Wendell Potter

Yeah, they don't tell you that in medical school, but that's the reality of their lives. And a lot of them are getting burned out. They're retiring early. They're using this term moral injury to describe what it's like in many cases to be a doctor in America. It's crazy.

Yeah, I know. That is a growing thing that you described. They used to be called concierge medicine. I guess a more appropriate term from their perspective is direct access or something like that. And you can have quicker access to a physician. In mental health, this has been happening for quite a long time.

Yeah, I know. That is a growing thing that you described. They used to be called concierge medicine. I guess a more appropriate term from their perspective is direct access or something like that. And you can have quicker access to a physician. In mental health, this has been happening for quite a long time.

Yeah, I know. That is a growing thing that you described. They used to be called concierge medicine. I guess a more appropriate term from their perspective is direct access or something like that. And you can have quicker access to a physician. In mental health, this has been happening for quite a long time.

A lot of psychiatrists and therapists don't accept insurance because they don't get paid enough. They haven't historically, and it's just too much hassle to deal with them. So in the mental health space, probably a majority of clinicians are out of network. But you're seeing that increasingly in medical care as well, too.

A lot of psychiatrists and therapists don't accept insurance because they don't get paid enough. They haven't historically, and it's just too much hassle to deal with them. So in the mental health space, probably a majority of clinicians are out of network. But you're seeing that increasingly in medical care as well, too.

A lot of psychiatrists and therapists don't accept insurance because they don't get paid enough. They haven't historically, and it's just too much hassle to deal with them. So in the mental health space, probably a majority of clinicians are out of network. But you're seeing that increasingly in medical care as well, too.

And even in primary care, there's a growing movement of direct primary care, direct access to primary care. If every American had access to primary care, we'd be a lot healthier country. But people, they don't have it. And in many cases, they're stuck in these high deductible plans and don't go even when they get sick. And that can lead to complications down the road.

And even in primary care, there's a growing movement of direct primary care, direct access to primary care. If every American had access to primary care, we'd be a lot healthier country. But people, they don't have it. And in many cases, they're stuck in these high deductible plans and don't go even when they get sick. And that can lead to complications down the road.

And even in primary care, there's a growing movement of direct primary care, direct access to primary care. If every American had access to primary care, we'd be a lot healthier country. But people, they don't have it. And in many cases, they're stuck in these high deductible plans and don't go even when they get sick. And that can lead to complications down the road.

We can go on forever about how the incentives are just so perverse in this country. But what you described is a growing thing and more appealing to physician practices.

We can go on forever about how the incentives are just so perverse in this country. But what you described is a growing thing and more appealing to physician practices.

We can go on forever about how the incentives are just so perverse in this country. But what you described is a growing thing and more appealing to physician practices.

I would dismantle these big corporations that I work for. They're far bigger now than they were when I was in the industry. They've embarked on something called vertical integration. Insurance companies are not just insurance companies. Now they increasingly own physician practices and clinics. You might not even know that the doctor that you're going to is employed by United Health Group.

I would dismantle these big corporations that I work for. They're far bigger now than they were when I was in the industry. They've embarked on something called vertical integration. Insurance companies are not just insurance companies. Now they increasingly own physician practices and clinics. You might not even know that the doctor that you're going to is employed by United Health Group.

I would dismantle these big corporations that I work for. They're far bigger now than they were when I was in the industry. They've embarked on something called vertical integration. Insurance companies are not just insurance companies. Now they increasingly own physician practices and clinics. You might not even know that the doctor that you're going to is employed by United Health Group.

These companies need to be broken up. And that is one thing that there's growing bipartisan support for in Congress is to look at the makeup of these companies. United Health Group is the largest. It's a $400 billion company. It's the fourth largest company in America now. It's grown so much in recent years through acquisitions.

These companies need to be broken up. And that is one thing that there's growing bipartisan support for in Congress is to look at the makeup of these companies. United Health Group is the largest. It's a $400 billion company. It's the fourth largest company in America now. It's grown so much in recent years through acquisitions.

These companies need to be broken up. And that is one thing that there's growing bipartisan support for in Congress is to look at the makeup of these companies. United Health Group is the largest. It's a $400 billion company. It's the fourth largest company in America now. It's grown so much in recent years through acquisitions.

Increasingly in recent years, buying up physician practices all over the country, getting deeper and deeper into healthcare. home health care into hospice care and pharmacy benefits. People get annoyed at drug companies for the cost of medications, but increasingly insurance companies are taking a bigger chunk out of the pharmacy supply chain than the drug makers are getting.