Strive, MA Insurer Zing Expand Partnership Around Kidney Care

Strive Health, a value-based kidney care company, and Zing Health, a Medicare Advantage insurer, are expanding their existing partnership to deliver specialized kidney care to all eligible members across Zing’s geographical footprint.

Founded in 2019, Zing is a physician-founded insurance company built to address the needs of underserved seniors with chronic conditions. 

Strive will now support Zing members in Ohio, Tennessee and Mississippi and continue coverage in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. Through this expanded partnership, Strive is projected to serve thousands of Zing members with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in 2025, with double-digit growth expected this year.

Strive serves over 121,000 people with CKD and ESKD across 50 states and partners with over 6,500 providers. The Denver-based company generated net savings in 100% of its Kidney Contracting Entities (KCEs) in the Comprehensive Kidney Care Contracting (CKCC) program for the 2022 performance year — the highest per-beneficiary savings across all organizations participating in the model. The CKCC model was designed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to improve outcomes and reduce costs for Medicare beneficiaries with CKD through enhanced payment mechanisms, increased patient engagement and added care resources.

By integrating Zing’s tailored benefits with Strive’s proven value-based care model, the partnership seeks to ensure that members have seamless access to specialized nephrology care and coordinated care strategies to improve outcomes across the CKD population, the companies said. 

“Our collaboration with Zing has strengthened our shared commitment to delivering high-quality, coordinated care to individuals living with kidney disease,” said Chris Riopelle, co-founder & CEO at Strive Health, in a statement. “Together, Strive’s value-based care model and Zing’s benefit plans proactively address the clinical challenges and social determinants of health that impact patient outcomes and create a more unified care experience.”

Zing’s Medicare Advantage plans are designed for individuals with chronic conditions, offering specialized benefits that address both medical and social needs. By integrating Strive’s model of care, which leverages predictive analytics, interdisciplinary clinical teams and high-touch patient engagement, the partnership aims to improve quality of life while reducing avoidable hospitalizations and total cost of care.

“Our collaboration with Strive represents the future of Medicare Advantage, where members receive holistic, coordinated care from providers who understand their unique health needs,” said Andrew Clifton, CEO at Zing Health, in a statement. “By connecting Zing’s benefits and member experience services with high-quality clinical care, we’re ensuring our members don’t have to navigate the complex healthcare system alone. This partnership is a testament to our commitment to improving outcomes for those managing kidney disease.”