Member May 2026: Introduction to the Core Principles of Value-Based Spine Care in PM&R-Session Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The session introduced the core principles of value-based spine care through a PM&R lens. Presenters Dr. Zach Carter and Dr. Eubanks explained that value in healthcare means outcomes per dollar spent, but emphasized that true value must be patient-centered, not just payer-centered. They contrasted fee-for-service payment models, which reward volume and procedures, with value-based models that reward functional recovery, coordination, and longitudinal care.<br /><br />A major theme was that spine care often becomes fragmented and over-medicalized: unnecessary imaging, injections, and surgery can increase cost without improving outcomes. The speakers argued that physiatrists are uniquely positioned to lead a shift toward more holistic, biopsychosocial care because PM&R already emphasizes function, multidisciplinary coordination, and long-term management.<br /><br />They discussed more meaningful outcome measures beyond pain scores, including function, patient experience, return to work, community participation, safety, and registry-based tracking. They also highlighted emerging CMS payment models, such as bundled payments and ambulatory specialty models, as important drivers of change.<br /><br />The talk ended with practical implementation ideas: build registries, integrate PROMIS and other patient-reported outcomes into EHR workflows, educate staff and patients, strengthen conservative-first triage, and partner with administrators using data. Audience members shared examples of lifestyle medicine, shared medical appointments, and the importance of patient education and system navigation. Overall, the session framed value-based spine care as an opportunity for PM&R to improve outcomes, reduce unnecessary utilization, and lead systemic change.

Keywords

value-based spine care

PM&R

patient-centered outcomes

fee-for-service

functional recovery

biopsychosocial care

spine care fragmentation

patient-reported outcomes

CMS payment models

bundled payments

conservative-first triage