DaVita Inc, a provider of dialysis services, will purchase and manage WellSpan's outpatient dialysis centers in York and Littlestown, according to a news release.

WellSpan Health and DaVita Inc., of Denver, Colo., are finalizing plans and expect a May effective date, pending regulatory approvals.

The relationship will help expand and enhance the caliber of services for WellSpan patients with chronic kidney disease, according to a the release.

WellSpan will continue to own the inpatient dialysis program at York Hospital, but the services and staff there and at the WellSpan Surgery and Rehabilitation Hospital and WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital will be managed by DaVita. WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital already has a similar relationship.

Those who require dialysis treatment and don't have sufficient health insurance coverage would continue to receive care at DaVita facilities. DaVita already works with Lancaster General Health, Good Samaritan Hospital in Lebanon and Holy Spirit Health System in Camp Hill.

WellSpan cares for more than 250 dialysis patients each year, according to the release, and decided to work with DaVita in part because of increased difficulty recruiting specialized staff members, the importance of investing in the growing trend of home dialysis and continued reductions in Medicare reimbursement for dialysis.

WellSpan Dialysis has 87 staff members who have all been offered employment by Davita or WellSpan, according to a news release.

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