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Today was one of those days that reminds me exactly why this work matters. We cared for a 36-year-old woman who’s been fighting breast cancer—chemo, mastectomy, all of it—while working in a job where time off is hard to come by. She came to see me in tears, worried...

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Elisabeth Potter MD

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46,308 次观看 • 9 个月前 •via X (Twitter)

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Last night, I got a late call from a breast surgeon here in Austin, TX. Her 22-year-old patient— just days away from a mastectomy—found out the plastic surgeon she had been seeing is out-of-network and her insurance doesn’t cover any out-of-network care. So now what? The breast surgeon called me and asked for a favor, knowing I take cases like this on, even if the payments are low…too low to cover the costs for me and my practice…because I think it’s the right thing to do. My team is doing everything we can to get her seen this week and to get her case approved. But here’s the thing: this isn’t a one-off. This is yet another example of how having insurance doesn’t mean you have access to care. These narrow networks are failing patients. This young woman has cancer now. She needs surgery now. And we don’t have the luxury of time to wait for policy change. The sad reality is I can’t afford to keep doing this for patients, even though I want to. We need a better system for patients and for the doctors trying to care for them. I believe we can fix this. But we need the help of the government. We need laws to change, and we don't have the luxury of time.
1:46

Last night, I got a late call from a breast surgeon here in Austin, TX. Her 22-year-old patient— just days away from a mastectomy—found out the plastic surgeon she had been seeing is out-of-network and her insurance doesn’t cover any out-of-network care. So now what? The breast surgeon called me and asked for a favor, knowing I take cases like this on, even if the payments are low…too low to cover the costs for me and my practice…because I think it’s the right thing to do. My team is doing everything we can to get her seen this week and to get her case approved. But here’s the thing: this isn’t a one-off. This is yet another example of how having insurance doesn’t mean you have access to care. These narrow networks are failing patients. This young woman has cancer now. She needs surgery now. And we don’t have the luxury of time to wait for policy change. The sad reality is I can’t afford to keep doing this for patients, even though I want to. We need a better system for patients and for the doctors trying to care for them. I believe we can fix this. But we need the help of the government. We need laws to change, and we don't have the luxury of time.

Elisabeth Potter MD

48,458 次观看 • 1 年前

Something has to change. After operating all day and doing two DIEP flap cases, I saw a woman who had driven hours across Texas to get help. She has a history of breast cancer, had implant reconstruction, and had radiation on one side. And we know this, radiation and implants don’t mix. She developed signs of infection. Her incisions opened, fluid was draining, and she went to an ER and even called her plastic surgeon for help. The surgeon who initially performed her reconstruction told her, “I don’t take your insurance anymore.” She continued working and looking for help while the infection got worse. Because her insurance reimburses so poorly, she couldn’t find someone to operate on her. Eventually, she made it to our practice where we took care of her. Our plan is to treat the infection and then perform a flap reconstruction so she can finally heal. It’s a privilege to have her trust and to take care of her. But I want to say this clearly: This level of heroic effort is not the answer longterm. We need a sustainable system that is applying pressures in the right direction. And we need to agree on what healthcare services should be available to all Americans.
1:30

Something has to change. After operating all day and doing two DIEP flap cases, I saw a woman who had driven hours across Texas to get help. She has a history of breast cancer, had implant reconstruction, and had radiation on one side. And we know this, radiation and implants don’t mix. She developed signs of infection. Her incisions opened, fluid was draining, and she went to an ER and even called her plastic surgeon for help. The surgeon who initially performed her reconstruction told her, “I don’t take your insurance anymore.” She continued working and looking for help while the infection got worse. Because her insurance reimburses so poorly, she couldn’t find someone to operate on her. Eventually, she made it to our practice where we took care of her. Our plan is to treat the infection and then perform a flap reconstruction so she can finally heal. It’s a privilege to have her trust and to take care of her. But I want to say this clearly: This level of heroic effort is not the answer longterm. We need a sustainable system that is applying pressures in the right direction. And we need to agree on what healthcare services should be available to all Americans.

