Dr. Niran Al-Agba

Price Transparency and All Its Warts

Legislators in more than 30 states have proposed legislation to promote price transparency, with most efforts focused around publishing average or median prices for hospital services. Some states already have price transparency policies in place. California requires hospitals to give patients cost estimates for the 25 most common outpatient procedures. Texas requires providers to disclose price information to patients upon request. Ohio passed price transparency legislation last year; however a lawsuit filed by the Ohio Hospital Association has delayed implementation. The cost of a knee replacement is $15,500 at the Surgery Center of Oklahoma, whereas the national average is $49,500.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-14T03:31:16+00:00March 14, 2017|Categories: Patient, Policy|Tags: ACA, Affordable Care, Corporatization, Hospitals, Obamacare, Transparency|

Costs of a Hospital Monopoly in Underserved Counties

There is a growing body of evidence that hospital mergers lead to higher prices for consumers, employers, insurance, and government overall. It is imperative to educate patients and lawmakers as to how the consolidation of hospitals and medical practices raise costs, decrease access, eliminate jobs, and ultimately reduce care quality as a result. Lawmakers should focus on this “first pillar” of cost control as they go back to the drawing board.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-14T03:30:18+00:00March 7, 2017|Categories: Policy|Tags: ACA, Affordable Care, CHI, Corporatization, Franciscan Health, Hospitals, Rural Care, Surprise Billing, Transparency|

Blood, Guts, and MACRA

DR-Exit: Sean MacStiofain said “most revolutions are caused… by the stupidity and brutality of governments.” Regulation without legitimacy, predictability and fairness always leads to backlash instead of compliance. If something is not done to stop MACRA implementation, more physicians will opt-out of Medicare and Medicaid than is fathomable. Once DRexit begins, there will be no turning back.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-14T03:29:09+00:00February 28, 2017|Categories: Policy|Tags: Affordable Care, Consolidation, DRexit, Hospitals, MACRA, MIPS, Physician Autonomy, Rural Care|

Gaming the System: Pediatrics, Mammograms, and MACRA

Imagine what quality metrics the pediatric cardiac surgeon is going to track. He would do well to collect statistics on how often he images patients for appendicitis because it is likely a rare occurrence. Things are really looking up for the use of data and technology in healthcare. Costs are likely to keep rising with everyone scoring in the 99th% percentile once they figure out how to game the system. But we certainly cannot stand in the way of science or progress now can we?

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-14T03:27:54+00:00February 21, 2017|Categories: Policy, Practice|Tags: ACA, Affordable Care, MACRA, MIPS, Physician Autonomy, Transparency, Value-based Care|

Mylan May Have Been “The Shot Heard Round the World”

U.S. Healthcare needs a revolution; ‘the shot heard round the world’ frequently refers to the opening shots of the American Revolution in 1775. The Big Pharma lobby is holding the American people hostage with their exorbitant ransom demands. Last summer, Mylan Pharmaceuticals, led by CEO Heather Bresch, overplayed their hand. Mylan came under fire for a 400% price increase in the EpiPen two-pack. This device is considered life-saving for children and adults with anaphylactic reactions to various food, insect, or environmental insults. Ms. Bresch insisted the significant price increase ($600-$700 for a medication which costs pennies) was justified due to the more ergonomic appearance of the delivery device and improved safety profile.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-14T03:23:39+00:00January 27, 2017|Categories: Patient, Policy|Tags: Affordable Care, Corporatization, Corruption, Epi Pen, Health Policy, Mylan, Transparency|