Healthcare Americana

What makes people act? Is it information, knowledge, or something else? Darren Fogarty has studied this idea and reflects upon what he's learned. His studies have led him to the topic of the "Know-Do Gap" and how it applies to getting doctors and employers to do what they already know is best.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Anger can be a great motivation to push out into the unknown and fix problems. That is the exact motivation Dr. Juliet Breeze uses when she encounters a problem - she gets mad. When Dr. Breeze gets mad, her best ideas come to light. That's exactly how she started Next Level Urgent Care in Houston and with a big network of facilities she and her team are able to solve more problems than ever.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

With social norms disrupted, our personal and professional lives have been impacted in ways we could've hardly imagined. More time spent at home or work environments being thrown into chaos has put an emphasis on working through challenges. With these challenges comes new dynamics in the home and with family. Our next generation, our children, have been bearing the brunt of these changes during their most critical developmental years. Chris is joined by behavioral health specialist Yisroel Wahl to discuss how people and families can meet and embrace these challenges.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Define a physician specialist. It is an impossible task according to Dr. Paula Muto because all physicians are highly trained specialists, no matter which field they pursue. Dr. Muto is an accomplished surgeon who founded UBERDOC, a service for connecting cash pay patients to specialists across the country without the interference of 3rd party payers. Using this platform, she has helped numerous patients and physicians connect in order to bring value to all specialties.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Dr. Wes Fisher joins Chris on this episode of Healthcare Americana to discuss Board Certification of physicians and the expensive headaches of Maintenance of Certification rules. They discuss how medical associations have monopolized this process and how it has become a big money maker for those involved, at the detriment of physicians and patients.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Chris is joined on Healthcare Americana by Dr. Mary Talley Bowden of BreatheMD. Dr. Bowden is an ear, nose, and throat specialist that started her own cash pay holistic practice to elevate the care she provides and provide an affordable service to her patients.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Chris is joined on this episode by Dr. Aamir Hussain, a resident physician at Georgetown University who fought COVID in the early days using a team comprised of medical school graduates, residents, and board certified physicians. He talks about his experience using these groups to provide care when patients needed it the most.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Troy Reichert, chief revenue officer, Coral, joins Chris on Healthcare Americana to discuss specialists that accept cash pricing. Troy and Chris discuss how those interactions are making it easier for people to afford care. They also touch upon the building blocks of creating a complete, alternative healthcare system for cash buyers.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

There are a lot of right ways to practice DPC but a handful of mistakes are usually common and can derail your practice.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

