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.
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She Built a Peer Mentorship Program to End Youth Loneliness
Youth Loneliness & Chronic Conditions: The Shared Strength Project
Guest: Esha Mittal, Founder, The Shared Strength Project
Expert Words: Todd May, MD, Vice President & Medical Director, Health Net
Host: Alex Yarijanian
Episode Summary
One in three young people in the U.S. live with a chronic condition, according to the National Library of Medicine — yet almost none of the funding, research, or attention going toward senior loneliness has followed youth loneliness into the room. Esha Mittal
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. 20, 2026
Living with Youth Chronic Illness: It's Lonelier Than You Think
Chronic illness often leads to silent isolation for young people. We discuss why this epidemic is ignored by our health systems. We sit down with Esha Mittal to examine the gap between societal perception and the reality of teen loneliness. While we often frame isolation as a senior issue, one in three young people live with a chronic condition, facing daily challenges that go entirely unnoticed. This conversation highlights why youth mental health requires more than just medical treatment. We
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Sept. 20, 2026
She Built a Peer Mentorship Program to End Youth Loneliness
Youth Loneliness & Chronic Conditions: The Shared Strength Project Guest: Esha Mittal, Founder, The Shared Strength Project Expert Words: Todd May, MD, Vice President & Medical Director, Health Net Host: Alex Yarijanian Episode Summary One in three young people in the U.S. live with a chronic condition, according to the National Library of Medicine — yet almost none of the funding, research, or attention going toward senior loneliness has followed youth loneliness into the room. Esha Mittal
Sept. 11, 2026
Why Your Medicare Advantage Plan is Missing This Critical Care
Why is musculoskeletal care frequently excluded from the modern value-based care conversation? We discuss the gap at RISE West 2026. Scaling patient outcomes requires rethinking how we approach physical health services. We sat down with Yvonne Negrón of Golden Triangle Acupuncture to examine how these bodywork solutions are often overlooked, despite their potential to drastically improve healthcare accessibility for chronic pain patients. Bringing these treatments into a standard practice is a
Sept. 10, 2026
When your friends don't understand your reality #chronicillness #loneliness #relatable
Chronic illness isolation is a silent epidemic among young adults — and it's almost never talked about. Coming soon: our full conversation with Esha Mittal, founder of The Shared Strength Project, on what it's actually like to grow up chronically ill, why peer support changes everything, and why the health system still isn't funding it. Full episode drops soon on VBCA — follow so you don't miss it. #chronicillness #youth #relatable #comingsoon
Sept. 10, 2026
Why you don’t feel acupuncture needles #painrelief #wellness #acupuncturerocks
Many people fear acupuncture pain, but the reality is much gentler. Learn why most patients don't feel the needle insertion. Acupuncture needles are exceptionally thin, often compared to horse hair or a guitar string. Because of this, the process is widely considered a painless acupuncture experience. It is common for patients to be pleasantly surprised when they realize fifteen needles have been placed without them feeling a thing. If you have been avoiding treatment due to needle anxiety, th
Sept. 9, 2026
Why you won't feel a single acupuncture needle #healthtips #acupuncture #suprise #entrepreneur
Is acupuncture pain really a myth? These acupuncture needles are thinner than a guitar string, making the entire acupuncture experience surprisingly gentle. You might not even notice when 15 needles are inserted. Yvonne Negrón is a licensed acupuncturist and the owner of Golden Triangle Acupuncture located in San Diego, California.
Sept. 7, 2026
Loneliness of Chronic Illness: Losing Friends #shorts
Clubbing, drinking... I wanted to join, but my body couldn't keep up. The invites stopped. Losing friendships over chronic illness? It’s a gut punch that lingered for years. A preview of my chat with Esha Mittal on youth isolation driving costs value-based care misses. 🔗 Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/QQlzV6xSYtw #ChronicIllness #Loneliness #YouthMentalHealth #VBCApodcast
Sept. 7, 2026
Why people only care when they see the struggle #kindness #empathy #awareness
People were kinder to me the moment I lost my hair, even though my health hadn't changed. This video explores the visual bias that dictates who receives sympathy and who is ignored. We break down the statistics behind chronic illness prevalence to expose why society struggles to acknowledge suffering that isn't physically obvious. Subscribe for more analysis on the patient experience and comment below on your own experiences with invisible symptoms.
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.