8-K

                                 UNITED STATES
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 8-K

                                CURRENT REPORT

    Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934


    Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):     February 5, 2001
                                                          --------------------


                                  DaVita Inc.
                                  -----------
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware                                  1-4034                  51-0354549
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction           (Commission             (IRS Employer
of incorporation)                      File Number)          Identification No.)



  21250 Hawthorne Boulevard, Suite 800, Torrance, California            90503
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (310) 792-2600
                                                    --------------


          _____________________________________________________
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)


Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

         (c)  Exhibits

         Exhibit No.    Description
         -----------    -----------

             99.1        Press Release dated February 5, 2001


                                  SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



                                         DaVita Inc.
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                                     (Registrant)




Date:  February 5, 2001                   /s/  Steven J. Udicious
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                                   (Signature)
                                         Steven J. Udicious
                                         Vice President, Secretary and
                                         General Counsel

EX-99.1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

                                 [DaVita Logo]


Contact:  LeAnne Zumwalt
          Investor Relations
          DaVita Inc.
          310-750-2072
                                                    For Release February 5, 2001



           DaVita Inc. Announces Cooperation with Government Inquiry


TORRANCE, CA, February 5, 2001, DaVita Inc. (NYSE: DVA) announced today that
representatives of the Civil Division of the United States Attorney's Office for
the Eastern District of Pennsylvania have requested that the Company voluntarily
cooperate in a review of some of the Company's historical practices.  The
representatives indicated that the areas they intend to review include billing
and other operating procedures and the Company's financial relationships with
physicians.  No legal process has been initiated against the Company, nor has
the Company been served with any subpoena.  The government's representatives
stated that they are not making any allegations of wrongdoing at this time, and
that no criminal action against the Company or any individual is contemplated.

The Company will be cooperating with the government's representatives, and will
be voluntarily providing information responsive to their areas of concern.

The Company will host a conference call to discuss this matter on Monday,
February 5, 2001 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time.  The dial-in number will be 800-399-
4406.

"The DaVita team of 12,000 dedicated caregivers is providing excellent care to
our 41,000 dialysis patients, and we will continue to do so.  Our new company
will cooperate with all appropriate government inquiries into the Company's
historical practices," stated Kent Thiry, Chairman and CEO.

DaVita, based in Torrance, California, is the nation's second-largest provider
of dialysis services for patients suffering from chronic kidney failure.  The
Company owns and operates kidney dialysis centers and home peritoneal dialysis
programs in 32 states, as well as Washington, D.C.  It also provides acute
hemodialysis services to inpatients at approximately 285 hospitals.  As of
December 31, 2000, DaVita operated 486 outpatient dialysis facilities serving
41,000 patients, including 4,400 patients in 48 centers under management.