Bundles 101: An Education in Value-Based Care
Value-based care is a big idea that many people associate with Medicare or Medicaid. But what about value-based care in commercial insurance? In Tennessee, care bundles deliver value-based solutions to employers and their workers.
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About The Guest
Brittany Cunningham is the founder and resident expert on value-based care programs at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) that Tennessee employers use to provide better care at lower costs.
She has led efforts to develop, implement and monitor clinical programs that increase quality and decrease cost, as well as drive care standardization in various departments and diagnosis groups.
She is an expert on how physician-led bundles differ from other options in the market, and what employers and patients should expect from alternative health care models, including direct-to-employer contracts and value-based bundled care. In addition to her leadership at VUMC, Dr. Cunningham serves on the Medtronic Strategic Healthcare Advisory Board and the HFMA Value-Based Healthcare Innovation Council.
Episode Description
On this episode of Quality Matters, host Andy Reynolds is joined by Brittany Cunningham, Vice President of Episodes of Care and Population Health at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, to discuss how value-based care is reshaping health care through MyHealth Bundles. By packaging treatments into predictable, all-inclusive bundles, employers save money, patients avoid surprise bills and providers can focus on delivering high-quality care instead of navigating insurance complexities.
But does bundling mean cutting corners? Brittany sets the record straight: The model eliminates waste, not necessary care. With lower C-section rates, near-zero infection rates for joint replacements and faster recovery times for spinal surgeries, bundle results are strong. Employers love the savings, patients love the simplicity and providers appreciate the shift from restrictive insurance rules to evidence-based care.
So why isn’t this standard everywhere? Andy and Brittany explore the hurdles, from outdated billing systems to awareness among employers. NCQA’s Meghan Malone-Moses joins the conversation to share insights on why value-based care is the future—and how more health care systems to catch up. Tune in for a conversation that could change how you see health care.
A lot of employers don’t understand what it means to take value-based care on. The biggest thing is that education of what value-based care is and that the provider is taking on the risk. They are paying less than what they would pay in fee-for-service and they are getting the same or even higher outcomes for their members.
Timestamps
(00:29) Introducing MyHealth Bundles
(02:11) Benefits and Challenges of MyHealth Bundles
(04:10) Predictability and Utilization in Bundled Care
(09:17) Challenges in Implementing Commercial Bundles
(10:30) When Bundles = Peace of Mind
(13:02) How Employers View Value-Based Care