PAC & Forth

Physician Association of California

PAC & Forth is a podcast about the forces shaping health care in California and the people working to change it. Produced by the Physician Association of California and hosted by PAC CEO, Matthew Robinson, PAC & Forth brings together physicians, policy insiders, advocates, and industry leaders for candid conversations about independent medicine, health care policy, and the real-world impact of decisions made in Sacramento. A practical, grounded discussion from people on the front lines, in exam rooms, boardrooms, and the Capitol. Whether you’re a physician, policymaker, health care professional, or someone who simply cares about the future of patient-centered care, PAC & Forth offers insight, perspective, and a seat at the table.

  1. 5 days ago

    PAC & Forth - Ep. 17 - Featuring Dr. Barbara Hrach - “What happens when independent physicians stand together?”

    What happens when independent physicians stand together? In this episode of PAC & Forth, we sit down with Dr. Barbara Hrach, an internal medicine physician who has practiced in Santa Barbara for three decades. She is president of Santa Barbara Preferred Health Partners, a group of local independent physicians. In that role, she’s helping her colleagues push back against health care consolidation and protect patient choice in their community. Dr. Hrach shares: How Santa Barbara went from two major hospital systems and many independent practices to a market run by a few large players.Why regulations, coding and billing changes, and insurance hurdles are pushing physicians out of independent practice, not just big systems.How Santa Barbara Preferred Health Partners formed in response to a proposed consolidation, and how speaking with one voice helped stop it.What “herding cats” teaches about organizing independent physicians, and why there is power in numbers.Why medical students are asking about independent practice, and how family practices and local networks bring young physicians back to Santa Barbara.How putting herself in her patients’ shoes shaped a practice built on prevention, long-term relationships, and a familiar face at the front desk.A look at how local physicians are organizing to protect independent practice and the patients who depend on it. If you’re interested in what physicians can do when they come together in their own communities, this is a must-listen. Tune in to hear why Dr. Hrach believes choice matters for patients.

  2. 20 Oct

    PAC & Forth - Ep. 16 - Featuring Dr. Omer Deen - “What does it take to build a physician-led practice from the ground up?”

    What does it take to build a physician-led practice from the ground up? In this episode of PAC & Forth, we welcome back Dr. Omer Deen, board member and chair of the Physician Association of California, and our very first guest on the show. After completing his fellowship at Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Deen built a portfolio of independent practices in the South Bay, including the Deen Medical Group, a clinical nutrition and obesity practice in Torrance, Peninsula Urgent Care, which he co-founded in 2020, and a wellness clinic. Dr. Deen shares: Why a frustrating urgent care visit with his own kids, and the discovery that most local urgent cares were corporate-owned, pushed him to open a patient-centered practice of his own.What medical training doesn’t teach about billing, coding, and running a business, and his advice for physicians looking to grow: start slow and add one thing at a time.How Medicare rates have fallen to less than a third of their 1981 levels, and how insurer rules push two patients with the same symptoms toward different care.Why he’s launching a concierge primary care practice next, and his concern about what that model means for patients who can’t afford it.Why only 8 to 10 cents of every health care dollar goes to physicians, and what that says about how we value prevention and patient care.A look at the entrepreneurial spirit behind independent practice, and the payment system that shapes every decision physicians make. If you’re interested in how physician-owned practices are built and what’s standing in their way, this conversation is for you. Tune in to hear why Dr. Deen believes physicians should work for their patients and nobody else.

  3. 6 Oct

    PAC & Forth - Ep. 15 - Featuring Dr. Michael Leathers - "What does an independent physician bring to the sidelines?"

    What does an independent physician bring to the sidelines? In this episode of PAC & Forth, we sit down with Dr. Michael Leathers, a second-generation orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine physician who runs his own practice in Midtown Sacramento. Trained at USC, UCLA, and UCSF, Dr. Leathers also volunteers as team physician for Christian Brothers High School and Sacramento State, bringing independent care from the clinic to the field. Dr. Leathers shares: Why owning his own practice gives him the freedom to choose community work, like covering Sac State games into the early morning.How he helps families keep young athletes healthy, from the benefits of multi-sport play to concrete guidance on pitch counts and rest.How he takes the emotion out of sideline calls and treats every player like his own kid.What falling reimbursement means for independent practices compared to his father's era, and why he's still all in.A look at how independent physicians show up for their communities, on the field and in the clinic. If you’re interested in learning more about the independent physicians who keep local athletes and families healthy, this is a must-listen. Tune in to hear why Dr. Leathers hopes he never leaves private practice.

  4. 4 Aug

    PAC & Forth - Ep. 14 - Featuring Dan Cavanaugh - "Will your malpractice carrier stand by you when it matters?"

