The Doctor's Lounge

The Doctor's Lounge
  • 4.9 (47)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Where scalpels meet systems — and physicians say what they really think. Co-hosted by Dutch Rojas, Anthony DiGiorgio, DO, with Anish Koka, MD, Dan Choi, MD, & Sanat Dixit, MD — candid talks on healthcare policy, reform, physician autonomy & patient care.

  1. 3D AGO

    The Cost of Dissent: How a Viral Newsweek Op-Ed Led to Medical School Dismissal

    Kevin Bass, PhD, joins Anish and Dr. DiGiorgio to tell the story of how a viral Newsweek op-ed apologizing for his support of COVID lockdowns and mandates set off a chain of events that ended in his dismissal from Texas Tech's MD/PhD program. Kevin walks through the internal emails, sham professionalism hearings, and rigged dismissal process he uncovered through FERPA records requests — and his ongoing federal and state lawsuits alleging First Amendment retaliation. The conversation then shifts to what Kevin has been building since: using AI pipelines to do large-scale investigative data analysis, from parsing the Epstein files to probing Medicaid fraud — work he argues would have taken a newsroom months, done now in days by one person. YouTube Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction and Kevin Bass background 01:16 - Kevin's COVID arc: from establishment supporter to dissenter 03:14 - The Newsweek op-ed and Tucker Carlson appearance 08:00 - Internal emails and the professionalism complaint campaign 13:44 - Sham hearings, appeals, and eventual dismissal 19:19 - The rigged consolidated hearing and Darren Gibson 27:34 - Dr. DiGiorgio on the medical training dismissal system 29:51 - Why Kevin still believes in the broader legal system 33:00 - What Kevin has been building since dismissal 36:00 - Using AI to analyze the Epstein files 40:10 - The messiness of large health data sets 46:00 - Immigration policy data analysis 49:06 - Medicaid fraud and the limits of legal definitions 56:20 - Advice to physicians on AI 01:03:10 - The future of health policy research in the AI era @anish_koka and @drdigiorgio @drsloungepod 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-doctors-lounge/id1489323962 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vE4aCMpVHnSGwuOHiGVLp ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDoctorsLounge Resources: Kevin Bass's case documentation site: https://case.kevinnbass.com Kevin Bass on Substack: https://www.kevinnbass.com Kevin Bass on X: @kevinnbass Kevin's original Newsweek op-ed (Jan. 2023): https://www.newsweek.com/its-time-scientific-community-admit-we-were-wrong-about-coivd-it-cost-lives-opinion-1776630 Kevin's Epoch Times essay on his dismissal: https://www.theepochtimes.com/opinion/how-my-medical-school-scandalously-dismissed-me-5580841

