37 Million Reasons to Redefine Kidney Care: Key Insights from Strive On Live 2026
STRIVE HEALTH
On March 24, 2026, Strive Health hosted “Redefining Kidney Care: Expert Perspectives on 2026,” bringing together Keith Bellovich, D.O., MBA of Strive Health, Fahd Al-Saghir, M.D. of Michigan Kidney Consultants and Manish Tanna, M.D. of Nephrology Associates of Northern Illinois and Indiana to discuss the trends reshaping how we identify, treat and support the 37 million Americans living with kidney disease.
What emerged was clear: kidney care in 2026 demands a fundamentally different approach — one rooted in early intervention, whole-person treatment and technology that amplifies clinical expertise rather than replacing it.
Key Insights
Trend 1: SGLT2 Inhibitors and the Democratization of Treatment
The shift toward generic SGLT2 inhibitors represents more than a cost reduction; it signals an opportunity to reach patients who have historically lacked access to these proven therapies. For health plans and providers, the question is not whether to prepare for broader adoption, but how quickly to build the infrastructure that ensures patients who benefit most receive these treatments first.
- One practice increased utilization to 38% in 12 months versus a 10% national average
- The real barrier? Adoption, not innovation
- What payors need to know about benefit design
Trend 2: AI and Technology as Clinical Enablers
Technology transforms data into actionable insights that enable cross-care team collaboration, streamline workflows and inform timely interventions that improve outcomes. Why does this matter? Reducing fragmentation, strengthening patient-clinician relationships and keeping advocacy at the forefront.
The panelists emphasized that artificial intelligence and data tools must serve the patient relationship, not replace it. When technology transforms complex information into actionable insights, it creates the conditions for true collaboration across care teams — nephrologists, cardiologists, primary care physicians and other clinicians working from a shared understanding of each patient’s full picture. The result is coordinated care that meets patients where they are and intervenes before complications emerge.
- Practices are already piloting AI for population identification
- Compliance concerns every organization needs to address
- Why nephrologists say AI must support, not replace, clinical judgment
Trend 3: Cardiometabolic Care and the Power of Early Intervention
Kidney disease does not exist in isolation. Cardiovascular and metabolic conditions are deeply intertwined with kidney health, yet clinical care models have historically treated them separately. The panelists emphasized that the greatest opportunity to prevent irreversible kidney disease lies upstream — in early identification of at-risk populations and timely intervention across the cardiometabolic spectrum. For payors and providers, this means rethinking care pathways, expanding collaboration across specialties and measuring success through whole-person outcomes rather than single-condition metrics.
- 60% of CKD patients have concurrent cardiac disease
- The workforce challenge reshaping how practices deliver care
- How to leverage value-based partnerships for upstream intervention
Watch the Full Conversation
Featured Speakers
- Keith Bellovich, D.O., MBA of Strive Health
- Fahd Al-Saghir, M.D. of Michigan Kidney Consultants
- Manish Tanna, M.D. of Nephrology Associates of Northern Illinois and Indiana
What You Will Learn
Three leading nephrologists discuss SGLT2 adoption, technology’s role in cross-care collaboration and early cardiometabolic intervention. Essential viewing for clinical leaders, payor decision-makers and benefit program designers positioning their organizations for 2026.
Access the Video
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