Preparing MCOs to manage chronic kidney disease.

Managed care organizations have begun recognizing the critical need to start implementing changes that will significantly improve diagnosis and treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Alan Wright's perspective on managed care's shifting focus relative to managing these patients, presented here, ignited a lively discussion among panel members in the roundtable discussion that follows this section. By drawing on the strength of the data and information shared by Drs. Amedia and Provenzano, this article highlights how managed care can address the need for early identification of patients at heightened risk for CKD and points out ways to avoid the hidden costs associated with the various conditions that are related to renal disease. In addition, this article delineates ways that MCOs can strengthen educational efforts aimed at primary care physicians about early diagnosis and management of these patients.