What is "value-based care"?

Value-based care is a healthcare delivery model in which providers are compensated based on the health outcomes they achieve for their patients, rather than the volume of services provided. This approach incentivizes healthcare professionals to focus on the overall health and well-being of patients, promoting higher quality care while also aiming to reduce unnecessary procedures and costs associated with fragmented or excessive service delivery. The alignment of payment with patient outcomes encourages providers to prioritize preventive care and chronic disease management, ultimately fostering better efficiency and effectiveness in healthcare systems.

In contrast to other models, such as the one where patients pay a flat fee regardless of services received, value-based care emphasizes the significance of the outcomes achieved rather than merely the amount of care delivered. Additionally, methods that compensate healthcare providers based on the number of patients treated typically lead to an increased emphasis on quantity rather than quality. Finally, a model that is focused solely on reducing costs may neglect essential aspects of patient care quality and outcomes, which is counterproductive to the goals of value-based care.