Peterson Health Technology Institute to Evaluate Virtual Solutions for Management of Chronic Kidney Disease  

NEW YORK —

The Peterson Health Technology Institute (PHTI) will conduct an independent evaluation of virtual solutions used to manage chronic kidney disease (CKD), assessing both the clinical effectiveness and economic impact of these solutions. PHTI’s evaluations inform health plans, employers, and providers making purchasing decisions about digital health technologies that may improve health, expand access, and reduce spending.

Chronic kidney disease, a condition in which the kidneys gradually lose their ability to filter waste and fluid from the blood, affects more than 35 million U.S. adults. CKD is a frequent complication from diabetes and hypertension that can progress to kidney failure, which then requires dialysis or a kidney transplant to replace lost kidney function. Active and effective management slows the progression of CKD.

Health plans and employers are seeking effective solutions to identify and manage CKD. Virtual CKD solutions provide comprehensive support that can slow disease progression and delay or prevent the need for dialysis. These solutions offer treatment planning, patient monitoring, and education, while connecting patients with networks of advanced practice clinicians, dietitians, and social workers. Many platforms also provide predictive analytics to flag at-risk patients. Value-based care models, such as the CMS Kidney Care Choices Model, have driven significant interest in kidney disease treatment, and virtual CKD solutions have attracted more than $3.5 billion in investment since 2015.

“Virtual chronic kidney disease solutions aim to slow disease progression, which is critical to avoiding dialysis and improving quality of life,” said Caroline Pearson, executive director of PHTI. “Medicare Advantage plans may be particularly interested in these solutions because most CKD costs accrue to Medicare. Commercial payers may also be able to support earlier diagnosis and management with virtual CKD solutions to improve health outcomes and reduce spending.”

PHTI’s assessment of virtual solutions for CKD will be released in 2026, following its upcoming evaluation of virtual solutions for gastrointestinal conditions. PHTI evaluations published to date include virtual solutions for opioid use disorder, depression and anxiety, hypertension management, musculoskeletal care, and diabetes management.

PHTI is also preparing market reports on two areas of significant interest to healthcare purchasers:

Analysis of GLP-1 Wraparound Solutions: PHTI is conducting a market analysis examining digital weight loss solutions that support the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications for obesity management. As employers consider coverage for GLP-1s, they are seeking wraparound solutions that provide behavioral and lifestyle support to improve medication adherence, sustain weight loss during treatment, and help maintain weight loss if patients stop taking the medications. These digital solutions help employers identify appropriate candidates for GLP-1 therapy and support patients throughout their weight loss journey. The report will review the landscape of digital weight loss solutions that can be used with GLP-1 medications and outline strategies to help employers manage rising obesity-related costs while improving long-term health outcomes for employees. This report is expected to be published in late 2025.

Guide to Performance-Based Contracting for Digital Health: PHTI will publish a guide to advance the use of performance-based contracts for digital health solutions, including model contracts for commonly managed conditions. The research will cover how to define meaningful performance metrics, structure payment arrangements, and overcome operational challenges in implementing these contracts. The report and model templates are being developed with extensive input from more than 50 digital health vendors, health plans, and employer purchasers. This report is expected to be published in early 2026.