Aetna partners with Fresenius Medical Care to improve lives of people with end stage renal disease

Fresenius Medical Care (NYSE: FMS) and Aetna (NYSE: AET) announced today a collaborative care model designed to improve the quality of care for Aetna's Medicare Advantage members who have end stage renal disease, while lowering health care costs.

Fresenius Medical Care North America's (FMCNA) nationally-recognized care management program is accredited by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, and creates a new approach for the overall delivery of care focused squarely on the unique needs of dialysis patients. Through this collaboration, Aetna nurse case managers will work closely with FMCNA staff on quality and care management for Aetna Medicare Advantage members who are receiving care at an FMCNA clinic. Aetna and FMCNA will work together to improve the health outcomes of these patients by boosting adherence to best practices and treatment plans.

"We are proud to collaborate with Aetna and deliver the resources and customized therapies necessary to improve the lives of people living with end stage renal disease," said Ron Kuerbitz, Chief Executive Officer of Fresenius Medical Care North America. "This collaboration embodies a truly integrated approach to serving the full spectrum of health care needs for this vulnerable population."

"Aetna is committed to helping our Medicare members work with their doctors to improve their quality of life by better managing the conditions contributing to or resulting from chronic kidney disease," said Robert Mirsky, M.D., Aetna's chief medical officer for Medicare. "We value our collaboration with Fresenius Medical Care and the complementary capabilities they can provide to improve the care our members receive from them."

This collaboration builds upon the relationship between Fresenius Medical Care and Aetna, who continue to expand a joint program to identify Aetna Medicare members with chronic kidney disease, and provide education, training and care management designed to ease what can be a difficult transition to dialysis or pre-transplant care.