Category: Policy

Not all physicians are nice

I have been representing physicians for over 40 years, and the vast majority of the people I work with are genuinely nice. Overworked, stressed, sometimes distracted – yes, but most physicians entered the profession because they were sincerely concerne…

Medicine has become the new McDonald’s of health care

I was having a conversation with a colleague about a state-funded Medicaid managed care organization (MCO). She told me that the mental health performance measures used by the state to evaluate the MCO were all “placement and provider issues,&#82…

The alarming problem for rural medicine

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to have a heart attack? Or maybe you’ve had one. What about that same heart attack on a single-lane, pitted road flanked by cornfields on both sides, two hours from the nearest city? This is the reality…

Unlocking value-based care: challenges and incentives

Value-based care is everywhere. It is really having a moment right now. It has taken on many forms, from the Medicare Advantage home care models to the employer-based direct primary care, but certain aspects of it remain consistent across all delivery …

Clinicians unite for health care reform

One thing that contributes to burnout in medicine is the inefficient and cumbersome nature of the systems in which we practice. This is particularly true for compassionate, trauma-informed clinicians who must watch their patients suffer under a system …

Combatting physician burnout: the case for subsidized vacations

Physician burnout is a pressing issue in the health care industry, with detrimental effects on both health care providers and the American public. Family physicians, in particular, play a crucial role in the well-being of individuals and communities. T…

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and why medical professionals should care

On October 7, Hamas, a terrorist group, launched an unprecedented assault against Israeli civilians. Thousands have been confirmed killed, while hundreds have been taken hostage. Israel has retaliated by pounding Gaza with rockets, killing thousands mo…

How busy clinicians can advocate for fossil fuel divestment

As general pediatricians whose intention is to promote health and wellness in children and youth, we witness the direct and indirect health effects of increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The climate crisis looms as an existential threat to human…

This Healthcare Reform Could Finally Bring Democrats And Republicans Together

Like all policies that give patients control over their health benefits, ICHRAs will help employers and employees get better value for their healthcare dollar.

Why aren’t more pediatricians leaning into rural health?

Rural health for children is in trouble. Don’t take my word for it, just ask the CDC. “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has just offered further evidence that American children — and rural children in particular — are in…