No. As part of the agreement, DaVita and NxStage are working together to increase access to home hemodialysis (HD).
DaVita bought about 7% of the available stock in NxStage. This gives NxStage capital to support operations.
Will DaVita be the only provider to offer NxStage products?
No. NxStage has a long-standing strategy of working with a small number of passionate provider partners in a given area to expand access to home HD.
In a small number of geographic areas (about 10%), DaVita will be the only provider of NxStage products. In these areas, either: 1) DaVita was the only provider using NxStage; or 2) no partner offered NxStage products.
Will DaVita patients be the only ones who can use NxStage machines?
No. NxStage will continue to work with other centers that are passionate about providing home HD to patients who are a good fit. These include independent centers and most dialysis chains.
Can DaVita sell NxStage machines to other dialysis centers?
No. DaVita is not a distributor or re-seller of NxStage machines. They only buy machines for use by DaVita patients.
Who will maintain purchased NxStage machines?
NxStage will still service and maintain all machines owned by DaVita (or anyone else) under the service swap program.
Will current NxStage patients have to change dialysis centers or doctors, or will their levels of service change?
No. There is no change for current NxStage patients or centers as a result of this agreement.
Will it be harder for a patient to find a center offering home HD with NxStage?
No. In fact, we believe that our relationship with Davita will give more patients access to home HD. We expect that it will raise awareness and could be the catalyst to bring home HD with the NxStage System One to areas of the country where it is not yet offered.
Who are the “key provider partners” in each area that use NxStage?
Call customer service at 866-NXSTAGE to learn which centers offer NxStage in your area.
Will I have to change centers if I want to use NxStage and I dialyze at a unit that doesn’t offer it?
Not necessarily. If you want to use the NxStage System One, tell NxStage and your center. NxStage will work with the center to see if starting a program is possible and a good fit.
If your center does not start a NxStage program and you still want to use the NxStage System One, NxStage can help you find a center near you that offers the System One. Your doctor can refer you to that center for training. Nearly all of these centers will let you stay with your doctor.
