Dr. Niran Al-Agba

Measles Exemptions: The New Loophole in Washington State

While Washington lawmakers had good intentions, their actions were largely symbolic, because they overlooked a few issues that will interfere with this law having its’ intended effect. According to the Washington State Constitution, “absolute freedom of conscience in all matters of religious sentiment, belief and worship shall be guaranteed to every individual…” And to that end, the new vaccine exemption form replaced the philosophical exemption with a new box for parent-initiated religious exemption.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-15T01:20:00+00:00August 24, 2019|Categories: Patient, Policy|Tags: Anti-Vax, Measles, Patient Autonomy, Religious Exemption, Vaccine, Vaccine Exemption, Vaccine Law, Washington State|

Alabama is Not Pro-Life. Here’s Why

I will never forget her face. She was only thirteen. She had a significant cognitive disability, a result of a brain injury at birth. She found her way to my clinic one late Friday afternoon in July almost two decades ago. Her mother was a nurse and noticed her daughter had not had a period in the last two months. Her pregnancy test came back positive. I wanted to cry.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-15T01:21:27+00:00July 5, 2019|Categories: Patient, Policy|Tags: Abortion, Alabama Abortion Law, Bias, Gender Equality, Pro Choice, Pro Life|

CHI Settlement Returns Some Balance to Market

According to data from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), hospital care in Kitsap County is 40% more expensive than in the surrounding communities. In documents filed as part of the lawsuit, a former physician president at TDC summed up the affiliation with CHI best: “You can now get your outpatient care in a complex, relatively unsafe, and vastly more expensive location.”

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-15T01:23:31+00:00May 21, 2019|Categories: Patient, Policy|Tags: CHI, Corporatization, Franciscan Health, Government Medicine, Hospital, Hospital Consolidation, Microhospital|

There are Ways to Save – and Expand – Medicare

First, the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 capped the number of residency slots in teaching hospitals which were eligible for Medicare payments. This mistake has facilitated a shortage of primary care physicians across the country. A larger supply of primary care physicians is associated with a lower mortality rate. In fact, adding 10 primary care physicians per 100 000 population increases life expectancy by nearly two months, whereas the same increase in specialty physicians only improves life expectancy by 19 days.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-15T01:25:50+00:00May 17, 2019|Categories: Patient, Policy|Tags: Balanced Budget Act, CMS, Corporatization, Healthcare Costs, Hospitals, Medicare, Part A, Physician Shortage, Residency|

Nurses Playing Cards? Politicians Show Why They Can’t Fix Healthcare.

The viability of rural hospitals, fighting to remain financially solvent despite implementation of additional mandates, must be balanced with the need for nurses working 12-hour shifts to have protected time for meals or breaks. Both are important and a viable resolution exists somewhere in between. Sacrificing meals and breaks for nursing staff already dangerously spread thin is not the solution to keep rural hospitals afloat. And indeed, Senate Bill 1155 passed with bipartisan support and will now head to the Governor’s desk for signing.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-26T02:25:36+00:00April 30, 2019|Categories: Patient, Policy|Tags: Nurses, Rural Care, Rural Hospital, Senate Bill 1155, Senator Walsh|

The ‘Hybrid’ Approach to Universal Health Care

The country bearing the closest resemblance to the U.S. proposal, where decision-making is centralized, is France, where the government is responsible for 77% of total health expenditures. There is an out-of-pocket cost share for patients though it is relatively low, at 7% annually. The Netherlands, Singapore, and Taiwan are also highly centralized; however, they are smaller in scale–with populations similar to that of individual U.S. states – and their relative affluence allows them to sidestep long wait times.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-26T01:24:37+00:00April 23, 2019|Categories: Patient, Policy|Tags: Canada, CMS, Medicare, Universal Care, US healthcare|

Physicians are Eagles Who Believe They are Chickens

There are 800,000 physicians in America and more than 65% believe the Maintenance of Certification process, known as MOC, has no clinical value for patients. For the first time in the history of our profession, physicians have a fighting chance to topple a Goliath-esque organization, the American Board of Medical Specialties.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-26T02:31:54+00:00April 19, 2019|Categories: Physician, Policy|Tags: ABMS, Anti-MOC, Hospitals, MOC, MOC Reform|

The B & O Tax Increase Harms the Independent Physician

Research shows that physician-owned practices provide better quality of care. For example, in comparison to organizations employing more than 100 physicians, practices with 3 to 9 physicians had 27% fewer preventable hospital admissions and those comprised of one or two physicians had 33% fewer preventable hospital admissions. Fewer days spent in the hospital leads to fewer bills for consumers to pay.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-26T02:28:56+00:00April 16, 2019|Categories: Policy, Practice|Tags: B and O tax, Hospitals, Independent Practice, nonprofit, tax exemptions|

Pitfalls of a “Medicare For All” Single-Payer System

In a socialist construct, one central power controls the means of production and the goods produced, goods which may someday include U.S. physicians. The Cuban government generates $11 billion annually by “leasing” their physicians out to foreign countries, in order to fund the Cuban national health system, which is “free.”

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-26T02:30:53+00:00April 2, 2019|Categories: Patient, Policy|Tags: Canada, Cuba, Medicare for All, Trafficking, Universal Care|

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|