Crazy in Love... with Value-Based Care

Hey there, fellow physicians, clinicians, APPs, CMOs, CEOs, practice implementation experts, and everyone else!

Before we dive into this whole "falling in love with VBC" thing, let's stop before we even start. I know what you're thinking. Some of you are probably rolling your eyes at another VBC cheerleader telling you how amazing this is going to be. (I really wanted to be a cheerleader in high school, but I can't do a high kick, a split, and cartwheel... you get the point.)

Trust me, I've heard ALL the objections. In fact, let me guess what's running through your head right now:

Sound familiar? Yeah, I thought so. Because I've had these exact conversations with so many physicians, and guess what? These concerns are VALID. They're real challenges that deserve real answers.

So before I channel my inner Beyoncé (aka Sasha Fierce) and tell you about falling crazy in love with VBC, let me address these concerns head-on. Because if we're going to do this relationship thing, we need to start with honesty.

The Real Talk Section (AKA "Let's Get This Out of the Way")

"It's All Paperwork and Red Tape"

Look, I'm not going to lie to you and say VBC doesn't involve documentation. It does. But here's the thing - you're already documenting everything anyway for fee-for-service billing, malpractice protection, and basic patient care.

The difference with VBC is that your documentation actually SERVES a purpose beyond just getting paid. When you document that diabetes education session or that care coordination call, it's not just busy work - it's proof that you're providing the kind of comprehensive care that actually improves outcomes.

The reality check: Yes, there's paperwork. But it's paperwork with a purpose, not just paperwork for paperwork's sake.

"Quality Measures Don't Capture Real Care"

This one hits close to home because you're absolutely right - HEDIS measures and quality metrics are blunt instruments. They don't capture the 2 AM phone call you made to talk a patient through a panic attack, or the extra 20 minutes you spent with the elderly patient who just needed someone to listen.

But here's what I've learned: Quality measures aren't meant to capture everything you do. They're meant to capture the things we KNOW make a difference for population health. That diabetic eye exam? That mammogram screening? That medication adherence conversation? These aren't just checkboxes - they're evidence-based interventions that save lives.

The reality check: Quality measures don't tell the whole story, but they tell an important part of it.

"We're Taking on Financial Risk We Can't Control"

This is the big one, isn't it? And honestly, this fear is completely justified. You can't control whether your patients take their medications, show up for appointments, or follow your recommendations. You can't control their social determinants of health, their insurance coverage, or their family dynamics.

But here's what you CAN control: the systems and processes in your practice that give patients the best possible chance of success. You can control whether you have effective care coordination, whether you're identifying and closing care gaps, whether your team is working together effectively.

The reality check: VBC isn't about controlling patient behavior - it's about optimizing the things within your control to give patients the best shot at good outcomes.

"The Tech is Clunky and Slows Us Down"

Oh, don't even get me started on EHRs! I've seen physicians nearly throw their computers across the room trying to navigate poorly designed workflows. The technology is often terrible, and it does slow you down.

But here are the facts - whether you're in fee-for-service or VBC, you're stuck with that same clunky EHR. The question is: are you going to make it work FOR you or AGAINST you? In VBC, at least there's incentive to optimize your workflows because efficiency actually impacts your bottom line.

The reality check: The tech isn't great, but you can learn to make it work better for VBC goals.

"Is This Really the Future, or Just Another Fad?"

I get it. You've seen healthcare trends come and go. Remember when everyone was talking about accountable care organizations? Or meaningful use? Or population health management? (Oh wait, we're still talking about all of those...)

Here's the thing about VBC - it's not going away because the math is simple: healthcare costs are unsustainable, and fee-for-service incentivizes volume over value. Every major payer, including Medicare, is moving toward value-based models because they have to.

The reality check: VBC isn't a fad - it's a financial necessity for the healthcare system.

Okay, Now Let's Talk About Falling in Love

Now that we've gotten the real talk out of the way, let me tell you why I'm actually crazy in love with value-based care - and why you might be too, once you get past the initial resistance.

Stage 1: The Awkward First Date ("What Have I Gotten Myself Into?")

Remember your first VBC contract? That moment when you're staring at pages of quality measures, risk adjustment codes, and performance benchmarks thinking, "What language is this written in?"

This is like that first date where you're both trying too hard, everything feels forced, and you're wondering if you made a huge mistake. You're documenting everything twice, your staff is confused, and you're pretty sure you're losing money.

Been there. When I first started working with practices transitioning to VBC, this was everyone's experience. The learning curve is real, and it's steep.

But here's what I learned from helping physicians through this stage: The awkwardness is temporary. The key is having realistic expectations and focusing on one thing at a time.

Stage 2: Getting Comfortable ("Hey, This Isn't So Bad")

After a few months, something shifts. You start to see patterns in your data. Your care coordinator actually helps you identify patients who need follow-up. Your team starts working together more effectively because everyone understands the shared goals.

This is like that moment in a relationship when you stop trying to impress each other and start being yourselves. You realize that VBC isn't about changing who you are as a physician - it's about being more intentional about the care you were already trying to provide.

The breakthrough moment: When you realize that VBC tools actually help you take better care of patients, not just check boxes.

Stage 3: True Love ("I Can't Imagine Doing This Any Other Way")

This is where the magic happens. You've optimized your workflows, your team is functioning like a well-oiled machine, and you're actually seeing better patient outcomes AND better financial performance.

But more than that - you remember why you went into medicine in the first place. You're not just treating diseases; you're preventing them. You're not just seeing patients when they're sick; you're keeping them healthy. You're not just working harder; you're working smarter.

The "crazy in love" moment: When you realize that VBC allows you to practice medicine the way you always wanted to - focused on outcomes, supported by data, and rewarded for doing the right thing.

The Real Secret (That Nobody Talks About)

Here's what I've learned from working with physicians across all different practice settings: The ones who succeed in VBC aren't necessarily the smartest or the most tech-savvy. They're the ones who embrace the mindset shift.

VBC isn't about doing more work - it's about doing the right work. It's not about seeing more patients - it's about taking better care of the patients you have. It's not about gaming the system - it's about making the system work for patients.

Your VBC Love Story Starts Here

So, are you ready to give VBC a real chance? Not the grudging, eye-rolling, "I guess I have to do this" approach, but a genuine "let me see what this is really about" approach?

Because here's the truth: You're going to end up in value-based contracts whether you want to or not. The question is whether you're going to approach it as a victim or as someone who's ready to make it work.

My challenge to you: Give VBC the same energy and attention you'd give to any important relationship. Learn about it, invest in it, be patient with the learning curve, and see what happens.

You might just find yourself crazy in love.