Elisabeth Potter MD

43,518 次观看 • 10 个月前

My last case of 2025 and my first case of 2026 tell you everything you need to know about our healthcare system. Last week, I was scheduled to do a DIEP flap for a patient who had been waiting a long time. We had asked her insurance company if we could do the surgery in network at @Redbudsurgerycenter, where we have everything needed to safely and efficiently take care of her. They hadn’t approved that, so the surgery had to be scheduled at an older hospital in town. When we arrived, the hospital was having HVAC issues. The humidity levels were not safe for surgery. We waited for hours, and ultimately the case had to be canceled. It wasn’t just her surgery. Multiple surgeries were canceled that day because operating under those conditions would have been a fire risk. We weren’t able to reschedule her surgery before the end of the year, which means her deductible resets. I could have safely done her surgery at Redbud that day but insurance rules wouldn’t allow it. This is what closed networks and rigid systems look like in real life. Now here’s the contrast. The first case I’m doing in 2026 is also a woman who needs breast reconstruction with DIEP flaps. This time, instead of traditional insurance, her employer uses a third party administrator. They came to me directly and asked what I would charge if they paid fairly and transparently. On Monday, we’re doing her bilateral DIEP flap at @Redbudsurgerycenter. I can control the environment, the costs, and the care. It’s better for the patient and significantly less expensive for the employer. This is called Direct Specialty Care. It’s not direct primary care. It’s specialty care delivered without unnecessary barriers. It’s happening. We’re starting the year this way. And I’m going to keep pushing the boundaries and keeping you informed.
2:54

My last case of 2025 and my first case of 2026 tell you everything you need to know about our healthcare system. Last week, I was scheduled to do a DIEP flap for a patient who had been waiting a long time. We had asked her insurance company if we could do the surgery in network at @Redbudsurgerycenter, where we have everything needed to safely and efficiently take care of her. They hadn’t approved that, so the surgery had to be scheduled at an older hospital in town. When we arrived, the hospital was having HVAC issues. The humidity levels were not safe for surgery. We waited for hours, and ultimately the case had to be canceled. It wasn’t just her surgery. Multiple surgeries were canceled that day because operating under those conditions would have been a fire risk. We weren’t able to reschedule her surgery before the end of the year, which means her deductible resets. I could have safely done her surgery at Redbud that day but insurance rules wouldn’t allow it. This is what closed networks and rigid systems look like in real life. Now here’s the contrast. The first case I’m doing in 2026 is also a woman who needs breast reconstruction with DIEP flaps. This time, instead of traditional insurance, her employer uses a third party administrator. They came to me directly and asked what I would charge if they paid fairly and transparently. On Monday, we’re doing her bilateral DIEP flap at @Redbudsurgerycenter. I can control the environment, the costs, and the care. It’s better for the patient and significantly less expensive for the employer. This is called Direct Specialty Care. It’s not direct primary care. It’s specialty care delivered without unnecessary barriers. It’s happening. We’re starting the year this way. And I’m going to keep pushing the boundaries and keeping you informed.

Elisabeth Potter MD

136,464 次观看 • 9 个月前

PM Frederiksen: we have to recognize, we have to understand, we have to learn that Russia will not change and they are not interested in peace, unfortunately. Can you imagine? I mean, it's like minus 25 degrees and then you attack the energy system. I mean, it's so crazy that only Russians would do such a thing. But this is how Russia is and it will not change. And I think our problem in Ukraine is still that there are still red lines when it comes to the weapons they can use to win this war. And you cannot win a war with the one hand tied on your back. We need to give them weapons so they can strike into Russia. We have had this discussion for several years. We are still discussing it. I mean, for the last three years on this conference, I have said, why are we not providing them the air defense that they need? And everybody is doing like this. They still lack air defense. You cannot protect a country without air defense. We know exactly what we need to deliver, including, of course, membership of NATO, because if they were a NATO member now, we would be in a completely different situation now. So, we know what to do. But first of all, we have to recognize, we have to understand, we have to learn that Russia will not change and they are not interested in peace, unfortunately.
1:36

