Bobby Sepucha, CEO of Cricket Health, Will Stokes, CEO of Strive Health, and Dr. Natasha Dave, nephrologist at Strive Health, tackle the fiasco of kidney care in America. They discuss how the system prioritizes dialysis over prevention and the financial motives behind it. The guests emphasize the need for early intervention and patient education. They advocate for innovative, value-based care models that address the barriers to kidney health, focusing on holistic approaches that consider patients' overall well-being.
The American healthcare system's reactive approach to kidney disease leads to exorbitant dialysis costs, emphasizing the need for prevention.
Innovative companies like 'Kidney Heroes' are transforming kidney care by prioritizing patient education and early intervention for better health outcomes.
Deep dives
The Challenge of Kidney Disease Awareness
A significant issue in kidney care is that the majority of Americans with kidney disease are unaware of their condition, often discovering it only after reaching a critical stage of renal failure. Statistics indicate that approximately 36 million Americans have kidney disease, yet 98% are asymptomatic and do not realize they have the disease until it is too late. The common scenario involves patients crashing into dialysis after experiencing severe health issues such as blurred vision and chest pains, bringing them to emergency rooms where they learn about their kidney failure. This lack of awareness and proactive care highlights the systemic failures within the healthcare environment, which primarily reacts to kidney crises rather than preventing them.
The Cost of Dialysis in America
The American healthcare system spends exorbitantly on dialysis, with expenses amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars annually, primarily due to a reactive approach to kidney disease. Once patients reach end-stage renal disease, the system becomes costly and burdensome, with the average annual cost per dialysis patient ballooning to $100,000. This financial strain stems from a history of policies that incentivize treatment rather than prevention while establishing Medicare benefits for dialysis without adequately addressing the underlying kidney disease. The current model results in an imbalance where focus and funding are disproportionately allocated to managing dialysis rather than preventing kidney failure.
The Flaws in Patient Care Models
Patient care in the kidney treatment space suffers from severe systemic issues, including short appointment durations that do not allow for meaningful patient education or engagement. Nephrologists often have limited time to address the complexities of kidney disease management, leading to inadequate explanations of treatment options. Additionally, misinformation and late referrals contribute to poor patient outcomes, as many individuals receive care only after their condition has significantly advanced. This gap emphasizes the need for more robust educational initiatives and timely referrals to specialists to help patients understand their health better before it reaches a crisis point.
Innovative Approaches to Kidney Care
Emerging companies in the kidney care sector are focusing on upstream solutions that prioritize prevention and holistic patient support. For instance, innovative teams known as 'Kidney Heroes' provide comprehensive care by fostering strong relationships with patients and offering continuous support and education. These teams aim to identify at-risk patients much earlier, utilizing data analytics to uncover undiagnosed kidney disease and develop tailored care plans. This shift towards patient-centric and preventative approaches underscores the importance of trust and meaningful engagement in improving patient outcomes while lowering overall healthcare costs.
America’s relationship with Dialysis is out of control. Roughly 1% of the entire federal budget is spent treating people with kidney failure. That’s billions of dollars devoted to treating one preventable illness. How did we end up with so many people on dialysis? And who’s getting rich from it? This week, we connect the dots from Richard Nixon to Dr. Evil and talk with disruptors who have some new ideas for how to fix the system. Bobby Sepucha, Will Stokes and nephrologist Dr. Natasha Dave join us to talk about how these kidney care disruptors are prioritizing patients and their overall health.
Share your feedback! Email us at costofcare@lemonadamedia.com or leave us a voicemail at 833-453-6662.
Support for this episode of The Cost of Care comes from Healthline.com, America’s leading digital health brand. Visit healthline.com/costofcare now, and stay connected by following @healthline on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Healthline: Powering healthy actions and supporting you on your journey to well-being.
Support for this podcast comes from The Commonwealth Fund, a health care research foundation working to improve the U.S. health system. Visit commonwealthfund.org/costofcare, and stay connected by following us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Commonwealth Fund: Affordable, quality health care. For everyone.
You can click this link for a full list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows.
