Dr. Niran Al-Agba

If You Call Me a “Provider”, I Will Assume You are a Nazi

“Provider” was first utilized by The Third Reich, who embraced this moniker to degrade Jewish physicians as medical professionals. The historic root and use of the word “provider” deserves our attention and reflection because if we forget the tragic mistakes of history, we may be doomed to repeat them. While the more recent movement to disrespect the education and training of physicians was the brainchild of the federal government and corporatized medicine, this disdain for medical expertise has occurred before–to Jewish physicians living in Germany in 1937, before World War II.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-26T02:35:25+00:00February 20, 2019|Categories: Equality, Physician|Tags: Physician, Provider|

Are Health Insurance Companies Practicing Medicine Without a License?

The Regence auditor in charge of my case, Anke Menzer-Wallace, failed to turn up any irregularities in our documentation. But, still, Ms. Menzer-Wallace issued a stern admonition to my father and me, ordering us not to open our clinic on Saturdays to administer flu shots.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-26T02:33:24+00:00February 14, 2019|Categories: Equality, Policy|Tags: Health Policy, Insurance, MQAC, Patient Physician Relationship, Patient Safety, Physician Autonomy, Regence, Third Party Payer, Washington Medical Commission|

Being a Woman Physician: The Blank Wall of Social and Professional Antagonism #NWPD2019

Dr. Mary Edward Walker was a female physician who embodied “antagonism.” She is the only female recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor in U.S. history, cited for valor as a surgeon on the Civil War battlefield. She was also an abolitionist, prisoner of war, suffragist, writer and speaker. Two years before her death, the Army revoked her award yet she refused to comply. Her life story is inspiring.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-26T02:42:29+00:00February 5, 2019|Categories: Equality, Physician|Tags: Female Physicians, Gender Bias, Gender Equality, National Women's Physician Day, NWPD, Women in Medicine|

“Say on Pay” Legislation: Giving Patients a Say on CEO Pay

Health care inflation continues to exceed the base inflation rate. Health insurer CEO compensation has ballooned out of control –in 2017, Cigna CEO David Cordani took home $43.9 million, Humana CEO Bruce Broussard made $34.2 million, and Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini earned nearly $59 million. That’s approximately $162,000 per day.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-31T00:19:50+00:00January 22, 2019|Categories: Patient, Policy|Tags: CEO, Consolidation, Corporatization, Health Policy, Hospitals|

Medicaid Expansion: Nothing But an Empty Promise for Children

For the first time in a decade, the number of uninsured children in the United States increased in 2018. Apple Health seemed like the quintessential success story because it expanded Medicaid coverage for children — in Kitsap County alone, the number enrolled grew from 9,000 to over 21,000 in the last 10 years. However, Medicaid reimbursement also decreased by more than 35 percent, after a federal provision that kept Medicaid payments on par with Medicare expired in 2015. Some states set aside funding to maintain rates equal to those of Medicare, but Washington was not one of them.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-31T00:17:12+00:00January 8, 2019|Categories: Patient, Policy|Tags: ACA, Affordable Care, Child Advocacy, Consolidation, Corporatization, Government Medicine, Health Policy, Hospitals, Medicaid, Obamacare|

Can CEO’s Dean and Lofton Perform A Miracle through the CommonSpirit Health Merger?

Nonprofit hospitals, in general, are facing challenging times. And that challenge is going to reverberate through our county, whether that means a major facility on a new construction timeline or further corporate creativity to reduce health care costs.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-31T00:13:03+00:00January 2, 2019|Categories: Patient, Policy|Tags: Affordable Care, CHI, Dignity, Franciscan Health, Government Medicine, Health Policy, Hospital Consolidation, Hospitals, Merger|

What Happens when Big Pharma “Exploits” the Opioid Epidemic for Financial Gain? Kaleo Is Doing It.

The opioid crisis has grown exponentially – ravaging communities and taking an estimated 64,000 lives each year – escalating into a public health epidemic. In response to the increased availability of synthetic opioids like oxycodone and fentanyl, the Surgeon General called for expanded access to the opioid overdose antidote, naloxone, by using the slogan: Be Prepared. Get Naloxone. Save a life.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-31T00:12:00+00:00December 11, 2018|Categories: Patient, Policy|Tags: Big Pharma, Corporatization, Epidemic, Opioids, Overdose, Patient Safety, Pharmaceutical, Transparency|

Will the CVS-Aetna Merger Give Aetna Freedom to Kill?

Recently, a jury in Oklahoma City ordered insurance giant Aetna to pay $25 million to the family of Orrana Cunningham, an Aetna customer who died of cancer after the company refused to cover radiation therapy. “The jury ruled that Aetna recklessly disregarded its duty to deal fairly and in good faith with Cunningham,” according to a Nov. 10 article by the Associated Press.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-31T00:10:48+00:00November 27, 2018|Categories: Patient, Policy|Tags: Care Quality, Corporatization, CVS, Death, Insurance, Mid-level Care, Nonphysicians, Patient Safety, Third Party Payer, Transparency, Underserved|

Why Affordable Housing Matters in Health Care

Whether we recognize it or not, we’re in a housing affordability crisis. Over a third of households in the U.S., carry a shelter burden that is beyond the standard of affordability – that is, costs usurp more than 30% of monthly income. Locally, rents have increased by 50% over the last 5 years and more startling, the number of evictions has grown by 90% in the last 3 years.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-31T00:09:09+00:00November 13, 2018|Categories: Equality, Policy|Tags: ACE, Affordable Housing, Child Advocacy, Child Safety, Equality, Health Policy, Inequality, Poverty|

2018 Midterm Election: The Year of the Female Physician

To date, there have only been two female physicians elected to Congress. But in the coming midterm election there are six races with a chance at making history. It’s these battles which could make 2018 “The Year of the Female Physician.”

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-31T00:06:47+00:00October 30, 2018|Categories: Equality, Policy|Tags: Female Physicians, Gender Bias, Gender Equality, Government Medicine, Health Policy, National Women's Physician Day, Physician Mothers|

The Politics of Healthcare from the Front Lines