The first episode of 2021 features a deep dive into healthcare law and what it means for physicians. Chris is joined by attorneys Ike Willett and Steve Lokensgard, partners at Faegre, Drinker, Biddle, & Reath LLP to discuss the common misconceptions and pitfalls of doing business as a physician.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Chris is joined on this episode by Dr. Sandra Scheinbaum, the CEO and founder of Functional Medicine Coaching Academy. They discuss the growth and impact of the health coaching industry and why it has grown so much in recent years.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Chris is joined by Scott Borden, VP Sales HealthSavings Administrators, to discuss health savings accounts, where they came from, what they do, and how they interact with direct primary care memberships. Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Chris is joined by Dr. Kendrick Johnson of Ark Family Health. They discuss a shared background and how important it is to align incentives to any job worth doing, not just in medical care. The word "profit" can be a dirty word to many physicians but it shouldn't be that way. They also talk about arguments against the direct care model and how easily those are displaced.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Chris is joined by Colleen Ingraham, COO of the Prairie Spine & Pain Institute, discussing the effort it takes to show people they can become educated consumers. They also discuss alternative benefit options that are making a real difference in people's lives and savings a lot of money for businesses.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Dr. Isaac Engholm joins Chris on this episode to tell his story of his direct care practice and the work he is doing in his local community. After civil unrest damaged much of Minneapolis and hurt scores of people, Dr. Engholm decided to do something about it and care for a marginalized group of citizens.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Chris has talked about the bottleneck that exists in physician training, going from medical school to residency. This leads to thousands of physicians each year being stranded in a professional purgatory - successful completion of medical school but unable to land a residency spot to complete their training. Dr. Khalif and Dr. Mian explain their experiences with this broken system and ways we can make it better.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Chris is joined by Congresswoman Victoria Spartz, fresh off an election victory, to discuss ways that real healthcare reform can become a reality. They discuss the need for free market principles in healthcare and how the federal government can get out of the way to empower physicians and patients to make it work.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Chris is joined by Dr. Jake DeWitt a direct primary physician at Westfield Premier Physicians to discuss the concept of opportunity costs and how it relates to physicians. They talk about the cost of indecision and the ever-present "analysis paralysis" that freezes many people when trying to make a decision.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Chris is joined by Dr. Robert Goldberg, PhD, co-founder & Vice President of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest. They discuss the concept of Tabloid Medicine and how the internet is a source of great information and empowerment but has been too often co-opted into spreading misleading, even dangerous information, particularly about healthcare.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Chris is joined by Carl Schuessler, co-founder and managing partner with Mitigate Partners. They discuss how Carl and his team were successful implementing a direct care benefit plan for hospital employees in Florida. Carl also shares his experiences contracting COVID-19 and how he and his family are dealing with the virus.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Chris is joined by Dr. Daniel Paull, an orthopedic specialist practicing direct care. They discuss the challenges of leaving hospital employment and how Dr. Paull got back to enjoying the practice of medicine. Dr. Paull is a trailblazer in what he calls direct orthopedic care.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Chris is joined on this episode of by Dr. Cristin Dickerson, a radiologist and founder of Green Imaging. Dr. Dickerson put together an innovative business plan utilizing existing imaging equipment during time they weren't in use - buying up the unused hours to bring a low cost service to her clients. She and Chris talk about her success and the challenges that patients meet every day when trying to find the best options for medical imaging.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Ameeth Reddy is the CEO of Equal Health, a technology platform that makes it easier for direct primary care practices to do business with the employer community. Chris and Ameeth discuss the ever-present "chicken or the egg" concept of DPC - is there a supply or a demand issue?Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Cristy Gupton, President of Custom Benefits Solutions talks with Chris about small and large employers handling benefit plans for their employees in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. They also discuss the fragility of thinking that many business leaders have in thinking their employees are actually happy with their current benefit plans.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Dr. Craig Wax joins Chris on the show to discuss why 75% of physicians under the age of 45 are employed. Only 22% of medical students say they plan on owning a practice in the future. Dr. Wax is one of those rare independent physicians that accepts insurance and he’s been advocating for a return to independence for our nation’s physicians.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Chris is join by Tom Yakopin, the National Marketing Director for New Era Health Plans on this episode. Tom describes his work trying to teach brokers and consumers that there is a better way to help people with risk management and using insurance as a financial tool. They also discuss problems with the way we think about health insurance and how that is changing.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Chris is joined by David Goldhill, CEO & Founder of Sesame - a direct to patient marketplace to discuss the impact of telehealth, why this is considered a big innovation and why innovation in healthcare is continuously stymied.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Today’s show is a warning to those doctors out there that are overworked and asked to place their trust in their employer. Our guest, Dr. Leah Houston, was a victim of professional identity theft when her previous employer continued to submit claims under her name long after she left the company and the state. As you’ll find out, there’s little recourse, as she was able to find out what was happening but at considerable cost of time and money to her in order to fight the hospital’s unethical behavior.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Almost a quarter of medical school graduates cannot further their education and training because of limits on the available training slot. What are these men and women supposed to do? Chris talks with Dr. Faarina Khan, Chief Assistant Physician at the Medina Clinic in Missouri about her experience attempting to find a residency match as well as her efforts to expand opportunities for our “forgotten future doctors".Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Chris is back hosting the podcast and speaks with author Deb Gordon about her new book, "The Health Care Consumer's Manifesto". Deb spent years interviewing and surveying patients to understand their hidden and not-so-hidden sentiments to health insurance and doctors. She shares her insights and more.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

What is the psychological toll of a global pandemic, and how does the fallout expose systemic problems with American healthcare? Dr. Rupali Chadha, a board certified psychiatric physician, shares insight into the pandemic’s impact on mental health and points out solutions emerging at the policy level. She also shares some personal tips to remain well, both mentally and physically.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

The global pandemic which burst upon an unprepared world from Wuhan, China in early 2020 exposed serious problems within the American healthcare system. It also accelerated much needed innovation, such as telemedicine. Dr. Shah discusses how the disruption caused by the crisis may create space for more innovation to flourish, like competitive pricing transparency and direct care.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

President and co founder of Freedom Healthworks, Adam Habig, fills in for Chris on this episode and chats with Terry Wilcox, executive director of Patients Rising. They discuss pre-existing conditions in direct care and the impact they have on the insurance system that leads to increased cost, lack of control and more. Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

