Value Initiative Issue Brief 2: What Does Value Mean?

There has been significant interest in and discussion around what value in health care delivery means. Yet, despite an increasing focus on value, there is no agreed-upon definition or expectation across the health care field. Perspectives vary widely, are at times inconsistent and, in many instances, do not align amongst various stakeholders involved with the delivery of health care. Consumers, employers, payers, health care providers, policy makers and community partners all approach this issue from different angles and with different goals.

These differing perspectives make it difficult to land on one common definition of value in the context of health care delivery. And, without a consistent definition, it is challenging to improve and enhance value across the field. In addition, focusing too much on any single approach may result in unintended consequences that negatively impact value. In this issue brief, we identify various definitions of value, explain why it is so difficult to define, and share how the AHA intends to address the value equation.