Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Episode: The Future of Value-Based Care with Advocate Health and PointClickCare
Date: August 21, 2025
Guests: Robin Roberts (Director, Health IT Regulatory Affairs, PointClickCare)
Dr. Jennifer Brady (Chief Medical Officer, Enterprise Population Health, Advocate Health)
Host: Lucas Voss

Overview

This episode explores the dynamic future of value-based care (VBC) in the U.S. healthcare system. Host Lucas Voss leads a discussion with Dr. Jennifer Brady of Advocate Health and Robin Roberts of PointClickCare, unpacking the evolving definitions, current strategies, policy implications, and practical technologies that are shaping the VBC landscape. Key themes include care coordination, the increasing importance of data-driven strategies, the growing integration of technology, and predictions for regulatory shifts ahead.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Defining Value-Based Care (VBC)

• Shifting Focus:
  Dr. Brady defines VBC as a movement from “paying for volumes to paying for outcomes.” The focus is on prevention, care coordination, and effective chronic disease management, rather than transactional care.
  • “Value based care at its core is about transforming how we pay for and deliver healthcare... focusing on keeping people healthy through prevention, care coordination and effective management of chronic conditions.” — Dr. Jennifer Brady (03:06)
• Why It Matters:
  U.S. spending outpaces global peers, yet outcomes lag. Escalating costs and complex patient needs demand sustainable and truly patient-centered solutions.

2. Policy & Regulatory Environment

• Bipartisan Momentum:
  Robin Roberts highlights VBC’s bipartisan support, spanning Medicare, Medicaid, and MA plans.
  • “VBC is really bipartisan. From Medicare to Medicaid, the MA plans, it's incredibly prevalent.” — Robin Roberts (05:00)
• Building Resilience:
  Long-term strategies must leverage data-driven systems and intentional workflows that foster both efficiency and meaningful, proactive patient engagement.

3. Data and Technology as Enablers

• Integrated Data:
  Dr. Brady details the power of merging clinical and claims data, leading to actionable insights and the ability to anticipate and intervene at “impactable moments.”
  • Example: Targeting care transitions from acute settings to home using electronic engagement and rapid triage.
  • “Now we're able to leverage technology... asking them questions, and then if we identify a need, our care manager connects with them within two hours of getting that ping.” — Dr. Jennifer Brady (07:42)
• Proactive Outreach:
  Roberts notes that technology must transition care teams from “dialing for dollars” to directed, intentional outreach with clear objectives.
  • “Cost is accrued when the patient is not following up... That's no longer an excuse. Having the systems and tools to succeed in VBC and knowing who to touch during the day, how do we stratify that population?” — Robin Roberts (08:55)

4. Emerging Trends & The Road Ahead

• Expanding Beyond Primary Care:
  The traditional primary care-centric model is evolving; specialists play a growing role in risk-based contracts and bundled payment models.
  • “New models are really trying to engage specialists in addition to primary care providers. And one way... is through bundles.” — Dr. Jennifer Brady (11:18)
• Pace of Change:
  Expect continued rollout—and rapid testing—of new models. CMS aims for 100% of beneficiaries in VBC arrangements by 2030, and commercial payers tend to follow their lead.
  • “VBC is not going away... The pace at which these models come out or get thrown away if they don't work is going to just, you know, go up.” — Robin Roberts (12:40)

5. Keys to Success

• Ease for Care Teams:
  Solutions must make clinicians’ work easier, not harder. Value for patients, providers, and the health system must be clear.

  • “It can't be additional work that you ask them to do... Will it bring value to the providers?” — Dr. Jennifer Brady (14:04)
  • Example: Giving ED physicians instant access to skilled nursing home patient data increased efficiency and was quickly embraced.

• Continuous Process:
  Roberts closes emphasizing that VBC is “a process, not an event”—long-term, iterative, and evolving.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Future of VBC:
  • “CMS has the goal of having 100% of their beneficiaries in a value based arrangement by 2030.” — Dr. Jennifer Brady (11:18)
• On Technology and Data:
  • “Having the technology to tell you what's going on with that individual at any given point in time is just a critical driver to VBC success.” — Robin Roberts (09:54)
• On Success Factors:
  • “Make sure you answer the questions. Am I making it more difficult on the provider or am I making it easier?” — Dr. Jennifer Brady (15:04)
• On the Nature of VBC:
  • “VBC is a process, not an event.” — Robin Roberts (15:21)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:42] Introductions & Backgrounds
• [03:06] What Does Value-Based Care Mean?
• [05:00] Building Resilient Strategies in A Changing Regulatory Landscape
• [06:21] Creating and Leveraging “Impactable Moments”
• [08:55] Strategic Capabilities and Data’s Role in VBC
• [11:18] Anticipated Shifts: Regulatory and Clinical Trends
• [14:04] Making VBC Easier for Care Teams — Practical Examples
• [15:21] Final Thoughts: VBC as an Ongoing Process

Summary

This episode offers a concise yet deep exploration of value-based care in 2025, spotlighting the drivers, challenges, and opportunities ahead. Both guests provide practical examples and high-level insights into policy, technology, and operational strategies. The discussion underscores that success in value-based care hinges on actionable data, the integration of intelligent technology, and above all, making it easier—not harder—for clinicians to care for complex patients. The consensus: VBC is only gaining momentum, and preparation today is essential for success in tomorrow’s healthcare landscape.