DaVita Inc. announced today a multi-year agreement under which the two companies will collaborate on expanding the availability of home hemodialysis to patients across the continental United States. DaVita has purchased $20 million in NxStage stock, representing an ownership position of approximately 7%.

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As part of the agreement, DaVita has purchased outright all of its NxStage System One equipment currently in use for approximately $5 million, and will purchase the majority of its future home hemodialysis equipment requirements. Additionally, the companies have agreed to collaborate on a variety of initiatives to expand the home hemodialysis market such as public awareness, public policy and additional research efforts.

"We are excited about the opportunity this partnership offers our patients," stated Kent Thiry, CEO of DaVita. "Providing our patients with a variety of dialysis options, either in-center or at home, is consistent with our mission to be the provider of choice for dialysis patients."

"We are pleased to expand our relationship with DaVita," said Jeffrey H. Burbank, President & CEO of NxStage Medical. "With this partnership, we are furthering our company's strategy of working with a select group of passionate providers in each geography in order to increase patient access to home therapy."

The information included in this release contains forward looking statements. All statements that do not concern historical facts are forward-looking statements. These statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those described herein, including those risks described in DaVita's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006. DaVita's forward looking statements are based on information currently available to it, and DaVita undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of changes in underlying factors, new information, future events or otherwise.

DaVita is a leading provider of dialysis services for patients suffering from chronic kidney failure. The Company provides services at kidney dialysis centers and home dialysis programs domestically in 42 states, as well as Washington, D.C. As of December 31, 2006, DaVita operated or managed approximately 1,300 outpatient facilities serving approximately 103,000 patients.

www.DaVita.com

FCMN Contact: LeAnne.Zumwalt@davita.com

SOURCE: DaVita Inc.