Why are so many doctors leaving private practice? Why does it take so long to get an appointment? In the final episode of Season 1, Chuck Melendi is joined by Dr. Andrew Weinstein, President-Elect (2027) of the American Academy of Dermatology, to share how Medicare cuts—and the outdated Physician Fee Schedule—are quietly breaking the healthcare system at its heart .
Dr. Weinstein explains how this Medicare pricing system hasn’t kept up with inflation in decades, and how private insurance companies follow Medicare’s lead—paying doctors less, while raising costs for patients. Meanwhile, Medicare Advantage plans rake in billions through upcoding and favorable selection, putting profits ahead of patient care.
What You Will Learn:
-Why doctors are burning out and closing their offices
-How Medicare and private insurance payments are linked
-What “Physician Fee Schedule” really means (and why it matters)
-How Medicare Advantage plans are overpaid—and under-delivering
-What happens if Congress doesn’t fix this soon
Resources:
To learn more about the Physician Fee Schedule for Medicaid, read this report from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Take Action:
-Call your representatives and demand physician reimbursement that keeps pace with inflation.
-Visit disruptivedialogue.org to find your legislators, and for other advocacy resources
-Share this episode with family and friends—especially Medicare enrollees
-Leave us a rating and review to help others find this important conversation!
