Two renal dialysis companies will merge

Two Williamson County, TN-based dialysis companies are merging in hopes of becoming more competitive in an industry facing changes in how Medicare pays to provide care for people with kidney disease. The parent of Brentwood, TN-based Renal Advantage Inc. said it agreed to buy National Renal Alliance LLC of Franklin, TN, in a deal that it said would add about $100 million in annual revenues. After the deal closes, Renal Advantage's parent RA Group Holdings Inc. will serve 10,500 patients in 136 dialysis centers in 18 states.