In this special edition of Quality Matters, we explore what three powerful conversations have taught us about one of health care’s most pressing and perplexing questions: What do we know about the economics of care in America, and how can we make substantial, sustainable improvements? We look back at previous episodes of Quality Matters to reflect. 

We begin with health economist Sanjula Jain, who challenges conventional thinking around value-based care and urges a shift toward a more intuitive concept: “value for money.” With real-world examples (think hotels and Costco), she explains why the US health economy needs stability, and what it would take to rebuild trust and deliver real value to patients.

Next, Brittany Cunningham, of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, shares how My Health Bundles help employers rein in costs while improving patient experience and provider satisfaction. Her team’s approach flips the traditional payment model on its head—designing care first and payment second.

And obstetrician Tiffany Inglis, of Elevance Health, takes us inside a groundbreaking program that pairs OB/GYNs with dedicated practice consultants. The result? Dramatic improvement in maternal health outcomes that could affect a staggering 12% of the nation’s births.

Each voice in this episode offers fresh, actionable insight. Together, they offer a roadmap toward a more sustainable—and humane—health care economy. 

Key Quote:

“ Value for money is the ultimate consumer of the service is going to determine that value based off what they are paying. Value-based payment, it's different because value-based payment is ultimately a reimbursement scheme that doesn’t change the total cost of care. Value-based payment is really a policy scheme focused on the provider level, which doesn't even affect the patient or consumer. It's one pool of dollars that is being reallocated. Providers are just reallocating those dollars and actually reducing the total cost of care. Who is benefiting doesn’t actually translate down to the patient or the consumer.”

Sanjula Jain

Time Stamps: 

• (00:25) The Macroeconomics of Health Care
• (8:40) Value-Based Care in Action With Health Bundles
• 14:30) The Economics of Prenatal Care

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