President and co founder of Freedom Healthworks, Adam Habig, fills in for Chris on this episode and chats with Dr. Katarina Lindley. Dr. Lindley grew up in Soviet Yugoslavia and tells her story of the perils of socialized medicine in the former communist country. Adam and Dr. Lindley explore the depths of a "single payer" model.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Chris is joined by David Balat, Director of Right on Healthcare with the Texas Public Policy Foundation, to discuss the complex history of health insurance and why it is now linked with employers. They also discuss how insurance and care came to be interchangeable and why a different path is necessary for all Americans' future health care.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Chris is joined by Dr. Kimberly Legg Corba, a DPC physician, member of the board of directors of DPC Action, founder & president of Pennsylvania Direct Primary Care Association, to brainstorm ideas, successes and obstacles to getting more physicians to move into independent direct primary care. Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Chris is joined by John Chamberlain, chairman of the board of Citizen Health and a reformed former hospital executive. They dive into the explosive growth of administrators and bureaucrats relative to the increase in people responsible for caring for us. They also discuss what needs to change to lower healthcare costs.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Chris is joined, again, by Dr. Marion Mass, pediatrician, writer, champion of patient care, and founder of the Practicing Physicians of America, as they discuss the taboo subject of physician suicide in the United States and ask who helps heal the healers and why do so many doctors in our country choose to take their own lives instead of risking appearing weak and asking for help.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Chris talks with Dr. Marion Mass, a pediatrician, founder of the Practicing Physicians of America, and writer, to get her thoughts about the physician shortage issue and whether or not proposed short term fixes are really the answer.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

David Balat, Director of the Texas Public Policy Foundation joins Chris on this episode to discuss ideas for a better healthcare industry. They discuss decoupling insurance from employers and freeing up the health insurance market to innovate on individual policies. They also discuss roadblocks to equality in healthcare and what can be done.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Drs. Matt & Janelle Pflieger joined Chris on this episode to discuss the role doctors play in the local community. They talk about the importance of involvement in local affairs, how physicians vacated their community roles, and how to get involved. They also discussed how direct care doctors are perfectly positioned to be more involved.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Dr. Bavana Rao joined Chris on the podcast to talk about how she took back control of her career and practice. They ask and debate the topic of physicians' addiction to salary. Dr. Rao gives advice to the doctors out there who are thinking about a move to greener pastures but don't think they can do it.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Chris talks with Dr. Randy Lovell of the Lovell Hand and Orthopedic Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dr. Lovell struck out on his own and is performing revolutionary new surgery on hands that are cheaper, have better results and take less time. They discuss why his surgery center publishes prices and deals honestly with patients as well as what it took to start the new surgery center.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

On this episode of Healthcare Americana, Chris speaks with Dr. Avi Bhar, founder of Sliiip, a direct care sleep & pulmonary medical practice in Georgia. They discuss sleep quality as a cause and a solution to many of people's ailments and how better sleep impacts quality of life.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

James Dunavant and Dr. Keith Smith join Chris to discuss the impact the coronavirus had on healthcare stakeholders across the US. They talk about how government regulations have gotten in the way of progress and what real people are seeing in their communities.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

On this episode of Healthcare Americana, Chris is joined by Evan Bruder of Sona Pharmacy. Evan discusses how his company has built a more transparent and economical pharmacy benefit program that is saving a ton of money for companies while keeping their employees healthy. They also get into why pharmaceuticals are so expensive and what can be done to lower costs.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

On this episode, Chris talks with Peyton Vooletich, with The Emergency Center about the gaps in the direct care environment and how her facility is helping fill the needs of non-insurance emergent care. They also talk about the things that limit access to transparent pricing and how ambulance companies really work.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Chris is joined by Vineeth Yeddula and Kyle Poss of KPI Ninja on this episode. They discuss how the word "data" has come to have a negative connotation to it and what efforts are underway to make information usable. They talk about how most clinicians are used to data being an obstacle to care but that shouldn't be the case. Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

Chris is joined by Dr. Keith Smith and James Dunavant of the Free Market Medical Association. Dr. Smith is the co founder of the Surgery Center of Oklahoma and an icon in the free market medical community. James serves as the Executive Director of the FMMA. They discussed the upcoming initiatives being led by the FMMA as well as information about the FMMA's annual conference. Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)

On this episode, Shawn Needham and his wife, Janet, discuss starting their own, independent pharmacy in the late 90’s, Moses Lake Professional Pharmacy. On first glance this is a success story for an independent pharmacy but Shawn explains what makes their pharmacy different in a big way.Support the show (https://healthcareamericana.com/sponsors/)