Kidney disease continues to be a focus area for deals involving value-based care startups. Duo Health, a value-based medical group focused on managing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), has entered into a partnership with Arizona Complete Health, a Centene subsidiary, on its Medicare Advantage plan offering.
The partnership builds on Arizona Complete Health’s existing value-based care nephrology network arrangements and is designed to enhance patient engagement and improve outcomes for Medicare members with CKD and ESKD.
Specifically tailored for Arizona Complete Health’s Medicare Advantage program, Wellcare by Allwell, the program targets members with complex care needs due to CKD and ESKD. Through a risk arrangement that pairs interdisciplinary staff with established local providers, Duo said it would improve quality and value-based clinical outcomes while extending care delivery into patients’ homes and alternative care sites.
“Our partnership with Duo Health exemplifies our unwavering commitment to meet the unique healthcare needs of each Arizonan,” said Arizona Complete Health Plan President and CEO Martha Smith, in a statement. “We will continue to meet members where they are and work to identify partners that provide comprehensive and specialized support, including for individuals managing CKD and ESKD.”
“We are pleased to partner with Arizona Complete Health to further our efforts in providing accessible and high-quality healthcare services to communities across Arizona,” said Duo Health CEO and Co-Founder Nathan Goldstein, in a statement. “This relationship underscores our ongoing dedication to innovation and collaboration in providing value-based care. It mirrors our joint pledge to enhance the swiftly evolving healthcare requirements of individuals and families in the areas we serve, prioritizing patient outcomes and satisfaction.”
Headquartered in Chicago, Duo Health was co-founded in 2022 by CEO Nathan Goldstein, Stuart Levine, M.D., and Chicago Pacific Founders (CPF).
Prior to founding Duo, Goldstein was founding Chief Product Officer and later Chief Strategy Officer of Signify Health, which he helped lead to a $5.3 billion IPO in 2021. Chicago Pacific Founders has made their mark in establishing businesses in value-based care models in specialty care.
In 2023 Duo Health announced a partnership in Florida with National Kidney Partners (NKP), a physician-led nephrology organization with care centers across the state.
