WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Results from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Disease Management Demonstration Project have been presented by the independent evaluation contractor, Arbor Research Collaborative for Health, in a series of scientific abstracts and a comprehensive evaluation report. The ESRD DM Demonstration Project is a five-year demonstration project (2006 to 2010) conducted by CMS to test the impact of expanded integrated care approaches applied to the Medicare ESRD patient population.
The first three years of the demonstration (2006 through 2008) were evaluated and the case-mix adjusted results indicate the following for Fresenius Medical Care (FMC) patients enrolled in the demonstration:
- A significantly larger percentage of patients in the FMC program survived to the one year and two year time points.
- Patient survival at the one year time point for FMC was 90.7% vs 85.4% for the comparison group. Patient survival at the two year time point for FMC was 80.1% vs 73.9% for the comparison group. This equates to mortality improvement for FMC versus the comparison group of 36.3% at the one year time point (9.3% vs 14.6%) and 23.8% at the two year time point (19.9% vs 26.1%).
- A significantly lower percentage of patients in the FMC program were hospitalized for the first time by one year and two years.
- Improvement for FMC versus the comparison group in first hospitalizations for “all causes” at one year of 13.6% (51.1% vs 59.1%) and at two years 20.5% (60.5% vs 76.1%).
- A significantly lower percentage of patients in the FMC program were hospitalized for cardiovascular disease for the first time by one year and two years.
- Improvement for FMC versus the comparison group in first hospitalizations for “cardiovascular disease” at one year of 14.1% (50.0% vs 58.2%) and at two years 20.7% (59.7% vs 75.2%).
“Our main objective in the ESRD DM Demonstration Project was to implement a model of care that was patient-centered, one that could improve the more comprehensive patient quality outcomes of improved survival and reduced hospitalization. We are very pleased to have achieved our objectives in this Demonstration Project to advance care models for the benefit of people with kidney disease,” commented Robert Farrell, President, Fresenius Health Partners, Integrated Care Management Division, Fresenius Medical Care North America.
Fresenius Medical Care’s focus in the ESRD DM Demonstration Project was much broader than improvement of dialysis outcomes, although that result was accomplished in this project as well. The Fresenius Health Partners program provided a holistic care approach utilizing an integrated care “health home” concept that actively expanded the management of the various co-morbidities such as congestive heart failure, cardiac disease, nutritional status, infection risks, vascular access and psychosocial needs that impact kidney patients. The program achieved this expanded patient care by adding personal nurse care managers to work with patients and their providers on these non-dialysis focus areas and by deploying a unique home telehealth monitoring device technology (KidneyTel®) and care plan pathways platform, which provided interactive daily contact with patients to collect symptomatic and biometric data, and provide support, education and coordination to patients and their providers.
Fresenius Medical Care collaborated and partnered with several innovative and leading Nephrology Physician Groups across the United States including: Balboa Nephrology Medical Group, San Diego CA – Dr. Steven Steinberg, CEO; Dallas Nephrology Associates, Dallas TX – Dr. Ruben Velez, President & CEO; Renal Associates, PA, San Antonio TX – Dr. Ronald Hamner, CEO; Western New England Renal and Transplant Associates, Springfield MA – Dr. Stephen Sweet, President; Nephrology Consultants, Huntsville AL – Dr. Todd Broome, Managing Partner; Renal Specialists of Houston, Houston TX – Dr. Whitson (Pete) Etheridge, Vice-President; Southwest Nephrology Associates, Houston TX – Dr. Robert Porter, President; Metabolism Associates, New Haven CT – Dr. Fredric Finkelstein, President; Clinical Nephrology Associates, Philadelphia PA – Dr. Joseph Brezin, President; Delaware Valley Nephrology and Hypertension Associates, Philadelphia PA – Dr. Edward Jones, President; and the Renal Research Institute, NYC NY – Dr. Nathan W. Levin, Chairman, Research Board.
“The demonstration project yielded important data and results regarding approaches that the kidney provider community can apply to improve the care and outcomes for kidney patients,” said Rice Powell, Fresenius Medical Care North America Chief Executive Officer, Deputy Chairman Management Board. “We applaud CMS for its foresight in conducting this initiative. We look forward to working with our nephrologist partners and the CMS Innovation Center to build upon an expanded care approach for kidney patients. We believe that Accountable Care Organizations and patient-centered medical/health homes are very well-suited models for improving care and outcomes for patients with kidney disease.”
The Arbor Research Collaborative for Health abstracts and the evaluation report of the ESRD DM Demonstration Project and additional information on our integrated care program can be viewed at our Fresenius Health Partners company website www.kidneytel.com.
About Fresenius Medical Care
Fresenius Medical Care (NYSE: FMS) is the world’s leading company devoted to patient-oriented renal therapy. Through more than 2,700 clinics in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Africa, we provide kidney dialysis treatments to approximately 210,000 patients worldwide. We are also the world's leading maker of dialysis products such as hemodialysis machines, dialyzers and related disposable products. Chronic kidney failure is a condition that affects about 1.9 million individuals worldwide. For more information about the company’s more than 1,800 U.S. dialysis facilities, visit www.ultracare-dialysis.com (in English and Spanish). For more information about Fresenius Medical Care, visit www.fmc-ag.com or www.fmcna.com
Disclaimer
This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to certain factors, including changes in business, economic and competitive conditions, regulatory reforms, foreign exchange rate fluctuations, uncertainties in litigation or investigative proceedings, and the availability of financing. These and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA's reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA does not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking statements in this release.
CONTACT:
Fresenius Medical Care
Jane A. Kramer, 781-699-9704
Mobile: 781-799-9524
[email protected]
KEYWORDS: United States North America Massachusetts
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Health Hospitals Medical Devices Other Health Medical Supplies Managed Care
MEDIA: