RMS Disease Management Services (RMS) announced today that it has signed an agreement with VISTA Healthplans to coordinate the care of the health plan's members with end stage renal disease (ESRD) in Palm Beach, Broward and Dade counties in South Florida.

For VISTA Healthplans' members with ESRD -- members who are on dialysis because their kidneys have ceased functioning -- the agreement seeks to improve clinical outcomes and enhance quality of life through advanced disease-management techniques. Members can participate in this program on a voluntary basis at no extra cost to them.

"VISTA Healthplans is constantly working to improve the quality of care they provide their members," said Frank Basile, M.D., MBA, General Manager of RMS. "Therefore, we're very excited to work with VISTA Healthplans in launching a comprehensive renal program. We are confident our medical management program and established provider relationships in South Florida can deliver to VISTA Healthplans the same types of improved clinical and financial outcomes we've achieved with other health plans throughout the country."

RMS coordinates the care of patients across the nation for private health plans including many Blue Cross Blue Shield plans as well as CMS (Centers for Medicare-Medicaid Services) demonstration projects in New York City for high cost patients and in Southern California for ESRD patients. In addition, RMS works with chronic kidney failure patients before they need dialysis, in an effort to slow the progression to ESRD and to prepare patients in the best way possible for dialysis.

RMS Disease Management Services is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DaVita, Inc. DaVita, Inc. provides dialysis services in the United States for patients suffering from chronic kidney failure The company operates kidney dialysis centers and provides related medical services primarily in dialysis centers and in contracted hospitals across the United States. Its services include outpatient dialysis services; hospital inpatient dialysis services; and ancillary services, such as ESRD laboratory services and disease management services. As of December 31, 2004, DaVita operated or provided administrative services to 660 outpatient facilities serving approximately 54,000 patients in 37 states and the District of Columbia. In addition, it also provided acute inpatient dialysis services in approximately 370 hospitals. DaVita is headquartered in El Segundo, California.

For more information on RMS Disease Management Services call 866-767-3141 or visit RMS on the web at www.rms-dm.cm.

SOURCE: RMS Disease Management Services