community, was chosen to provide laboratory testing for CVS Kidney Care as part of this relationship.
"Satellite Healthcare has a long, rich history of delivering high-quality care for kidney patients. Through this strategic relationship with CVS Kidney Care, we will be able to educate patients earlier to delay disease progression, increase understanding of treatment options and offer our services to more patients. This is a win-win for the kidney community," said Rick Barnett, Satellite Healthcare president and CEO.
CVS Health launched CVS Kidney Care to address the needs of patients at all points in their journey with a chronic kidney disease management program, home dialysis services that the company is announcing today, and eventually pending successful completion of a clinical trial and the receipt of regulatory approval a new home hemodialysis device.
"Two years ago, we launched a strategic plan to transform kidney care," said Kari Holloway, general manager of CVS Kidney Care. "Partnering with an organization known for delivering the highest standard of quality care represents the next phase in that plan. Combined with our care management services and future hemodialysis technology advancements, we are helping to guide the health care system from an overreliance on in-center dialysis to treatment delivered in the convenience of a patient's home."