Dr. Niran Al-Agba

MedStar Franklin Square Hospital: The Case Against Global Capitation

The unforeseen casualty in this story is the pediatric department at MedStar Franklin Square Hospital. On April 3rd, 2018, MedStar abruptly announced all pediatric inpatient care and emergency services were closing, effective April 6th, and all pediatric staff, including eight physicians, were terminated. Sadly, Baltimore County is home to some of the nations’ most vulnerable families, struggling with high rates of drug addiction, domestic violence, and poverty.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-30T23:34:12+00:00May 9, 2018|Categories: Policy, Practice|Tags: Consolidation, Corporatization, Health Policy, Hospitals, Nonphysicians, Physician Autonomy, Underserved|

The Tapeworms are Hungry for Direct Primary Care

Tapeworms represent third parties who have ingratiated themselves into the patient-physician relationship in the interest of the almighty dollar. As the distance has grown between patients and physicians, costs have spiraled out of control. By inviting extra layers of bureaucracy, CMS and other corporations are essentially slapping lipstick on the tapeworm and trying to make CPC look as attractive as Direct Primary Care, but that is an illusion.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-30T23:27:47+00:00April 24, 2018|Categories: Policy|Tags: Affordable Care, Corporatization, Direct Primary Care, DPC, Health Policy, Independent Practice, Transparency|

The Health Care Policy Podcast with David Introcaso

This week, I am sharing a podcast with David Introcaso. He invited me on the show after reading a piece of mine written in support of the National Walkout on March 14, 2018.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-26T01:41:34+00:00April 17, 2018|Categories: Patient, Policy|Tags: Child Advocacy, Child Safety, Gun Violence, Health Policy, Injury Prevention|

How These Useless Doctors’ Exams Are Raising Health Care Costs (via Fortune Magazine Online)

MOC is a cash cow for the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and its 24 specialty boards, which administer the exams. According to its most recent tax filings, ABMS president Lois Margaret Nora made nearly $700,000 in compensation from the organization in 2016. Thirteen other executives made over $150,000 from the nonprofit in the same year. In total, ABMS spent over $10 million on compensation, more than half its annual revenues, which largely come from inflated testing fees.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-26T01:28:30+00:00April 16, 2018|Categories: Physician, Practice|Tags: Burnout, Maintenancy of Certification, MOC, Patient Physician Relationship, Physician Advocacy, Physician Autonomy, Physician Suicide|

Firing Dr. Shulkin, One Really Good Decision

Just over a year ago, I met Dr. Shulkin in his office while working in Washington DC on behalf of independent physicians. A highly esteemed colleague of mine previously worked at the same hospital with Dr. Shulkin and scheduled a meeting to discuss healthcare reform. My colleague asked for a “wing woman” and I happily tagged along. Knowing their shared history, an exchange of pleasantries seemed far more likely than the haranguing with insults that ensued. In my opinion, Dr. Shulkin was one of the most pompous men I have ever encountered.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-26T01:42:46+00:00April 4, 2018|Categories: Policy|Tags: Affordable Care, Government Medicine, Health Policy, Transparency, Veterans Administration|

Health Savings Accounts: Are Lawmakers Being Target-ed or Getting Amazon-ed?

Our Government should be Of the people, By the people and For the people – not Of Target, By Amazon, and For Berkshire Hathaway. Being seen by a midlevel provider at a big box retailer cannot save money. Lawmakers sponsoring H.R 5138 are doing the nation a grave disservice by sponsoring this atrocious legislation.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-26T01:44:10+00:00March 27, 2018|Categories: Patient, Policy|Tags: Affordable Care, Amazon, Chase, Consolidation, Corporatization, Health Policy, HSA, Physician Autonomy|

National Walkout Day, March 14… These Boots are Made for Walking

Why has so little changed in almost 20 years since Columbine? I don’t know. Why has so little changed since the mass shooting at Sandy Hook where 20 children and 6 adults were gunned down in cold blood? I cannot understand. Why has the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida galvanized the nation? Because now, it is our innocent children leading the fight for meaningful change.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-26T01:45:52+00:00March 13, 2018|Categories: Patient, Policy|Tags: Child Advocacy, Child Safety, Enough, Gun Violence, Injury Prevention, National School Walkout|

The Peril of Online Physician Reviews

Online reviews are not a reflection of medical care quality. Patients do not like receiving medical bills and do not like rude clinic staff. They are unhappy if the physician disagrees with them, they abhor long wait times, and they detest prior authorizations, (news flash, so do physicians!) Yet these criticisms are not a reflection of the healthcare quality provided by the physician. It is doubtful these grievances even have an impact on the mortality rate.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-26T01:47:45+00:00March 6, 2018|Categories: Physician, Practice|Tags: Burnout, Change.org, Online Reviews, Physician Autonomy, Physician Suicide|

Sandy Hook Promise: The “Human” Side of the Gun Debate

Hilary Clinton once said, “there’s no such thing as other people’s children.” Every child is mine. Every child is yours. Every child adds value to the world. By preventing just one child from bringing a gun to school, we could transform the life of not only that child, but also every student in attendance that day, plus every teacher, administrator, parent, grandparent, and community member working to support vulnerable young people.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-26T01:49:24+00:00February 27, 2018|Categories: Patient, Policy|Tags: Child Advocacy, Child Safety, Enough is Enough, Gun Violence, Injury Prevention, Sandy Hook Promise|

CMS Quietly Launches an Offensive Against Direct Primary Care

The DPC movement offers the first successful and innovative alternative health care approach to emerge in years. CMS is focusing on physician capture, control, and capitulation, yet should not underestimate the fortitude of independent physicians. We are steadfast, experienced in trench warfare, and refuse to succumb to their demands. We will continue to fight relentlessly against mounting administrative burdens which interfere with the provision of patient care.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-26T02:07:30+00:00February 20, 2018|Categories: Physician, Policy|Tags: Corporatization, Direct Primary Care, DPC, Government Medicine, Health Policy, Independent Practice, Physician Autonomy|

The Politics of Healthcare from the Front Lines