InterWell Health, a value-based kidney care provider, has merged with Acumen Physician Solutions, formerly a technology division of Fresenius Medical Care North America.
InterWell was recently formed by the merger of Fresenius Health Partners, the value-based care division of Fresenius Medical Care North America, with Cricket Health and InterWell Health, a network of more than 1,600 nephrologists. When the deal was announced, the new company was valued at $2.4 billion, with over $6 billion of medical costs under management, responsibility for over 100,000 covered lives, and a total addressable market of $170 billion. The deal combined InterWell Health’s network of nephrologists, Cricket Health’s technology-enabled care model and patient engagement platform, and the expertise in value-based kidney care contracting of Fresenius Health Partners.
Acumen is a provider of electronic health record (EHR) and patient management software designed especially for nephrologists caring for people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD). More than 2,000 kidney care providers have implemented the Acumen Epic Connect platform, created in partnership with Epic. The platform has been specifically configured to support new value-based models of care with additional capabilities such as a physician rounding tool, payer integration, embedded analytics, population health management, and interoperability with other providers.
“The addition of Acumen accelerates our ability to provide the most comprehensive offering to kidney care providers to support their move to value-based care,” said Robert Sepucha, CEO of InterWell Health, in a statement. “This technology is a perfect complement to our existing tools that are identifying high-risk patients to reduce hospitalizations, and connecting patients with leading education platforms, care teams, and peer mentors. We are committed to slowing the progression of disease, increasing transplant rates, accelerating adoption of home dialysis, and improving health equity.”
Acumen Epic Connect has been adopted across more than 150 nephrology practices including 65 percent of the InterWell Health network. This custom-designed EHR platform offers point-of-care interventions, including imminent hospitalization alerts and tools that improve care coordination between nephrology practices, hospitals, and dialysis centers, the company said.
InterWell Health’s goal is to accelerate growth in the mid- and late-stage chronic kidney disease value-based care population. By 2025, the company expects to engage and manage the care of more than 270,000 Americans living with kidney disease, increasing its medical costs under management to $11 billion.
The merger of InterWell Health and Acumen did not require regulatory review.
