The Doctor's Lounge
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.
The Doctor's Lounge
Licensing Loopholes, Wage Pressures, and the Fight for Physician Standards
🎯 Why Listen
North Carolina approved a bill letting some international medical grads practice without U.S. residency. Smart fix for shortages—or a back door for cheaper labor that risks quality? We break down patient impact, wages, malpractice, and what it means for the profession. Plus: Vinay Prasad’s surprise return to the FDA, catastrophic insurance, and why prices stay opaque.
đź‘Ą Co-Hosts
- Dutch Rojas – Founder, Bliksem Health
- Anthony DiGiorgio, DO, MHA – Neurosurgeon, UCSF; health policy researcher
- Anish Koka, MD – Cardiologist, Philadelphia; healthcare policy commentator
- Dan Choi, MD, FAAOS – Orthopedic spine surgeon, Long Island; healthcare advocate and social media voice
- Sanat Dixit, MD, FACS – Neurosurgeon, Huntsville, AL; Faculty, Vanderbilt University; healthcare entrepreneur
đź“Ś Episode Overview
- NC Bill 67: Why hospitals pushed it; how it bypasses standard vetting.
- Licensure’s false security—and the “Dr. Death” lesson.
- Will cheaper labor deter U.S. trainees and suppress wages?
- Malpractice/insurance: who absorbs the risk?
- Commoditizing clinicians: PR, checklists, and EHR clicks over care.
- Quick hits: Prasad’s FDA comeback and how the ACA erased catastrophic plans.
đź’¬ Notable Quotes
- “This is an employer-driven bill. Hospitals need cogs, not clinicians.” – Dan Choi
- “Licensure can give a false sense of security.” – Anish Koka
- “Import cheaper labor and U.S. grads will walk.” – Sanat Dixit
- “Killing catastrophic plans killed price signals.” – Anthony DiGiorgio
📚 What You’ll Learn
- How IMG parity reshapes the pipeline—and who wins.
- Why incentives, not slogans, drive workforce behavior.
- The hospital risk calculus: compliance vs. clinical judgment.
- Lobbying’s role in workforce policy.
- How restoring catastrophic coverage could revive real markets.
⏱ The Episode (Timestamps)
- 00:00–07:30 NC Bill 67—IMGs sans U.S. residency
- 07:30–13:00 Licensure gaps & Dr. Death
- 13:00–22:30 Wages, “STEM coolies,” incentives
- 22:30–29:30 NP scope, hospital demand, commoditization
- 29:30–34:45 Professional standards & patient trust
- 34:45–41:00 Lobbying power and politics
- 41:00–48:00 Vinay Prasad, FDA, biotech pushback
- 48:00–54:00 Catastrophic insurance & ACA effects
- 54:00–End Price transparency, DTE contracts, fixing incentives
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