    59 min

  2. MAR 9

    The Shah's Spleen, Quality Metrics, Health Insurance & the FDA

    Dr. Anish Koka and Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio open with the little-known medical story behind the death of the Shah of Iran — how Mohammed Reza Pahlavi came to be operated on in Cairo in 1980 by legendary cardiovascular surgeon Michael DeBakey, and how the "comforting explanation" bias may have contributed to his death from a post-operative abscess rather than his underlying cancer. The case, drawn from a piece by Dr. Li Zhao (NYU Langone), launches a broader conversation about anchoring bias in medicine and the cognitive traps all clinicians face. From there, the hosts turn to the quality metric industrial complex — MIPS, the new low back pain ambulatory model threatening a 12% Medicare penalty for spine surgeons, the hospital readmission program's documented mortality spike, and how 2,266 CMS metrics are costing billions while failing patients. They close with a NEJM perspectives piece from Harvard Business School's Leemore Daphne on health insurance consolidation and her surprisingly free-market prescriptions for reform. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:00 The Shah of Iran — Political Background 03:45 The Shah's Leukemia and Michael DeBakey's 1980 Surgery 06:30 A Spleen the Size of a Football 08:00 The Decision Not to Drain — And Its Consequences 10:00 The Comforting Explanation Bias 12:30 Subspecialization Matters — The Most Famous Surgeon Isn't Always the Right One 14:45 Anchoring Bias in Clinical Medicine 17:00 Modern Imaging and Residents as Checks on Bias 18:30 Surgeons, Complications, and the M&M Conference 21:00 Segue: Judging Doctors by Stats 22:30 The Origins of Quality Metrics — Donabedian 1966 24:00 MIPS and How It Actually Works 26:00 The New Back Pain Ambulatory Specialty Model — A 12% Penalty 28:00 Evidence That Metrics Harm Patients: Hospital Readmission Reduction Program 30:30 Obstetrics and the C-Section Penalty 31:30 Press Ganey and the Cafeteria Problem 33:00 Risk Adjustment Gaming — 40% Margin Increase from Coder Rounding 38:00 2,266 Metrics and 108,000 Person-Hours at Johns Hopkins 40:00 Why Doctors Leave Medicare 42:00 What Good Metrics Could Look Like — Dr. DiGiorgio's JAMA Proposal 44:00 Health Insurance Consolidation — NEJM Perspectives 50:30 FDA, Vinay Prasad, and the WSJ Retraction 55:00 Next Week: Kevin Bass Subscribe to The Doctor's Lounge: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Follow the Show: X: @DrsLoungePod Co-hosts: @anish_koka | @drdigiorgio

    55 min

  3. FEB 28

    Dr. Mary Talley Bowden Battles the Health System

    In this conversation, Dr. Mary Talley Bowden shares her experiences as an independent physician during the COVID-19 pandemic, detailing her courageous battle against health systems and the Texas Medical Board. She discusses the challenges faced by healthcare professionals, the impact of politics on medical practices, and the importance of patient care and medical freedom. Dr. Bowden emphasizes the need for changes in healthcare policies, including the repeal of mandates and the promotion of alternative treatments like ivermectin. Her personal philosophy and motivation to fight for her patients shine through as she navigates the complexities of the healthcare system. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Mary Talley Bowden 02:17 Dr. Bowden's Courageous Battle Against Health Systems 06:01 The Role of Telemedicine and Ivermectin in COVID Treatment 11:37 Legal Battles and Hospital Privileges 17:03 The Texas Medical Board and Its Controversies 22:21 Political Dynamics in Texas Healthcare 27:22 The Future of Independent Medicine 32:19 The Impact of COVID Vaccines on Patients 37:26 Ethical Concerns and Medical Mandates 40:40 Critique of Public Health Figures 46:03 The Role of Independent Physicians 50:58 Future of Healthcare and Patient Empowerment About Dr. Mary Talley Bowden: Dr. Mary Talley Bowden is a Stanford-trained ENT physician running a solo, third-party-free practice in Houston, Texas. She became nationally known during COVID for continuing to see patients, offering early treatment, and publicly opposing vaccine mandates. She is currently in ongoing litigation with both Houston Methodist and the Texas Medical Board. Subscribe to The Doctor's Lounge: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | RSS Follow the Show: X: @DrsLoungePod Co-hosts: @anish_koka | @drdanchoi | @dutchrojas | @sdixitmd |

