News & Press Releases
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Dec. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Gold Kidney Health Plan (Gold Kidney) announced the close of a $60 million funding deal with Chicago Pacific Founder (CPF), an investment adviser that manages private equity funds, focused exclusively on value-based care innovation, healthcare services, and AI and tech enabled healthcare services with offices in Chicago and San Francisco. The investment supports Gold Kidney’s Health Plan’s ability to offer new Medicare Advantage plan choices to patients with kidney diseases across the US using a unique Nephrology centric care model.
Currently, ESRD (End Stage Renal Disease/Dialysis) Medicare Advantage Chronic Special Needs Plan (C-SNP) plans are only available in 11 States. Fewer than 1% of Medicare beneficiaries with ESRD are enrolled in ESRD C-SNP plans. In Arizona, Gold Kidney is launching the only ESRD C-SNP plans available for Medicare beneficiaries living in Maricopa, Pinal, and Gila counties in 2023. As a Special Needs Plan, Gold Kidney can enroll patients all year round.
Gold Kidney was seeded by over 100 nephrologists discouraged with the limited Medicare plan options for their Chronic Kidney Disease and ESRD patients. Gold Kidney empowers nephrologists and Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) to provide the right care at the right time in the right setting for their patients.
“We are excited to partner with CPF in serving the underserved kidney patients today,” said Dave Firdaus, Gold Kidney’s Chief Executive Officer, “CPF has an innovative business approach that serves both the care needs of our aging population and the financial returns for investors.”
Gold Kidney’s model of care is designed to provide kidney disease patients with a tech-enabled integrated plan that covers their healthcare needs. For example, Gold Kidney offers $0 copay dialysis and transportation benefits to help dialysis patients get their needed treatment and avoid emergency room visits. “Additionally, Gold Kidney has a large and comprehensive network of contracted providers for both access and choice to its members. In Arizona, we contracted with prominent providers such as Banner Health, DaVita Dialysis, and US Renal Care,” Gloria Long, Gold Kidney’s VP of Business Development commented.
CPF is looking forward to a long and fruitful partnership with Gold Kidney,” added CPF Founder and Managing Partner, Mary Tolan. “CPF believes that Gold Kidney is a market leading Medicare Advantage product, purpose built to uniquely serve patients with kidney disease. Their model, in partnership with leading nephrologists will demonstrate superior clinical & patient outcomes.”
About Gold Kidney Health Plan
Gold Kidney Health Plan is a Medicare Advantage Plan offering Medicare Advantage products for beneficiaries with Chronic Special Needs. Gold Kidney currently holds an insurance license in Arizona and a Medicare contract from CMS (Center for Medicare Medicaid Services). Gold Kidney’s patient-centric care approach integrates payor, provider, and care management technology to effectively improve patient outcomes and quality. At Gold Kidney, the patient’s well-being is our number one focus and priority. To learn more, visit www.GoldKidney.com.
About Chicago Pacific Founders
Based in Chicago and San Francisco, Chicago Pacific Founders (“CPF”) is a leading strategic private equity firm focused on investing in growth companies within value-based care, healthcare services, AI and tech enabled services, and caring for aging populations. CPF believes that the most significant societal impact and investment returns from healthcare for the next decade will be generated by investment in delivery model innovation. CPF’s leadership team is made up of former healthcare founders, senior executives, and investment professionals with a passion and track record of building healthcare businesses.
Press or Provider Contact:Â Sandra.Howe@GoldKidney.Com
SOURCE Gold Kidney Health Plan
Medicare Health Plan in Arizona specifically designed for Medicare beneficiaries living with Diabetes, Heart Failure, Cardiovascular Disease and End Stage Kidney Disease
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ – Gold Kidney of Arizona, Inc., a subsidiary of Gold Kidney Health Plan has contracted with the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) and is launching a Medicare Advantage Chronic-Care Special Needs Plan effective January 1, 2023. Gold Kidney of Arizona will offer the same coverage as Medicare with additional benefits, designed for patients with Chronic Kidney Disease that lead to and include Kidney Failure.
The plan will be available to Arizona residents who have chronic conditions including diabetes, heart failure, cardiovascular and end stage renal disease and are Medicare eligible. Gold Kidney of Arizona will begin enrolling members in its new Medicare Advantage plan beginning October 15, 2022. Our service area includes the counties of Gila, Maricopa, Pima and Pinal in Arizona.
“We are really pleased to offer the Medicare Health Plan in Arizona Intended for Medicare beneficiaries living with chronic conditions that lead to and include kidney failure,” said Dave Firdaus, CEO of Gold Kidney Health Plan. “Currently Medicare beneficiaries who live in Arizona with chronic diseases especially ESRD have limited choice of Medicare Advantage coverage. For example, there is no ESRD Medicare C-SNP plan in Maricopa County today.”
Under Gold Kidney Health Plan’s model of care, a team of experts, including primary care physicians and nephrologists, will collaborate more closely to develop individualized care plans which address each member’s unique health care needs. The member will choose a primary care physician, a nephrologist, and be provided a nurse care manager knowledgeable in the patients’ chronic conditions to help them understand their coverage and answer questions.Â
“Our goal is to improve our members’ health and delay their disease progression, and if they must start dialysis, we will be with them and their significant others to help them understand and facilitate their choices for receiving either a kidney transplant, starting on dialysis, and/or continuing to live the quality of life they desire” said Kirsten Sorensen, VP of Clinical Services for Gold Kidney Health Plan. “That’s why we have partnered with trusted primary care physicians, nephrologists, hospitals, pharmacies, and other providers — to make sure Gold Kidney Health Plan members get the right care at the right time with the right resources. Our mission is to improve our members’ health outcomes through empowering our members and providers with improved access to health care, less prior authorizations, lower out of pocket costs, and benefits designed specifically with their daily health care needs in mind.”
About Gold Kidney Health Plan
Gold Kidney of Arizona is a Medicare Advantage Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan with a Medicare contract to offer coverage to individuals diagnosed with Diabetes, Heart Failure, Cardiovascular Disease and End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
Press or Provider Contact:Â Sandra.Howe@GoldKidney.Com
SOURCE Gold Kidney Health Plan
