Value-Based Care

Summary

Value-based care is a concept used by Medicare, healthcare professionals, and providers to describe payment arrangements that prioritize quality of care, patient outcomes, provider performance, and the overall patient experience. Unlike traditional fee-for-service models, value-based care emphasizes integrated care, where healthcare providers collaborate to address the comprehensive needs of a person, including physical, mental, behavioral, and social aspects of health. This holistic approach treats individuals as whole persons, rather than focusing solely on a specific illness or disease.

As value-based care places a strong emphasis on improving patient outcomes, it naturally prompts discussions about the role of dietitians in promoting positive health, particularly for those with chronic diseases. Despite the clear benefits of incorporating dietitians into these care models, they are still seldom given direct opportunities to actively participate in value-based care arrangements, limiting their potential impact on enhancing overall health outcomes.