DaVita
Corporate brand
UnclaimedDaVita is a U.S.-based kidney-care company specializing in outpatient dialysis and related clinical services.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
DaVita Inc. is an American health-care company focused primarily on kidney care, especially outpatient dialysis for people with end-stage renal disease. The company operates a large network of dialysis centers in the United States and maintains additional international operations. Its principal clinical business supports patients whose kidneys can no longer adequately filter waste and excess fluid from the blood. These patients commonly receive hemodialysis several times each week unless they undergo a kidney transplant or pursue another form of renal replacement therapy. The business began in 1979 as Medical Ambulatory Care, a subsidiary of National Medical Enterprises, the company now known as Tenet Healthcare. In the 1990s, ownership and strategy changed substantially. DLJ Merchant Banking Partners acquired a controlling interest in 1994, after which the company was renamed Total Renal Care Holdings. It went public in 1995. A major expansion followed with the 1998 acquisition of Renal Treatment Centers, although the integration was difficult and led to senior leadership departures in 1999. Kent J. Thiry became chief executive that year and guided the company through a period of restructuring, expansion and brand repositioning. The company adopted the DaVita name in 2000. The name is described as a shortened form of the Italian phrase "dare vita," meaning "to give life." DaVita subsequently strengthened its position in dialysis through the 2005 acquisition of Gambro Healthcare. It also expanded into broader physician and medical-care services, including the 2012 purchase of Healthcare Partners, later branded DaVita Medical Group. That medical-group business was sold to UnitedHealth Group in 2019, returning the company's strategic emphasis toward kidney care. DaVita's operating model combines dialysis-center treatment, nephrology-related care coordination, education and services intended to support patients across the kidney-care journey. Its outpatient centers provide in-center hemodialysis, while the company also supports home-based modalities and related clinical programs where available. The brand's customer base consists principally of patients with chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease, while its major payers include Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurers. Government programs cover most patients, but commercial insurance generally reimburses dialysis services at higher rates, making payer mix an important feature of the company's economics. DaVita has also pursued geographic and service-line acquisitions. Examples include Colorado Springs Health Partners, the Everett Clinic Medical Group and WellHealth Quality Care. These transactions broadened its physician and ambulatory-care presence, although the later divestiture of DaVita Medical Group demonstrated a sharper focus on the company's core kidney-care identity. The company has faced significant regulatory, legal and competitive scrutiny. Settlements have addressed alleged physician-kickback practices, pharmaceutical-waste billing, Medicare Advantage payment information and other claims. DaVita and former chief executive Kent Thiry were acquitted in 2022 in a federal criminal case involving alleged labor-market collusion. The Federal Trade Commission has separately scrutinized the company's acquisition activity and, in 2024, reportedly investigated DaVita and Fresenius Medical Care over alleged conduct affecting competition in dialysis markets. These matters form an important part of the brand's public record, although they do not alter its current status as an active kidney-care company.
