Value-based care (VBC) is a healthcare delivery model that rewards better outcomes – not more visits. It focuses on keeping patients healthy through proactive care, coordination across settings and addressing health conditions early.
In a system under strain from rising costs, physician burnout and an aging population, value-based care isn’t just an alternative, it’s a necessity.
At agilon health, we partner with primary care physician (PCP) groups to help them move into a total cost of care model built specifically for senior patients. With more than 10,000 Americans aging into Medicare every day, the need for proactive, coordinated care has never been more urgent.
Why Value-Based Care Matters
Traditional fee-for-service medicine rewards activity, not outcomes. Physicians are paid based on how many visits, tests or procedures they perform—regardless of whether patients get healthier.
Value-based care flips that equation.
- For patients, it means fewer hospitalizations, better chronic disease management, and care that’s focused on long-term wellness.
- For physicians, it means more time with patients, fewer administrative burdens and aligned incentives that support thoughtful, proactive care.
- For the system, it means lower total costs driven by prevention instead of expensive, reactive treatment.
At its best, VBC is about wellness over illness—and prevention over reactive or emergency care.
How Value-Based Care Works in Practice
In value-based arrangements, physicians are supported—and rewarded—for outcomes like keeping seniors out of the hospital, closing care gaps and managing complex conditions effectively over time. This often includes predictable monthly payments, shared accountability for quality, and data-driven insights to guide care decisions.
When a primary care physician helps a patient with diabetes control blood sugar and avoid an emergency admission, that’s value-based care in action.
Why Primary Care Is the Center
Primary care physicians are uniquely positioned to lead this transformation. They know their patients best. They see the full picture—not just isolated episodes of care.
At agilon, we believe primary care physicians should be the quarterbacks of care for senior patients. That means supporting them with data, technology care teams and financial models that allow them to focus on what matters most: patients.
Our Commitment
agilon health is a partner—not an owner. We empower physician groups to remain independent while transitioning to value. Together, we’re building a more sustainable future for physicians and better outcomes for the communities they serve.
Value-based care isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what matters.
