Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy, CareSource announce partnership to treat CKD

SWARTZ CREEK, Mich. A specialty pharmacy in the Midwest will partner with another company to help treat people with chronic kidney disease.

Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy announced this week that its Diplomat Health Services Division would partner with Ohio-based CareSource in an effort to slow the progression of kidney disease, improve clinical outcomes and reduce costs associated with it.

“Early recognition and intervention are essential to slowing disease progression and improving outcomes,” CareSource chief medical officer Craig Thiele said in a statement. “Collaboration and creating a communication continuum, as well as enhancing patient and physician education, goal setting and tracking outcomes ensure success for all stakeholders.”

According to the National Kidney Foundation, chronic kidney disease affects 26 million Americans, while millions more are at increased risk. It’s one of the many complications of hypertension, but it can also cause hypertension, and it often affects people with diabetes.

Diplomat said that in pilot studies, its CKD Navigator disease management program showed significant medication and medical cost savings while improving results among patients by incorporating medication therapy management, medication adherence tools and lifestyle management techniques.

“We have demonstrated the savings,” Diplomat VP clinical services Ron Alexander said in a statement. “Now, with the CareSource project, we plan to not only show good financial metrics, but also incorporate lifestyle information to gauge the program’s health effects.”