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Why Physicians Need a Voice in Healthcare Policy

👥 Hosted by: Dutch Rojas

Doctors:

•Anthony DiGiorgio, DO, MHA – Neurosurgeon, UCSF; health policy researcher at San Francisco General Hospital.

•Anish Koka, MD – Private practice cardiologist, Philadelphia; long-time health policy commentator.

•Dan Choi, MD, FAAOS – Orthopedic spine surgeon, Long Island; early adopter of social media in spine surgery; healthcare advocate.

•Sanat Dixit, MD, FACS – Neurosurgeon - Huntsville, AL, Faculty - Vanderbilt University; healthcare entrepreneur.

🔍 Episode Overview:

In this roundtable kickoff episode, four outspoken physicians join Dutch Rojas in The Doctor’s Lounge to talk candidly about the intersection of medicine, policy, and politics — and why more doctors need to speak up. From certificate-of-need laws to Medicare payment reform, from the Trump administration’s appointments to RFK’s role at HHS, the conversation dives into the structural problems holding back both doctors and patients.

The doctors share why they each agreed to join the podcast, the power and pitfalls of physicians engaging publicly, and the need to protect autonomy in a system dominated by corporate healthcare and government bureaucracy.

📌 Notable Quotes:

• “If you truly want a free society, you need independent physicians.” – Dr. Dan Choi

• “Once the government became a plan operator, it invited rent-seeking — and that’s all we’ve seen since.” – Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio

• “Our patients trust us. We have to make sure the profession stays noble — and that means fixing the system.” – Dr. Sanat Dixit

• “Republicans buy sneakers too. Stick to policy if you want your message heard.” – Dr. Anish Koka

The Episode:

00:00 – Welcome to The Doctor’s Lounge

00:33 – Meet the Doctors

03:11 – Why This Podcast?

05:05 – Tuttle Twins & Shaping Culture

07:28 – Getting Physician Ideas Heard

09:30 – Certificate-of-Need Laws

10:53 – Passion for the Profession

11:55 – Structural Reforms for a New Administration

13:48 – Political Appointments & Culture Shift

16:33 – Political Practicality vs. Idealism

17:43 – Cynicism from the Lobbying Trenches

22:00 – Is Democracy Still Working in Healthcare?

23:36 – Behind the Scenes in D.C.

24:57 – RFK at HHS

30:11 – Metrics for Measuring Change

33:45 – The Medicare Problem

35:41 – The Case for Physician-Owned Hospitals

39:32 – Facility Fees & Payment Disparity

46:00 – Site-Neutral Payment Reform

50:10 – Policy vs. Politics

53:30 – Social Media & Physician Speech

59:00 – The Chilling Effect of Employment

01:02:14 – Restoring Free Speech for Physicians

01:05:00 – Advice for Physicians Considering Speaking Out

01:08:00 – Closing Thoughts

🔗 Connect with the Hosts:

• Dutch Rojas on X

• Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio on X

• Dr. Anish Koka on X

• Dr. Dan Choi on X

• Dr. Sanat Dixit on X