According to Freakonomics Podcast, 5,000 Out of a Total of 7,500 Dialysis Centers in America are Run by Just 2 Companies: DaVita Kidney Care and Fresenius Medical Care

These 2 Dialysis Companies Have Grown by #Acquiring Small, Independent Dialysis Centers.

Economists from Duke University Studied These Acquisitions and Found that They Resulted in a 200% Increase in the Use of an #Anemia Shot Called EPO.

The Patients Did Not Change. Their Clinical Condition Did Not Change. Only the #Ownership of the Dialysis Center Changed. 

They Also Found a 9.5% Decrease in Patients Receiving Kidney #Transplants or Being Listed for Transplants After the DaVita or Fresenius Acquisition of the Independent Clinic.

If a Patient Receives a Kidney Transplant, They No Longer Need Dialysis and DaVita or Fresenius Will Lose a #Customer.

Freakonomics Goes On to Explain How Commercial #HealthInsurance Pays DaVita and Fresenius 4X More Than What #Medicare Pays for the First 30 Months a Patient is On Dialysis.

Finally, the Podcast Explains a Scheme Where the American Kidney Fund Pays the Insurance Premiums for Patients So They Can Stay on Commercial Insurance for the Maximum Amount of Time... All While DaVita and Fresenius Supply 80% of the American Kidney Fund's Budget.