In this episode of BRight Minds in Healthcare Delivery, host Eric Tower interviews Dr. Vishnukamal Golla, the medical director for value transformation at Evolent, a specialty and primary care enablement company. They discuss evolution and innovation in value-based care (“VBC”), and the headwinds impacting implementation of VBC in multi-specialty groups. Key challenges in operationalizing VBC are also examined, including the need for support from various players in the healthcare continuum, managing perverse incentives, and the critical role of primary care. They also talk about the CMS mandate aiming for a majority of the Medicare population to be in a goal relationship by 2030, and the necessary steps to achieve this. The episode concludes with a look at transitioning specialty care from fee-for-service to VBC over the next five to 10 years.

At Evolent, Dr. Golla leads the implementation of innovative value-based care models in specialty care. In helping Evolent manage approximately $1 billion of risk-based oncology and cardiology spend, Dr. Golla oversees the development of alternative payment models, prioritizing exceptional patient outcomes through innovative strategies and cost-effective treatment pathways. Furthermore, Dr. Golla is a passionate Urologist who is currently on faculty in the Duke Department of Urology and the Durham VA.