Heritage, Fresenius launch collaborative effort

Heritage Development Organization, an affiliate of Heritage Provider Network, and Fresenius Medical Care said on Thursday that they have agreed to develop physician networks, care coordination and population health management services in select markets nationwide.

“By combining the financial strength and specialized resources of Fresenius with the care-coordination expertise of Heritage, we can improve patient outcomes and expand our ability to develop alternative payment models that will reduce costs for the communities we serve,“ Dr. Richard Merkin, president and CEO of Heritage Provider Network, said. ”We see this partnership as a model for how health care should be delivered in the United States.”

The collaboration further expands Heritage’s and Fresenius’ partnership with shared savings models. The partnership aims for Heritage Provider Network to build or acquire coordinated care networks in markets across the country that will partner with Fresenius, which will then provide renal, vascular and related services to covered members.

“Our over-arching objective is to improve the quality of life and clinical outcomes for people with chronic conditions, such as end-stage renal disease, by assembling a network of specialized services, including renal, vascular and hospitalist services,” Ron Kuerbitz, CEO of Fresenius Medical Care North America, said. “By collaborating with a premier provider of high-quality, patient-centered health care such as Heritage Provider Network, we believe we can better serve the patients and communities who put their trust in us and reduce costs for the entire health care system.”