Vanderbilt's MyHealth Bundles Power Clinician-Led Value Care

TL;DR

Vanderbilt University Medical Center details its MyHealth Bundles program for value-based care through direct employer partnerships.
Clinician-led bundles cover condition-specific episodes like kidney stones and maternity at fixed prices with patient input.
Program cuts employer costs by millions while improving patient satisfaction and care coordination.

The story at a glance

Vanderbilt University Medical Center clinicians, led by Ruchika Talwar, MD, and colleagues, describe the MyHealth Bundles program, a clinician-designed value-based care model sold directly to self-insured employers for common high-cost conditions.[[1]](https://catalyst.nejm.org/) The article, published in the May 2026 issue of NEJM Catalyst Innovations in Care Delivery, explains program design, implementation, and outcomes as part of broader value-based care discussions.[[1]](https://catalyst.nejm.org/) It highlights how bundles started around 2013 and expanded, driven by employer needs for predictable pricing.[[2]](https://catalyst.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/CAT.25.0103?query=recirc_crossjournalmorepubs)

Key points

Program offers fixed-price bundles for episodes like kidney stones (first U.S. model), maternity, orthopedics, and oncology, covering all care with no or low patient cost-sharing.
Design process involves clinician leadership, patient feedback, and employer collaboration to address pain points such as unpredictable costs and NICU admissions.[[3]](https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/cfo/how-vanderbilts-myhealth-bundles-saved-millions)
Patient navigators coordinate care, schedule appointments, and provide support to reduce complications and readmissions.
From 2020-2022, bundles saved employers and employees nearly $5 million over three years, with high patient satisfaction.
Model waives cost-sharing for many on non-high-deductible plans, eliminating surprise bills and improving access.[[3]](https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/cfo/how-vanderbilts-myhealth-bundles-saved-millions)
Expanded to regional hospitals and Medicare models, showing scalability for specialty value-based care.[[4]](https://employersolutions.vanderbilthealth.com/employer-insights-blog?page=5)

Details and context

The MyHealth Bundles program began as Vanderbilt's response to employer demands for better value in specialty care, evolving from early pilots in 2013 into a direct-to-employer offering around 2019.[[5]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3MvhDqLRhI) Unlike fee-for-service, bundles hold Vanderbilt at risk for the full episode, incentivizing efficient, high-quality care through protocols that cut low-value procedures and ER visits.

For kidney stones, the bundle covers diagnosis to follow-up, led by urologists like Talwar; employers direct employees to Vanderbilt for seamless care.[[6]](https://www.urologytimes.com/view/bundled-payment-program-covers-kidney-stone-care) This clinician-led approach contrasts with top-down payer models, emphasizing listening to partners for tailored bundles.

Reported outcomes include cost savings, fewer complications, and better experience scores, though full article data on metrics like readmission rates remains paywalled.[[3]](https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/cfo/how-vanderbilts-myhealth-bundles-saved-millions) The program fits into U.S. shifts toward value-based payment, with Vanderbilt operationalizing it via a dedicated Episodes of Care office.

Key quotes

"We didn't impose value-based care — we listened." — Ruchika Talwar, MD, on building bundles around employer pain points.[[3]](https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/cfo/how-vanderbilts-myhealth-bundles-saved-millions)

Why it matters

Value-based care models like MyHealth Bundles challenge fee-for-service by tying payments to outcomes, potentially slowing U.S. health spending growth amid rising specialty costs.

Employers gain predictable budgeting and healthier workers, patients get coordinated care without surprise bills, and providers like Vanderbilt retain revenue through innovation.

Watch for wider adoption via employer contracts or Medicare expansion, though success depends on local scalability and data transparency.[[7]](https://www.auanet.org/advocacy/aua-ama-house-of-delegates)