    58 min

  4. FEB 21

    The Week in Review and Understanding the Medicaid Data Dump with Samir Unni

    Episode Title: The Medicaid Data Dump: $1.7 Billion in Billing From Shell Companies and Why Nobody Stopped It Guest: Samir Unni | Biomedical Engineer, former Palantir healthcare data lead, currently working on federal data modernization efforts Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Technical Difficulties 02:47 Reflections on Jay Bhattacharya's Insights 06:04 Navigating Polarization in Science 08:50 Moderna's Flu Vaccine Controversy 11:56 Understanding the FDA's Refusal to File 14:58 The Medicaid Data Dump and Its Implications 17:50 Duplicate Payments in Medicaid 20:59 The Role of Transparency in Healthcare 24:01 Home Health Services and Fraud Risks 42:57 Understanding Fraud in Government Billing 46:51 Political Ramifications of Home Health Agencies 50:53 Analyzing Data for Fraud Detection 56:30 Incentives and Accountability in Healthcare 01:01:52 The Role of Technology in Fraud Prevention 01:12:32 Legislative Solutions to Healthcare Fraud Resources Mentioned: Samir Unni's viral Medicaid data thread (@SamirUnni on X)CMS TMSIS Medicaid provider-level data releaseAnish Koka's deep dive on Fluarix clinical efficacyHHS Office of Inspector General excluded individuals/entities listDr. Mandrola's posts on the Moderna/FDA controversyAlex Berenson's report on autism behavioral therapy billing trends About Samir Unni: Samir Unni is a biomedical engineer who has spent over a decade working at the intersection of healthcare and data analytics. He previously served as a lead at Palantir working with government and healthcare organizations, and is now focused on modernizing how the federal government leverages AI and data tools to identify waste and fraud in public health programs. Subscribe to The Doctor's Lounge: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | RSS Follow the Show: X: @drsloungepod Co-hosts: @anish_koka | @drdanchoi | @dutchrojas | @sdixitmd | @DrDiGiorgio

    1h 11m

  5. FEB 14

    NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya

    In this engaging conversation, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya discusses his unique perspective as a health economist and the impact of his training on his approach to public health, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. He reflects on the Great Barrington Declaration, the importance of dissent in science, and the need for reform within the NIH to foster innovation and address the replication crisis in research. Dr. Bhattacharya emphasizes the necessity of a culture shift in science, advocating for transparency and rigorous inquiry into public health issues, including vaccines and chronic diseases. Takeaways Dr. Bhattacharya's background in economics shapes his approach to health policy. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of considering trade-offs in public health decisions. Dissent in science is crucial for progress and innovation. The Great Barrington Declaration challenged the prevailing public health narrative during the pandemic. The NIH must adapt to foster a culture of questioning and innovation. Addressing the replication crisis is essential for restoring trust in scientific research. Public health responses must be transparent and trustworthy to gain public confidence. Raising the evidentiary bar for vaccines is necessary to ensure safety and efficacy. The NIH's role in funding research should focus on improving health outcomes. A second scientific revolution is needed to shift the power dynamics in research. Titles Navigating Public Health: Insights from Dr. Jay Bhattacharya The Economics of Health Policy: A Conversation with Dr. Bhattacharya Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Jay Bhattacharya 03:18 The Influence of Economics on Health Policy 06:23 Unique Perspectives During the COVID-19 Pandemic 10:12 The Role of Authority in Public Health Decisions 13:08 The Great Barrington Declaration and Its Impact 16:27 Challenges to Scientific Consensus 19:08 Leading the NIH: An Economic Perspective 22:33 Addressing the Replication Crisis in Science 36:56 Addressing Scientific Stagnation and Replication Crisis 43:42 Fostering a Culture of Dissent in Science 52:56 Setting Research Priorities for Public Health 59:58 Navigating Vaccine Safety and Public Trust Subscribe to The Doctor's Lounge: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | RSS Follow the Show: X: @drsloungepod Co-hosts: @anish_koka | @drdanchoi | @dutchrojas | @sdixitmd | @DrDiGiorgio

