Easier Said Than Done: Why Scaling Up Value-Based Care is So Hard (and What We Can Do About It)

There is increasing consensus that value-based care (VBC) holds multi-dimensional promise to improve care delivery, reduce costs, and increase physician satisfaction. In primary care, for example, CenterWell – the largest provider of senior primary care – has achieved significantly improved health and cost outcomes with a patient-centered VBC approach. It’s good news, and there is no lack of desire from providers and payers to lean in.

But when it comes to actually setting up and managing VBC programs, it is a case of “easier said than done.” Few medical practices possess the resources and expertise needed to bear the complex suite of responsibilities that VBC demands. Meanwhile, payers have difficulty analyzing performance and contracting across various providers, which makes establishing uniform, predictable, and successful VBC outcomes incredibly challenging.