History
DaVita traces its origins to Medical Ambulatory Care, Inc., which was established in 1979 as a subsidiary of National Medical Enterprises. The original business operated in the ambulatory-care sector before developing into a major provider of renal services. In August 1994, DLJ Merchant Banking Partners acquired a 70 percent interest through a leveraged buyout valued at $75.5 million, including a reported $10.5 million investment by DLJ. Following the transaction, the company changed its name to Total Renal Care Holdings, Inc. Total Renal Care became a public company in October 1995 through an initial public offering that raised $107 million. The company pursued rapid expansion during the following years. On February 27, 1998, it acquired Renal Treatment Centers in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $1.3 billion. The integration proved problematic. In July 1999, the chief executive and chief financial officer resigned, while the company's share price had fallen sharply during that year after substantial gains between 1995 and 1998. Kent J. Thiry became chief executive in October 1999. In 2000, the company sold its non-U.S. operations and adopted the name DaVita Inc. The new name was presented as a contraction of the Italian expression "dare vita," or "to give life," reflecting a more patient-centered corporate identity. The company continued to build its dialysis network, including through the October 2005 acquisition of Gambro Healthcare. DaVita later broadened its activities beyond dialysis-center operations. In 2012, it acquired Healthcare Partners for approximately $4.42 billion and renamed the business DaVita Medical Group. It made further physician-practice acquisitions, including Colorado Springs Health Partners in 2014, the Everett Clinic Medical Group in 2016 and WellHealth Quality Care in 2017. The Everett Clinic transaction involved a 20-site practice serving patients in the Seattle area. In June 2019, DaVita sold DaVita Medical Group to UnitedHealth Group for approximately $4.3 billion, a transaction that helped concentrate the company on kidney care and dialysis. DaVita's core service remains treatment for end-stage renal disease. Its centers provide recurring outpatient dialysis, generally involving in-center hemodialysis, and the company also supports home-based treatment and related patient-care programs. The company operates mainly in the United States but has maintained a network of international centers. Its financial and operating environment is strongly influenced by the U.S. reimbursement system: Medicare and other government programs cover most patients, while commercial insurers generally pay higher rates. The company has experienced sustained legal and regulatory scrutiny. It entered a $350 million settlement in 2014 concerning alleged physician kickbacks and a $450 million settlement in 2015 concerning alleged drug-waste billing. In 2018, a jury awarded $383 million to families in wrongful-death litigation involving three patients, and DaVita agreed to a $270 million settlement over allegations concerning inaccurate information supplied in connection with Medicare Advantage payments. In 2021, the company and Thiry were indicted in a labor-market case involving alleged agreements with Surgical Care Affiliates; both were acquitted in 2022. The FTC has also examined DaVita's merger activity and competitive conduct. Despite these controversies, DaVita remains an active publicly traded kidney-care company headquartered in Denver.
- 2019
DaVita Medical Group sold
[1]DaVita sells its medical-group business to UnitedHealth Group and refocuses on kidney care.
- 2012
Healthcare Partners acquired
[1]DaVita enters a larger physician and integrated-care business through the acquisition of Healthcare Partners.
- 2005
Gambro Healthcare acquired
[1]DaVita expands its dialysis platform through the acquisition of Gambro Healthcare.
- 2000
DaVita name adopted
[1]The company sells its non-U.S. operations and changes its corporate name to DaVita Inc.
- 1999
Kent Thiry becomes chief executive
[1]Following a difficult integration and senior leadership departures, Kent J. Thiry is appointed CEO.
- 1998
Renal Treatment Centers acquisition
[1]The company acquires Renal Treatment Centers in a major stock transaction.
- 1995
Initial public offering
[1]The company, then called Total Renal Care Holdings, becomes publicly listed.
- 1994
DLJ acquires a controlling interest
[1]DLJ Merchant Banking Partners acquires 70 percent of the company in a leveraged buyout.
- 1979
Medical Ambulatory Care is established
[1]The business begins as Medical Ambulatory Care, Inc., a subsidiary of National Medical Enterprises.
Products and positioning
A large-scale kidney-care specialist positioned around outpatient dialysis, clinical support and coordinated care for people with advanced or end-stage kidney disease.
Clinical service
Outpatient dialysis centers
DaVita's principal offering is recurring outpatient dialysis for patients with end-stage renal disease. Its centers primarily provide in-center hemodialysis under the supervision of clinical staff, with treatment schedules determined by the patient's medical needs. The centers also provide monitoring, care planning and support associated with long-term renal replacement therapy.
Clinical service
Home kidney-care programs
DaVita supports home-based kidney-care options where clinically appropriate. These programs can include education, modality selection, training and ongoing clinical assistance for patients using home dialysis approaches. The offering is part of the company's broader effort to provide alternatives to conventional in-center treatment.
Care management
Kidney-care coordination
The company provides care coordination and patient-support activities connected with chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease. These services may involve education, preparation for dialysis, communication with clinicians and support around treatment continuity. The objective is to manage a complex, long-term condition across different stages of care.
