Value-based care (VBC) delivered a wave of developments in June 2025, from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) policy proposals to market data to strategic leadership changes. The following stories reflect how payers, providers, and tech leaders are increasingly investing in and shifting toward outcomes-based care models.
Let’s get into it.
1. CMS proposes home health payment cut and VBP expansion
The scoop: CMS proposed a 6.4% reduction in 2026 home health payments while expanding its Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) model. The updates introduce new performance metrics like Medicare Spending per Beneficiary and patient mobility improvements. [June 30]
Why it matters: This proposal signals CMS’s push to align post-acute care payments with value, not just volume. These changes may affect access to care for patients, including those being discharged from hospitals.
2. Capitated risk models surge in national VBC adoption
The scoop: A June 2025 report from Innovaccer and the National Association of ACO’s (NAACOS) revealed that over 60% of health organizations expect higher VBC revenue this year, with capitated models doubling since 2021. About 14% of all healthcare payments now flow through fully capitated arrangements. [June 5]
Why it matters: Payers and providers are increasingly embracing full-risk and partial-risk contracts. However, numerous barriers to VBC adoption remain. Respondents from the 2025 Innovaccer/NAACOS report said greater financial support and incentives were needed, plus improved data-sharing capabilities with payers and better technology solutions.
3. UnitedHealth appoints VBC champion as Optum Health CEO
The scoop: UnitedHealth Group named Patrick Conway, MD, as the new CEO of Optum Health. Conway is known for his work at CMS and Blue Cross NC and brings deep experience in alternative payment models and accountable care. [June 26]
Why it matters: A spokesperson for UnitedHealth said Conway’s experience in value-based care fueled the payer’s decision. This underscores UnitedHealth’s commitment to growing VBC across primary care, Medicare Advantage, and payer-provider integrations.
4. AMA highlights role of ongoing learning in VBC success
The scoop: The American Medical Association (AMA) emphasized how continuous learning programs are helping physicians adapt to value-based care environments. The news article expresses the need for clinical teams to understand data, workflows, and quality metrics to succeed in today’s hybrid payment models. [June 30]
Why it matters: As VBC models grow, educational tools are imperative. This article serves as a reminder that outcomes-driven success depends on clinician readiness.
Conclusion
The past month reinforced a clear trend: value-based care is scaling – rapidly. From policy and payments to leadership and tech, June 2025 showed that stakeholders are investing in infrastructure to sustain outcomes-based models. Keep an eye on risk arrangements, regulatory shifts, and AI-driven care enablement in the months ahead.
