What if one of the most effective ways to improve healthcare outcomes isn’t treating more patients, but focusing more attention on the patients who need it most?

In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Satya Sarma on The Exam Room, we discuss one of the most important realities of value-based care:

Approximately 20% of patients account for nearly 80% of healthcare costs.

But this isn’t really a conversation about cost.

It’s a conversation about identifying patients at the greatest risk for poor outcomes and ensuring they receive the support, follow-up, and engagement they need before a crisis occurs.

Some key takeaways from the episode:

✅ Value-based care requires a fundamentally different mindset than fee-for-service medicine.

✅ High-risk patients often need proactive outreach—not just reactive care.

✅ Data alone isn’t enough; organizations need workflows that turn insights into action.

✅ Transitions of care after an emergency room visit or hospitalization are critical opportunities to improve outcomes.

✅ Patient engagement can prevent avoidable complications, hospitalizations, and unnecessary healthcare utilization.

One insight that stood out:

“The first step is making sure these patients are engaged in care.” — Dr. Satya Sarma

When healthcare teams focus on understanding what patients need, and create systems designed to meet those needs—everyone benefits.

The conversation is a powerful reminder that value-based care isn’t simply a reimbursement model. It’s a different way of thinking about relationships, accountability, and the role healthcare plays in helping people live healthier lives.

🎧 Listen to Part 2 of our three-part series with Dr. Satya Sarma on The Exam Room.

Dr. Satya Sarma is a physician leader and healthcare executive with deep expertise in population health, public health strategy, and innovative care models. Throughout her career, she has held key leadership roles across government, payer organizations, and academia, consistently advancing initiatives that improve health outcomes while reducing costs.

Dr. Sarma currently serves as Medical Director at ABC Network, where she supports value-based care initiatives and works closely with health centers to drive quality performance, care coordination, and patient-centered outcomes. Her prior roles include Vice President at Premera Blue Cross, where she oversaw utilization and case management for more than 2 million members, and Medical Director at AHCCCS, where she helped shape Medicaid strategies across Arizona. Her work reflects a strong commitment to innovation, including the integration of technology and AI to enhance care delivery and population health outcomes. Dr. Sarma’s career is grounded in a passion for health equity, community engagement, and building sustainable, high-impact healthcare solutions.