    1h 8m

  6. FEB 7

    The $2 Million Verdict: Inside the First Detransition Lawsuit Trial

    Benjamin Ryan was the only journalist in the courtroom for every day of the first detransition lawsuit to reach a jury verdict. In January 2025, a White Plains jury awarded $2 million to Fox Varian, who received a double mastectomy at age 16 after being diagnosed with gender dysphoria. Years later, she detransitioned and sued her psychologist and plastic surgeon. What happened in that courtroom tells a bigger story about how American medicine got here, why Europe is walking it back, and what happens when "affirmation" becomes the only acceptable path. Ben breaks down the testimony, the expert witnesses, the coerced mother, and why one of WPATH's own leaders sank the defense. This conversation covers the case details, the prefrontal lobotomy parallel, why the American Academy of Pediatrics can't back down, insurance incentives gone wrong, and what it's like to be the only journalist willing to cover the story everyone's afraid to touch. Chapter List 1:00 - Introduction: Benjamin Ryan, The Only Reporter in the Room4:00 - How Ben Got Into Trans Medicine Reporting7:00 - The Case Overview: Fox Varian vs Her Medical Team10:00 - Body Dysmorphia vs Gender Dysphoria: The Fatal Error13:00 - Ken Einhorn and the Philosophy of Affirmation17:00 - The Pride Center Records He Never Requested19:00 - Dr. Loren Schechter: WPATH's President-Elect Testifies for Plaintiff22:00 - Coercing the Mother: "You're Not in Reality, Mom"25:00 - Why Was the Plastic Surgeon Liable?29:00 - The Lobotomy Parallel: When Medicine Gets It Wrong33:00 - The Ethics of Taking Functioning Organs37:00 - Why the Plastic Surgeons Released a Statement39:00 - Expert Witness Testimony: The Game-Changer42:00 - Johanna Olson-Kennedy: "Live Son or Dead Daughter"44:00 - The Nose Job Fallacy: Breasts Have Function46:00 - How Did We Get Here? Internet, Social Media, Civil Rights50:00 - Why Europe Walked It Back and America Didn't54:00 - The Insurance Problem: Perverse Incentives59:00 - Why Medical Societies Can't Say "We Don't Know"1:02:00 - The Media Blackout: "No Institutional Bandwidth"1:05:00 - Closing: Follow Ben's Substack for Case Files Subscribe to The Doctor's Lounge: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | RSS Follow the Show: X: @drsloungepod Co-hosts: @anish_koka | @drdanchoi | @dutchrojas | @sdixitmd | @DrDiGiorgio Guest: Benjamin Ryan on Substack: Hazard Ratio (benryan.substack.com) Ben's Free Press Article : A Legal First That Could Change Gender Medicine

    1h 6m

  7. FEB 6 · BONUS

    Ed Gaines: How Independent Physicians Finally Got Leverage Against Insurance Companies

    Guest: Ed Gaines, JD, CPC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Zotec Partners Honorary Member, American College of Emergency Physicians Episode Summary: If you're a hospital-based physician and you don't understand the No Surprises Act, you're missing the biggest shift in payment leverage in decades. Insurance companies estimated there would be 17,000 disputes. The actual number? Over 2.5 million. And physicians are winning 85-90% of them. Ed Gaines has been fighting for physician payment for 32 years—from the 1990s battle over 1099 independent contractors to today's war over Independent Dispute Resolution. He explains how California's "neutral" stance cost physicians dearly, why Trump's price transparency rule changed everything, and what Anthem's threat to cut hospital payments really means. 0:00 - Introduction & Opening 1:05 - Who is Ed Gaines? 2:25 - The Origin Story: From Healthcare Fascination to Capitol Hill 6:31 - The 1099 Battle: A Five-Year Fight (1997-2002) 14:19 - What is the No Surprises Act? 17:26 - State Laws vs. Federal Action 23:48 - California's Mistake: When the CMA Was "Neutral" 26:44 - The Consolidation Paradox 28:36 - The Legislative Battle: Ways and Means vs. Energy and Commerce 31:43 - Becerra's Sabotage: Four Lawsuits, Four Victories 37:39 - The Current Battle: Insurance Companies Strike Back 40:43 - The Trump Transparency Game-Changer 42:55 - Who's Really Using IDR? 43:50 - Anthem's New Tactic: Going After Hospitals 46:18 - The Antitrust Argument 47:40 - Closing Thoughts In This Episode: The 1099 battle (1997-2002): How persistence won a 5-year legislative fightWhy the California Medical Association regrets being "neutral" on AB 72The $50 billion that health plans tried to extract from physiciansHow HHS tried to sabotage the NSA—and lost in federal court four timesWhy CMS was off by 147X in predicting IDR case volumeTrump's transparency rule: The data that's winning cases for physiciansAnthem's new strategy: Threatening 10% payment cuts to hospitalsThe antitrust case against insurance company boycottsWhy 70% of IDR users are independent physicians, not just PE groupsKey Quotes: "CMS estimated 17,000 cases. The actual number was over 2.5 million. They missed by just a touch." "The judge literally said the agency tried to put their thumb on the scales of justice in favor of health plans." "The California Medical Association was neutral on benchmarking to 125% of Medicare. To their credit, they realized they'd made a mistake." "They're losing 85-90% of cases at 6, 7, 8X of Medicare. They didn't see this coming." "For years they got to unilaterally decide what out-of-network payment would be, then just blame doctors for balance billing." About Ed Gaines: Ed has worked in physician revenue cycle management for 32 years, supporting over 22,000 physicians across all 50 states. He specializes in emergency medicine, radiology, anesthesia, and orthopedics advocacy. The American College of Emergency Physicians made him an honorary member in 2010—rare recognition for a non-physician. Subscribe to The Doctor's Lounge: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | RSS

