As I participated in the Hope Street Group project to Re-Invent Primary Care, I came to think about how medicine is at a unique opportunity to both converge and diverge at the same time. This creates some tension as different stakeholders favor going in opposing directions. However, I think there is a framework that will enable us to strive for a ( Read more... )

Thank you to the committee for taking the time to listen to our testimony today. My name is Dr. Christopher McCoy. I am the chair of the Policy Committee of the National Physicians Alliance, a national multi-specialty organization of physicians committed to restoring the integrity of our profession. The National Physicians Alliance does not accept ( Read more... )

The Conceal Carry movement has had significant success in the past two decades, and the Supreme Court has finally weighed in whether the 2nd amendment applies to individuals (it does).

Now we're apparently moving into the next phase of this movement: what's the fun of carrying a weapon if you have to conceal it?This is an issue that I believe is ( Read more... )

So, it's been a bit of an eventful week in politics, and I wanted to weigh in on one of the more profound announcements that will potentially affect politics for years to come. I speak, of course, of the confirmation that Quinn Hunter's father is John Edwards.

Just kidding.... Well, actually Edwards *is* the father, but I'm joking that I would ( Read more... )

As we speak, a few select members of the Democratic leadership are hammering out the final language for the health care reform. In very much the back-room dealing-making manner that they said they wouldn't resort to.

One of the signs of partisanship is the double-standard -- it's okay when my side does it, but not when the other side does. Sure, ( Read more... )

Liberal America has been overcome by nausea and malaise caused by an awful smell emanating from Washington, DC. I think it's the smell of sausage being made ( Read more... )

[The below is a draft summary of the House legislation that I've created. Please feel free to add comments, clarifications, or additional questions ( Read more... )

As we enter the final stretch of the legislative process for health care reform, we are beginning to get an idea of what the final bill will look like based on the five existing bills: definitely regulation of the insurance industry (no more "pre-existing conditions"), most probably an individual mandate to obtain insurance (enforced by a fine or a ( Read more... )

The heat of August has settled in, and the Congress has fled the swamp of Washington, DC. After the townhall forums this month, I suppose a few wished they had never left.

We knew the debate would get ugly and heated, but what I think has truly caught me off guard is the degree at which the discussion is occurring about topics completely ( Read more... )

I skimmed through a 41-page summary (PDF) of the House version of the Affordable Health Choices Act (PDF, 1018 pages) looking for the sections most relevant to physicians. There are lots of details that will be of interest to physicians in various areas of medicine, but I tried to capture the key portions.

Below is that provider-specific summary of ( Read more... )