Prominence Health Launches Chronic Kidney Disease Management Program
Prominence
07/13/2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Chris Needham, Prominence Health
775-742-9460 | Chris.Needham@uhsinc.com
Prominence Health Launches Chronic Kidney Disease Management Program
Reno, Nev. (July 13, 2023) — Enabling better care, lower cost, and greater access, Prominence Health Plan announces its advanced kidney care management program in collaboration with Northern Nevada’s leading nephrologists at Sierra Nevada Specialty Care, and the national value based care experts Strive Health. This groundbreaking partnership aims to enhance the quality of care and improve health outcomes for Medicare members in Nevada with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates kidney disease affects more than 1 in 7 U.S. adults (an estimated 37 million Americans), including more than 38% over 65 years old. A major challenge is as many as 90% of people with kidney disease don’t know they have it. As a result, it is often not identified until the disease has progressed to a point where more invasive care is required, such as dialysis or kidney transplantation. However, if diagnosed early, it may be possible to slow disease progression through medical management and modification of risk factors. There are currently more than 106,000 Americans on the kidney transplant waiting list and kidney disease results in $420 billion in largely unmanaged annual medical spend, demonstrating the need for earlier intervention and specialized care coordination.
"We are thrilled to launch this collaborative kidney care management program to better serve the community," said Dr. Traci Biondi, Chief Medical Officer at Prominence Health Plan. "By leveraging the combined expertise of Prominence Health Plan, Strive Health, and our esteemed local specialists at Sierra Nevada Specialty Care, we can provide a holistic approach to kidney care, delivering personalized and proactive solutions to delay disease progression for Medicare members in Nevada."
Prominence Health Plan's partnership underscores the commitment to improving the lives of Medicare members affected by kidney disease. By joining forces with Strive and local providers, these organizations aim to transform kidney care in Nevada and set a new standard of excellence in managing chronic conditions.
With 27 highly skilled healthcare clinicians committed to providing exceptional service, Sierra Nevada Specialty Care has been the leading provider of kidney disease management in this community for nearly 20 years. They offer a comprehensive range of services, including nephrology, endocrinology, nutritional guidance, and vascular care, they are the ideal regional partner for a kidney care management program.
“Our physicians have long prioritized early detection and treatment of various health disorders,” said Dr. Mark Sievert, Medical Director of Value Based Programs at Sierra Nevada Specialty Care. “We
actively participate in various high-value care programs focused on achieving the triple aim of optimizing quality performance, reducing costs, and enhancing the patient experience through education and engagement, and we are extremely excited about this new partnership with Prominence Health and Strive Health and the immeasurable added benefits that it will afford many in this community concerned with maintaining their kidney function and overall health.”
This kidney care partnership was intentionally designed as an intensive care management program to enable wrap-around services, such as nutrition and dietary support and social workers to address barriers to accessing healthcare services.
Strive Health clinicians will work closely with local primary care physicians, nephrologists, and transplant specialists in the Prominence network to ensure patients have a seamless care journey. Patients will benefit from 24-hour access to a specialized care team including telehealth visits and care coordination. The goal is to deliver a clinical care model that helps patients slow the progression of the disease and preserve their kidney function as long as possible.
“We look forward to working with Prominence Health Plan to ensure that people with kidney disease in Nevada has every option available to them,” said Chris Riopelle, co-founder and CEO of Strive Health. “We want patients to know that there is hope and a team of people who can support them in their journey.”
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ABOUT PROMINENCE HEALTH PLAN
For 30 years, Prominence Health Plan has been keeping families, businesses, and communities in Nevada healthy by providing health service excellence and quality care. Prominence Health Plan began in 1993 as a health maintenance organization (HMO) and became a subsidiary of Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) in 2014.
We offer a spectrum of products, including employer-sponsored commercial health plans, self-funded administrative services through Prominence Administrative Services, and Medicare Advantage plans throughout Nevada and parts of Texas and Florida.
Prominence also operates seven Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) in California, Florida, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington D.C., which are managed care systems that benefit communities by providing coordinated, high-quality care to Medicare patients. For more information about Prominence Health Plan, visit ProminenceHealthPlan.com or ProminenceMedicare.com.
ABOUT SIERRA NEVADA SPECIALTY CARE
Sierra Nevada Nephrology Consultants, founded in 2004 by prominent area nephrologists, has rapidly grown to become the leading provider of kidney health services for residents across Northern Nevada
and Northern California. Recognizing the urgent need to address the delays in nephrology vascular care, the group expanded into vascular services in 2007, offering swift outpatient vascular interventions to patients in our Azura Surgery Center. In 2021, in response to the increasing demand for specialized care for endocrinology disorders like diabetes, the nephrologists established Sierra Nevada Endocrinology Consultants as a division of the organization. This expansion led to the creation of Sierra Nevada Specialty Care, serving as a multispecialty brand dedicated to meeting the diverse healthcare needs of the community.
At Sierra Nevada Specialty Care, our team of 27 highly skilled healthcare clinicians is committed to providing exceptional care and support throughout the region. We offer a comprehensive range of services, including nephrology, endocrinology, nutritional guidance, and vascular care. Our primary objective is to effectively coordinate care for patients with nephrology and endocrinology conditions, optimizing their health and well-being.
We prioritize early detection and treatment of various health disorders, and our clinicians actively participate in voluntary high-value care programs. These programs focus on achieving the triple aim of optimizing quality performance, reducing costs, and enhancing the patient experience through education and engagement. We believe that patient care is paramount, and our unwavering commitment to advancing medicine and improving outcomes is evident in our approach to care, services offered, and clinical trial opportunities. With integrity, we embrace our responsibility to guide patients in making informed choices for their health, ensuring the highest possible quality of life. At Sierra Nevada Specialty Care, we value people, partnerships, and quality performance as the pillars of our organization.
ABOUT STRIVE HEALTH
Strive Health is the nation’s leader in value-based kidney care and partner of choice for innovative healthcare payors and providers. Using a unique combination of technology-enabled care interventions and seamless integration with local providers, Strive forms an integrated care delivery system that supports the entire patient journey from chronic kidney disease (CKD) to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). To help patients, Strive partners with commercial and Medicare Advantage payors, Medicare, health systems and physicians through flexible value-based payment arrangements, including risk-based programs. As of March 2023, Strive serves over 73,000 CKD and ESKD patients across 30 states and partners with over 600 nephrology providers across 10 states. Strive’s case management and population health programs are accredited by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), and its technology platform, CareMultiplier™, is certified by HITRUST. To learn more, visit StriveHealth.com.