Controversies
2024
FTC investigation of dialysis-market conduct
The Federal Trade Commission began investigating DaVita and Fresenius Medical Care over allegations that their conduct disadvantaged smaller dialysis companies.
2021
Labor-market collusion prosecution
DaVita and former CEO Kent Thiry were indicted over alleged agreements with Surgical Care Affiliates to suppress competition for certain senior employees. Both were acquitted in 2022.
2021
Employees file no-poach lawsuit against Surgical Care Affiliates, DaVita and USPI
A putative class action was filed against Surgical Care Affiliates LLC, DaVita Inc. and United Surgical Partners International, Inc. Plaintiffs accuse the companies of maintaining a multi-year agreement not to solicit each other’s senior-level employees and claim the conduct violates the Sherman Act; the allegations are claims in the lawsuit, not a court determination.
2018
Wrongful-death jury award
A jury awarded $383 million to families of three patients in wrongful-death claims involving cardiac arrests after treatment at DaVita centers.
2018
Medicare Advantage payment settlement
DaVita agreed to a $270 million settlement over allegations that inaccurate information contributed to inflated Medicare Advantage payments.
2015
Drug-waste billing settlement
The company agreed to pay $450 million to settle allegations involving unnecessary disposal of drugs and billing the federal government for the resulting waste.
2014
Physician-kickback settlement
DaVita agreed to pay $350 million to resolve claims alleging that it provided illegal kickbacks to physicians.
Brand decisions
2019
Sell DaVita Medical GroupM&ABackground
DaVita reassessed its broader medical-group strategy and placed greater emphasis on its kidney-care operations.
Action taken
The company sold DaVita Medical Group to UnitedHealth Group.
Aftermath
The sale sharpened DaVita's strategic focus on dialysis and kidney care.
Divestiture value. $4.3 billion (June 2019)
2012
Acquire Healthcare PartnersM&ABackground
The company pursued a broader integrated-care strategy beyond dialysis-center operations.
Action taken
DaVita acquired Healthcare Partners for approximately $4.42 billion and renamed it DaVita Medical Group.
Aftermath
DaVita developed a substantial physician and medical-group business before later selling the division.
Acquisition value. $4.42 billion (2012)
2005
Acquire Gambro HealthcareM&ABackground
DaVita sought to expand its dialysis network and strengthen its position in renal services.
Action taken
DaVita acquired Gambro Healthcare.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded DaVita's dialysis platform and reinforced its specialization in kidney care.
2000
Adopt the DaVita corporate identityStrategyBackground
After selling its non-U.S. operations, the company sought a new identity for its U.S.-focused kidney-care business.
Action taken
The company changed its name from Total Renal Care Holdings to DaVita Inc.
Aftermath
The DaVita name became the primary identity for the company's dialysis and kidney-care operations.
Recent events
Reported
DaVita acquires MedSleuth[3]
DaVita announced that it had acquired MedSleuth, a transplant software company. The acquisition includes MedSleuth products Breeze and Matchgrid.
Reported
Employees file no-poach lawsuit against Surgical Care Affiliates, DaVita and USPI[2]
A putative class action was filed against Surgical Care Affiliates LLC, DaVita Inc. and United Surgical Partners International, Inc. Plaintiffs accuse the companies of maintaining a multi-year agreement not to solicit each other’s senior-level employees and claim the conduct violates the Sherman Act; the allegations are claims in the lawsuit, not a court determination.
Reported
DaVita announces upsize and pricing of senior notes offering[4]
DaVita announced an increase in the principal amount of its add-on senior notes offering from $750 million to $1 billion and set the offering price at 101.750% of face value. The offering was expected to close on February 26, 2021, subject to customary conditions.
Reported
DaVita raises 2020 earnings guidance[5]
DaVita raised its 2020 adjusted earnings guidance from $5.25–$5.75 to $5.75–$6.25 per share.
Reported
DaVita reports fourth-quarter earnings[5]
DaVita reported quarterly earnings of $1.86 per share, above the analyst consensus estimate of $1.66.
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