Image of male nurse pushing senior woman in a wheelchair in nursing facility

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services developed a new managed care demonstration project in four states for Medicare beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease.

The project will start in 2006 in California, Pennsylvania, Texas and
Massachusetts. The purpose of the project is to test the effectiveness of disease management models for end-stage renal disease patients. Two organizations will offer the demonstration: DaVita, a dialysis provider; and a subsidiary of Fresenius Medical Care North America, another dialysis provider. They will partner with insurance companies to offer Medicare Advantage plans.
 
Participating organizations will receive payment for improvement on past performance and performing above the national averages for quality measures related to dialysis. Enrollment in the project begins Nov. 15.
 
More information is available at:
<http://www.cms.hhs.gov/researchers/demos/esrd_demo.asp>.
(Published 11-2-05)