Equity method and other investments	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
Equity method and other investments	Equity method and other investments Equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values are carried on the cost or equity method, as applicable. The Company maintains equity method investments in nonconsolidated investees in both its DaVita Kidney Care (Kidney Care) and DMG lines of business, as well as minor cost method investments in private securities of certain other healthcare businesses. The Company classifies its non-marketable cost- and equity method investments as equity method and other investments on its balance sheet. Equity method and other investments in nonconsolidated businesses were $545,053 and $502,389 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The increase in these equity investments was primarily due to foreign exchange valuation changes, which caused an increase in the Company's investment in DaVita Care Pte. Ltd. (the APAC JV). During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company recognized equity investment income of $2,697 and $5,119, respectively, from equity method investments in nonconsolidated businesses. Effective as of August 1, 2016, the Company deconsolidated its Asia Pacific dialysis business held by the APAC JV, adjusted its retained investment in the APAC JV to estimated fair value at that time, and has accounted for this retained investment on the equity method since that time. The Company’s partners in the APAC JV made an additional scheduled aggregate capital contribution of $100,000 to the APAC JV effective August 1, 2017. Subsequent to that contribution, the Company now holds a 60% voting interest and a 73.3% current economic interest in the APAC JV. Based on the governance structure and voting rights established for the APAC JV, certain key decisions affecting the joint venture’s operations are no longer at the unilateral discretion of the Company, but rather are shared with the other noncontrolling investors. These other noncontrolling investors now collectively hold a 40% voting interest and a 26.7% current economic interest in the APAC JV, and their economic interests are expected to increase to match their voting interests in the joint venture as they make additional subscribed capital contributions through August 1, 2019. Each of these other noncontrolling investors also holds reserved approval rights over certain key decisions affecting the joint venture’s operations. As a result, the Company has no longer consolidated the APAC JV since its formation on August 1, 2016.

Equity method and other investments

Equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values are carried on the cost or equity method, as applicable. The Company maintains equity method investments in nonconsolidated investees in both its DaVita Kidney Care (Kidney Care) and DMG lines of business, as well as minor cost method investments in private securities of certain other healthcare businesses. The Company classifies its non-marketable cost- and equity method investments as equity method and other investments on its balance sheet.

Equity method and other investments in nonconsolidated businesses were $545,053 and $502,389 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The increase in these equity investments was primarily due to foreign exchange valuation changes, which caused an increase in the Company's investment in DaVita Care Pte. Ltd. (the APAC JV). During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company recognized equity investment income of $2,697 and $5,119, respectively, from equity method investments in nonconsolidated businesses.

Effective as of August 1, 2016, the Company deconsolidated its Asia Pacific dialysis business held by the APAC JV, adjusted its retained investment in the APAC JV to estimated fair value at that time, and has accounted for this retained investment on the equity method since that time.

The Company’s partners in the APAC JV made an additional scheduled aggregate capital contribution of $100,000 to the APAC JV effective August 1, 2017. Subsequent to that contribution, the Company now holds a 60% voting interest and a 73.3% current economic interest in the APAC JV. Based on the governance structure and voting rights established for the APAC JV, certain key decisions affecting the joint venture’s operations are no longer at the unilateral discretion of the Company, but rather are shared with the other noncontrolling investors.

These other noncontrolling investors now collectively hold a 40% voting interest and a 26.7% current economic interest in the APAC JV, and their economic interests are expected to increase to match their voting interests in the joint venture as they make additional subscribed capital contributions through August 1, 2019. Each of these other noncontrolling investors also holds reserved approval rights over certain key decisions affecting the joint venture’s operations. As a result, the Company has no longer consolidated the APAC JV since its formation on August 1, 2016.