    Will your malpractice carrier stand by you when it matters? In this episode of PAC & Forth, we sit down with Dan Cavanaugh, Senior Vice President of Business Development at the Cooperative of American Physicians (CAP). With more than 35 years in the industry, Dan knows California's malpractice landscape better than almost anyone. Dan shares: What changed under AB 35, including the roughly 80% increase in exposure per case.The questions every physician should ask before choosing a carrier, from AM Best ratings to consent to settle.How CAP supports independent practice with consulting, HR resources, and a start-your-own-practice guide.A grounded, practical guide to picking the carrier that will actually have your back. If you're a physician trying to make sense of malpractice coverage in the post-AB 35 era, this is a must-listen. Tune in to hear what 35 years inside the industry has taught Dan about protecting what you've built.

  5. 21 Jul

    PAC & Forth - Ep. 13 - Featuring Sam Chung - "What good is innovation if patients can't get it?"

    What good is innovation if patients can't get it? In this episode of PAC & Forth, we sit down with Sam Chung, Senior Vice President of Government Relations and External Affairs at California Life Sciences, which represents 1,300 organizations across the state's biopharma, biotech, medical device, and research community. Sam unpacks: How prior authorization is driving real harm, with one in three patients facing adverse outcomes.Why vertical integration of PBMs, insurers, and pharmacies is fueling cost and access problems.The push behind SB 41 and broader PBM reform, and why rebate transparency matters.The effort to eliminate prior auth for FDA-approved rare disease treatments, where delay can be catastrophic.A clear view of where breakthrough treatments stall and what it would take to get them to patients faster. If you've ever watched a patient wait for a treatment that's already on the shelf, this episode is essential listening. Tune in to hear why physicians and innovators have to push together.

  6. 7 Jul

    PAC & Forth - Ep. 12 - Featuring John Shirikian & Steffanie Watkins - "What does a new health care mandate really cost?"

    What does a new health care mandate really cost? In this episode of PAC & Forth, we sit down with John Shirikian, President and CEO of the Association of California Life and Health Insurance Companies (ACLHIC), and Steffanie Watkins, the association's Senior Vice President. ACLHIC represents 50 member companies, including the big six health insurers. This episode dives into: Why every new benefit mandate has a downstream premium cost that adds up fast.The difference between coverage and cost sharing, and why Sacramento often blurs them.Vertical integration and what happens when payers, providers, and PBMs share one roof.Where physicians and health plans actually agree, including prior auth and credentialing reform. A rare look at the system from the payer side and where physicians and insurers can find common ground. For physicians who've been told payers and providers can never agree on anything, this is essential listening. Tune in to hear where the path to fixing the system actually runs.

  7. 23 Jun

    PAC & Forth - Ep. 11 - Featuring Assemblymembers Greg Wallis & Heath Flora - "Why is California debating health care while patients can't see a doctor?"

    Why is California debating health care while patients can't see a doctor? In this episode of PAC & Forth, we sit down with Assemblymember Greg Wallis (Coachella Valley) and Assemblymember Heath Flora, the Assembly Republican Leader from the northern San Joaquin Valley. Both bring a frontline view of inland California, where access to healthcare is shrinking and physicians are leaving. This conversation pulls back the curtain on: The access-to-care crisis where the nearest specialist can be hours away.The coastal versus inland divide and why one-size-fits-all policy fails.Why the ACA's promise to reduce ER reliance never fully materialized.Why physicians must engage legislators early, not after a bill is moving. A grounded look from two legislators at the gap between what gets debated in Sacramento and what actually reaches the clinic. If you care about access in inland California and the policymakers willing to fight for it, this is a must-listen. Tune in to hear how two legislators on the front lines are pushing for policy that actually reaches patients.

  8. 9 Jun

    PAC & Forth - Ep.10 - Featuring Vincent Catalano - "Why does your premium keep climbing even in a clean year?"

    Why does your premium keep climbing even in a clean year? In this episode of PAC & Forth, we sit down with Vincent Catalano, Founder and CEO of Clear Healthcare Solutions. Vincent brings decades of experience in employee benefits and insurance brokerage and now helps organizations manage cost and strategy across health care. We unpack: How brokers actually get paid, and why flat percentage commissions give them a raise when premiums rise.Why small practices under 20 employees have almost no negotiating power in the ACA risk pool.PEOs, level-funded plans, and the tools small practices can use to take back control.The rise of direct primary care and why employers are routing around traditional insurance. A no-nonsense look at the misaligned incentives baked into how benefits are bought and sold. For any physician who pays for benefits and wonders where the money actually goes, this is a must-listen. Tune in to hear how a longtime insider thinks physicians can start winning the benefits conversation.

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About

PAC & Forth is a podcast about the forces shaping health care in California and the people working to change it. Produced by the Physician Association of California and hosted by PAC CEO, Matthew Robinson, PAC & Forth brings together physicians, policy insiders, advocates, and industry leaders for candid conversations about independent medicine, health care policy, and the real-world impact of decisions made in Sacramento. A practical, grounded discussion from people on the front lines, in exam rooms, boardrooms, and the Capitol. Whether you’re a physician, policymaker, health care professional, or someone who simply cares about the future of patient-centered care, PAC & Forth offers insight, perspective, and a seat at the table.

Information

  • Creator
    Physician Association of California
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 PAC & Forth
  • Show Website
    PAC & Forth
  • Provider

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