    48 min

  8. FEB 1

    Dr. Gantwerker: Medicare Advantage, Private Practice, and Why Doctors Need to Stop Fighting on X

    What happens when a spine surgeon who's been in private practice since the Obamacare era sits down with doctors across the political spectrum? You get one of the most honest conversations about healthcare reform we've had. Brian Gantwerker doesn't fit neatly into anyone's box. He's a private practice capitalist who thinks breaking up insurance companies is essential. He believes in "just pricing" for craniotomies (hint: it's more than $2,000). He thinks Medicare was actually a great payer—until Medicare Advantage ruined it. And he has strong opinions about why physicians spend so much time fighting each other on Twitter instead of finding common ground. This conversation covers the Medicare Advantage meltdown (UnitedHealthcare shares tanking), vertical integration nightmares, why the FTC needs to break up both insurers AND hospitals, and what it's like when your congressman literally saves your practice. Plus: the real reason healthcare policy debates get so toxic on social media, and why quote-tweeting might be making everything worse. 0:00 - Introduction: Doctors in the Lounge 0:33 - Who is Brian Gantwerker? 2:08 - Starting Private Practice in the Obamacare Era 5:34 - UnitedHealthcare: The Pontine Glioma of Healthcare 7:43 - Medicare Advantage vs Traditional Medicare 10:26 - The Medicare Advantage Denial Story 14:35 - Who Gets the Value in Value-Based Care? 16:07 - The Free Market That Doesn't Exist Yet 19:16 - What Should a Craniotomy Cost? 21:47 - Breaking Up the Monopolies: Insurers AND Hospitals 27:09 - The Labor Theory of Value Debate 30:21 - CPT Codes and Central Planning 32:20 - The "Just Price" vs Free Market 35:42 - HSAs for Medicaid Recipients 38:47 - Price Transparency: Why Can't Healthcare Be Like Amazon? 40:03 - The Workout Period Problem 43:52 - FTC and Vertical Integration 46:04 - Lobbying, Congress, and Changing Minds 48:07 - Why Twitter Makes Physicians Fight Each Other 51:24 - Political Rancor and Taking Sides 55:14 - The Dr. Asghar Tweet Controversy 59:24 - Quote-Tweeting: The Death of Dialogue 1:03:03 - X as Thunderdome vs Real Conversation 1:04:35 - The Ted Lieu Saves: When Congress Actually Helps 1:07:32 - Closing: Shah Rukh Khan Hair and Finding Common Ground Subscribe to The Doctor's Lounge: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | RSS Follow the Show: X: @TheDoctorsLo Co-hosts: @anish_koka | @drdanchoi | @dutchrojas | @drdigiorgio | @sdixitmd Guest: @cscla

    1h 8m
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
47 Ratings

About

Where scalpels meet systems — and physicians say what they really think. Co-hosted by Dutch Rojas, Anthony DiGiorgio, DO, with Anish Koka, MD, Dan Choi, MD, & Sanat Dixit, MD — candid talks on healthcare policy, reform, physician autonomy & patient care.

Information

  • Creator
    The Doctor's Lounge
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Doctor's Lounge
  • Show Website
    The Doctor's Lounge

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