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WIKI ANALYSIS
DaVita (NYSE: DVA) is the second largest provider of dialysis services in the United States with about 1/3 of the market. The company has more than 1,300 outpatient dialysis facilities and 800 acute units hospitals.[1]
DaVita is heavily dependent on both Medicare and private insurance programs. Over 87% of its patients are covered by Medicare, making the government program the single largest source of revenue for the company. Any changes to Medicare reimbursement policy for dialysis or related services could have a substantial impact on the company's performance - and dialysis has been a frequent target of Medicare budget cuts, most of which have been successfuly parried by coalitions dialysis companies, drug manufacturers, doctors and patient groups. Although only 13% of DaVita's clients pay using private insurance, DaVita charges these patients 2 to 3 times more than those affiliated with Medicare, and most of the company's margin comes from these patients. DaVita is facing pressure from insurance companies to lower its rates for privately insured patients. If the insurance companies are able to negotiate better rates, it could have a disproportionate impact on the company's earnings.
Business Overview
Dialysis services are used by people diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), also known as end stage renal disease. Dialysis removes toxins, fluids and salt from the blood, and patients usually require dialysis at least three times per week for the rest of their lives or a kidney transplant.
DaVita's revenue comes from fees charged for dialysis sessions and the sales of complementary treatment drugs such as Epogen. Because dialysis is a life-sustaining treatment, Medicare covers treatments for everyone (including those under 65). This coverage begins within three months for those not covered by a commercial health insurance plan and within 33 months for those initially covered by a commercial payer. Payment for dialysis is usually 2-3x higher for commercial payers than for Medicare.
Business & Financial Metrics[2]
In 2009, DVA generated a net income of $422.7 million on revenues of $6.11 billion. This represents a 13.0% increase in net income and a 7.9% increase in total revenues from 2008, when the company earned $374.2 million on $5.66 billion in revenue.
Business Segments[3]
DVA is divided into two business segments:
- Dialysis and Related Lab Services (94.8% of total revenue): This segment operates 1,530 outpatient dialysis centers in the United States.[4]
- Other (5.2% of total revenue): This segment operates the company's DaVita Rx pharmacy,[5] subsidiary HomeChoice Partners which provides infusion therapy services to patients in their own homes, and other medical intiatives.[6]
Key Trends and Forces
- Incidence of kidney disease: Kidney disease is expected to increase with the Aging Baby Boomers and with the incidence of obesity, diabetes and hypertension. The disease has recently grown at 3-4% per year and there are currently about 335,000 ESRD dialysis patients in the United States. Some experts predict that there will be up to a 60% increase in kidney disease by 2020.
- Decrease in private insurance rates: DaVita charges private insurance much higher rates (2-3x Medicare rates), and there has been some pressure to reduce these rates.[7] Approximately 35% of DaVita's revenue is from private insurance companies, even though private insurance patients represent only 13% of total patients.[8]
- Increase in kidney transplants: If the government were to change the organ donor system to an “opt-out” one in which individuals must make the decision not to participate, there could be a significant increase in kidney transplants, which would lower the demand for DaVita’s services.[9]
- Future medical technologies: The widespread use of dialysis is a current reality, but there are potential game-changing adjustments to ESRD treatment that could greatly affect companies like DaVita. While the development of an artificial kidney is far from a reality, it may be a possibility in the future. [10]
Competitors
While DaVita and its competitor Fresenius together account for more than 65% of the outpatient dialysis centers in the United States, the industry is competitive in terms of acquiring existing centers. About half of the centers not owned by these two players are owned or controlled by non-profit organizations or hospitals, and physicians can also buy centers.[11]
- Fresenius Medical Care: Fresenius is by far DaVita’s largest competitor, with about 1/3 market share and about 150,000 patients.[12] This company may have a cost advantage over DaVita because they manufacture dialysis supplies and equipment. In fact, Fresenius has historically been DaVita’s largest supplier of dialysis products.[13]
- Nxstage Medical: Nxstage has developed in-home hemodialysis systems for patients to use on a daily basis.[14]
Footnotes
- ↑ http://www.davita.com/about/
- ↑ DVA 2009 10-K pg. F-4
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 DVA 2009 10-K pg. 43
- ↑ DVA 2009 10-K pg. 3
- ↑ DVA 2009 10-K pg. 4
- ↑ DVA 2009 10-K pg. 5
- ↑ DaVita 2006 Annual Report. Section: Risk Factors. Page 68.
- ↑ DaVita 2006 Annual Report. Section: Management's Discussion. Page 9.
- ↑ International Lessons for Moving Forward With 'Opt-Out' Organ Donation in the United States
- ↑ New Device Could Lead to Artificial Kidney Transplants
- ↑ DaVita 2006 10K, Item I: Business, page 17.
- ↑ Making a Difference in Dialysis
- ↑ DaVita 2006 10K, Item I: Business, page 18.
- ↑ DaVita 2006 10K, Item I: Business, page 18.
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