VBCA Podcast
The Value Based Care Advisory (VBCA) Podcast is a solution-focused platform dedicated to advancing the transformation of healthcare through value-based care (VBC) models. Our mission is to break down complex healthcare topics into accessible, actionable insights for leaders, entrepreneurs, engaged consumers, and anyone passionate about meaningful change in healthcare. By challenging the healthcare industrial complex, we provide tools, strategies, and expert perspectives that empower our listeners to navigate and accelerate the shift toward better outcomes, lower costs, and improved patient experiences. Each episode delivers thought-provoking discussions and practical advice from industry experts, spotlighting innovative approaches to healthcare reform and highlighting voices that are often overlooked in traditional dialogues. Whether you're a healthcare executive, provider, payer, policy influencer, entrepreneur, or informed patient, we aim to inspire new ideas and support you in driving transformation in the healthcare space. Powered by Carenodes.
Choose your favorite podcast player
RSS Feed Latest Episode 
Apple Podcasts Apple Podcasts 
Spotify Spotify 
YouTube YouTube 
Amazon Music Amazon Music 
iHeartRadio iHeartRadio 
Pandora Pandora 
Goodpods Goodpods 
Castbox Castbox 
PlayerFM PlayerFM 
Podchaser Podchaser 
Audible Audible 
Podcast Addict Podcast Addict 
Deezer Deezer 
JioSaavn JioSaavn 
Youtube Music Youtube Music 
PocketCasts PocketCasts
Bonus: 5 Contract Clauses Killing Your Reimbursement
This bonus episode is the full recording of Alex Yarijanian's HBMA continuing-education webinar. It runs longer than a standard VBCA episode — treat it as a resource, not a highlight reel.
Apple Podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Spotify YouTube YouTube Amazon Music Amazon Music iHeartRadio iHeartRadio Pandora Pandora Goodpods Goodpods Castbox Castbox PlayerFM PlayerFM Podchaser Podchaser Audible Audible Podcast Addict Podcast Addict Deezer Deezer JioSaavn JioSaavn Youtube Music Youtube Music PocketCasts PocketCasts Recent
Sept. 3, 2026
Who pays when H.R. 1 hits Medicare? #healthcare #RISEWest2026
Medicare Advantage is entering a new era—and the industry is feeling the pressure. We’re at RISE West 2026 asking leaders how H.R. 1 will reshape healthcare and who ultimately gets left holding the bag. #medicareadvantage #HR1 #RISEWest2026 #ValueBasedCare #VBCAPodcast #shortsfeed #healsact #expandhealth #strengtheningmedicare #hcbs #essentialcoverage #ahei
Sept. 1, 2026
Someone asked me: Volume drives power
Learn how to use health plan contracts to your advantage. Discover exactly how many patients you need to gain leverage when negotiating with insurance providers. Understanding your provider market power begins with knowing your data. If you are in primary care, having 500 or more patients gives you the leverage health plans rely on to sell their products. Specialty groups require a different threshold, typically 1,500 or more patients per provider, to command similar influence. This breakdown c
Aug. 31, 2026
When you're underpaid, and you know it
Someone asked me: to doctors are the same but getting paid different rates. How do I get that fixed? Stop settling for lower pay when negotiating with Renown Health System. Learn how to leverage market data to secure parity. Most providers fail to negotiate pay rate effectively because they ignore the specific financial constraints of their employer. This guide focuses on navigating the internal hurdles that often stall contract discussions, including the specific cost pressures like the 800 g
28
Aug. 30, 2026
Bonus: 5 Contract Clauses Killing Your Reimbursement
This bonus episode is the full recording of Alex Yarijanian's HBMA continuing-education webinar. It runs longer than a standard VBCA episode — treat it as a resource, not a highlight reel.
Aug. 29, 2026
Is your C-section driven by profit? #healthcare #medicalsystem #csection
Hospitals get paid significantly more for C-sections than vaginal births — and that incentive shapes care. In this 51-second breakdown, we explain why reimbursement models pay more for surgical deliveries, why postpartum care often goes unpaid, and what it means for patients navigating maternity care and hospital billing. Ask your hospital before delivery: • What is your C-section rate? • How is vaginal delivery vs c section delivery reimbursed? • What postpartum support is actually covered?
Aug. 28, 2026
Could the Lindsay Clancy tragedy have been prevented? #analysis #mentalhealth
Are crisis hotline protocols failing those in a mental health crisis? This breakdown examines the Lindsay Clancy case and the critical questions surrounding emergency screening and admission criteria. We analyze the tension between precision and safety in high-stakes suicide prevention services. Subscribe for more objective legal and healthcare analysis.
Aug. 27, 2026
Everything stopped when this happened #LindsayClancy #courtroom #trial
Can a screen really capture the full weight of depression? We explore the clinical reality of telemedicine and why remote appointments often miss the non-verbal cues that matter most. If you've felt isolated during virtual therapy sessions, this breakdown explains why those missing physical connections impact your mental health recovery. Learn to spot these communication gaps so you can take control of your care plan. Hit subscribe to stay informed on mental health advocacy.
Aug. 27, 2026
How 17 minutes led to a catastrophe #lindsayclancy #truecrime #investigation
Is a 17-minute psychiatric appointment enough to manage a crisis? We break down the systemic issues behind short therapy sessions and why current healthcare scheduling often fails patients. This analysis questions the effectiveness of brief clinical check-ins and the billing practices driving them. Share your thoughts on modern mental health care in the comments below.
Recent Blog Posts
Sept. 1, 2026
Access Without Coordination: The Hidden Crisis in Postpartum Mental Healthcare
Welcome back to the blog companion for the podcast. If you listened to our latest audio episode, you know we are tackling one of the most difficult and structural conversations we have ever hosted on this platform. Today, we are expanding heavily on…
Sept. 1, 2026
How to Audit Payer Contracts for Ambiguous Effective Dates and Missing Rate Updates
When medical billing teams face persistent underpayments, they typically look for coding errors or clearinghouse rejections at the claims desk. However, many systemic revenue leaks originate upstream in payer contract language, specifically through …
Sept. 1, 2026
Bonus Episode — HBMA Webinar Recording
This bonus episode is a recording of my recent webinar with HBMA, which was actually qualified for — folks did receive continuing education credits. I always wanted to be a professor, folks — getting credits from my lessons gives me particular pl…
About the Host
Alex Yarijanian
Welcome to the Value-Based Care Advisory Podcast (VBCA Podcast), where host Alex Yarijanian takes you behind the scenes of healthcare's most pressing challenges and transformative breakthroughs. A recognized thought leader with over 15 years of experience, Alex has revolutionized payer-provider relations, shaped the future of value-based care, and led digital health innovations that have impacted millions of lives nationwide.
As the CEO and founder of Carenodes, Alex is a trailblazer in creating healthcare systems that are not only innovative but also equitable and impactful. From negotiating groundbreaking contracts that saved Medicaid plans $58 million to expanding access to maternal and youth mental health care across 43 states, his work embodies the belief that healthcare is a right, not a privilege.
Alex's career is a blend of bold strategy and heartfelt advocacy. He's the driving force behind operational overhauls in behavioral health, an architect of cutting-edge digital health solutions, and a trusted advisor to national healthcare boards. Fluent in English, Persian, and Armenian, Alex brings a global lens to healthcare innovation, connecting the dots between policy, technology, and the human experience.
Tune in as Alex combines sharp insights, captivating storytelling, and industry expertise to spotlight the innovators and disruptors redefining healthcare. Whether you're a policymaker, a clinician, or simply a curious mind, the VBCA Podcast promises to inspire, inform, and ignite your passion for building a healthier future.