DaVita joins patient-led advocacy group Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) in voicing support for the BETTER Kidney Care Act (S. 4574/H.R. 8254), which creates another path to value-based care for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

This legislation, named the Bringing Enhanced Treatments and Therapies to ESRD Recipients (BETTER) Kidney Care Act, would help providers deliver integrated care through a value-based care model. Integrated care gives kidney patients access to additional resources needed to coordinate their complex medical needs and range of doctor appointments. This care model is designed to help keep these high-risk patients out of the hospital and reduce costs overall.

The bill was introduced in conjunction with DPC’s annual fly-in, where patient members of the non-profit group meet with legislators to advocate for their health care needs. While patients typically travel to Capitol Hill for this event, meetings were held virtually this year due to the pandemic.

“The BETTER Kidney Care Act’s introduction has energized our patients who, along with DaVita teammates, are meeting with legislators to advocate for a powerful care model that can improve their quality of life,” said Javier Rodriguez, CEO for DaVita Inc. “Both sides of the aisle support this bill, giving Congress the opportunity to swiftly pass it and significantly advance care delivery for Americans with kidney disease.” 

An estimated 37 million adults in the U.S. suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD), more than 726,000 of which have progressed to total kidney failure.[1] People with kidney disease often struggle with multiple chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and depression. They are also more likely to be socioeconomically disadvantaged, which limits their ability to access needed health care services. In fact, Black Americans are almost four times more likely and Hispanics are 1.3 times more likely to experience kidney failure.[2]

The BETTER Kidney Care Act is expected to help address these issues by:

• Helping patients better navigate the health care system and empowering them to make active choices when managing their care plans and medication regimens
• Providing additional services, including transplant evaluation, palliative care, evaluation for hospice eligibility and vascular access care
• Convening health equity experts to implement programs that seek to decrease gender, racial, ethnic and language inequities
• Affording providers the flexibility to direct resources to services that meet patients’ clinical and non-clinical care needs, such as transportation and nutrition

Under the legislation’s demonstration program, participating providers would accept full clinical and financial accountability for all their patients’ health care needs.

“The BETTER Kidney Care Act builds on the momentum of other value-based care models that already exist in the kidney care space,” continued Rodriguez. “We stand in support of another path that empowers patient choice and promotes access to the benefits of integrated care.”

DaVita also expressed gratitude for the following health care champions who have sponsored this bill and are working to advance it in Congress on behalf of people with kidney disease: Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Jason Smith (R-MO), Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), Brad Wenstrup D.P.M. (R-OH) and Donna Shalala (D-FL).

To learn more about the BETTER Kidney Care Act, why it is good for people with kidney disease and how to support this bill, visit www.DaVitaAdvocacy.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations. Various important factors could cause actual results to differ materially, including the risks identified in our U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings. DaVita disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained in this.