PM Frederiksen: we have to recognize, we have to understand, we have to learn that Russia will not change and they are not interested in peace, unfortunately. Can you imagine? I mean, it's like minus 25 degrees and then you attack the energy system. I mean, it's so crazy that only Russians would do such a thing. But this is how Russia is and it will not change. And I think our problem in Ukraine is still that there are still red lines when it comes to the weapons they can use to win this war. And you cannot win a war with the one hand tied on your back. We need to give them weapons so they can strike into Russia. We have had this discussion for several years. We are still discussing it. I mean, for the last three years on this conference, I have said, why are we not providing them the air defense that they need? And everybody is doing like this. They still lack air defense. You cannot protect a country without air defense. We know exactly what we need to deliver, including, of course, membership of NATO, because if they were a NATO member now, we would be in a completely different situation now. So, we know what to do. But first of all, we have to recognize, we have to understand, we have to learn that Russia will not change and they are not interested in peace, unfortunately.

Anton Gerashchenko

105,935 次观看 • 7 个月前

Every December, patients rush to get care before deductibles reset in January. This year feels different. I am meeting patients who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer right before the holidays while also worrying about whether they will be able to afford their care next year. What is becoming harder is navigating an insurance system that adds fear and uncertainty during an already overwhelming time. There are a lot of us out here who simply want to keep taking care of patients. We are going to figure this out. This next year will be a year of ingenuity because our patients deserve it.
1:33

Every December, patients rush to get care before deductibles reset in January. This year feels different. I am meeting patients who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer right before the holidays while also worrying about whether they will be able to afford their care next year. What is becoming harder is navigating an insurance system that adds fear and uncertainty during an already overwhelming time. There are a lot of us out here who simply want to keep taking care of patients. We are going to figure this out. This next year will be a year of ingenuity because our patients deserve it.

Elisabeth Potter MD

210,381 次观看 • 9 个月前

Arteta: “We need everything. We need the first of all, we need everybody fit and available. So the ones that are not involved, the ones that are not with us, that are really big, important players, we need them immediately with us because then we're going to be much stronger. “And then, the other ones, they need to stand up me, the first one and embrace this challenge and go for it. So today we have to suffer. It's painful. It's a terrible feeling. But tomorrow is a different day and if somebody would have said to me in August, 'You are in this position right now in April,' I'm sure we would all take it.”
0:48

Arteta: “We need everything. We need the first of all, we need everybody fit and available. So the ones that are not involved, the ones that are not with us, that are really big, important players, we need them immediately with us because then we're going to be much stronger. “And then, the other ones, they need to stand up me, the first one and embrace this challenge and go for it. So today we have to suffer. It's painful. It's a terrible feeling. But tomorrow is a different day and if somebody would have said to me in August, 'You are in this position right now in April,' I'm sure we would all take it.”

Connor Humm

59,755 次观看 • 5 个月前

So many of us remember exactly where we were when the Dobbs decision came down. I called my mom and she told me to keep fighting. Last June, we promised to protect abortion and reproductive health care in Minnesota. One year later, I’m proud to say we kept that promise.
0:43

So many of us remember exactly where we were when the Dobbs decision came down. I called my mom and she told me to keep fighting. Last June, we promised to protect abortion and reproductive health care in Minnesota. One year later, I’m proud to say we kept that promise.

Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan

11,714 次观看 • 3 年前

Bill Chisholm: “It’s not about the money at all. This was, again, trying to put together the right set of players and assets to win now, to win next year, the following year, and the year after that. That's what this was about. None of these were about money. We have some more room now. If we see something we wanted, Brad's got the green light to do that. So I just really, I mean, I know there's people who feel like, 'Oh, there must be a smoking gun somewhere on the money,' but that's just not what this is about. And I can say it, and I'll keep saying it, but I'll also prove it to you when the time comes. When we have the opportunity, we're going to do that. And we've given ourselves the flexibility to do it now. So, it's fine to keep asking the question, because I know we have to prove it, and we will.”
1:32

Bill Chisholm: “It’s not about the money at all. This was, again, trying to put together the right set of players and assets to win now, to win next year, the following year, and the year after that. That's what this was about. None of these were about money. We have some more room now. If we see something we wanted, Brad's got the green light to do that. So I just really, I mean, I know there's people who feel like, 'Oh, there must be a smoking gun somewhere on the money,' but that's just not what this is about. And I can say it, and I'll keep saying it, but I'll also prove it to you when the time comes. When we have the opportunity, we're going to do that. And we've given ourselves the flexibility to do it now. So, it's fine to keep asking the question, because I know we have to prove it, and we will.”

Justin Turpin

10,840 次观看 • 2 个月前

I’m fighting every day to take care of patients at @redbudsurgerycenter and work with insurance. We’re doing complex DIEP flap reconstruction safely in an outpatient setting with incredible outcomes. When I’m not in-network yet, we use a gap exception → insurance agrees to cover the surgery at in-network rates. For one patient, we got the approval. Everything documented. We took her to surgery… and while we were in the operating room, they sent an email reversing the coverage in real time. We still took care of her, of course. But how is this allowed? How can doctors keep their doors open when billion-dollar companies can change the rules after the work is done?
1:05

I’m fighting every day to take care of patients at @redbudsurgerycenter and work with insurance. We’re doing complex DIEP flap reconstruction safely in an outpatient setting with incredible outcomes. When I’m not in-network yet, we use a gap exception → insurance agrees to cover the surgery at in-network rates. For one patient, we got the approval. Everything documented. We took her to surgery… and while we were in the operating room, they sent an email reversing the coverage in real time. We still took care of her, of course. But how is this allowed? How can doctors keep their doors open when billion-dollar companies can change the rules after the work is done?

Elisabeth Potter MD

12,010 次观看 • 6 个月前

Closed networks don’t exist to help patients. They exist to make money. I saw a woman today who traveled all the way from New Mexico to Texas because her insurance network had no one who could do her DIEP flap reconstruction. She’s had breast cancer, a mastectomy, radiation, and now a painful implant that looks like it’s about to come through her skin. She’s been waiting since July for approval. Not for travel, just for the chance to see me, because her network blocked her from getting care outside their list. Closed networks limit choice, control doctors, and keep patients from the care they need. It’s time we rethink this.
1:30

Closed networks don’t exist to help patients. They exist to make money. I saw a woman today who traveled all the way from New Mexico to Texas because her insurance network had no one who could do her DIEP flap reconstruction. She’s had breast cancer, a mastectomy, radiation, and now a painful implant that looks like it’s about to come through her skin. She’s been waiting since July for approval. Not for travel, just for the chance to see me, because her network blocked her from getting care outside their list. Closed networks limit choice, control doctors, and keep patients from the care they need. It’s time we rethink this.

Elisabeth Potter MD

12,238 次观看 • 1 年前

Good day everyone, I hope you are all doing well. I am here to appeal to the public concerning Ajara. Many of us often question why we post "RIP" messages more than we celebrate and support one another while we are still alive. For God's sake, I am sincerely begging you all, Ajara is currently in a critical condition. Some people think this is content, but it is not. This is real life. Time is not on Ajara's side right now, and we urgently need your support, both financially and in prayers. You all know that I, Mama_no_network, rarely do things like this, but Ajara is a child I love deeply. She is very accommodating and respectful. One of the main reasons I am speaking out is because no matter the amount of money you give Ajara, she is never ungrateful. All she ever says is that she is going home to give it to her mother, who is a stroke patient. She takes care of her mother with every penny she earns. It is not that Ajara is not working or earning, but you all know her condition. I am also appealing because Ajara is currently pregnant. We did not detect the pregnancy early until her condition worsened. In December, I advised her to go to the hospital for proper treatment instead of self medication. It was during that visit we discovered she was pregnant. Sadly, the doctors have now said it is a liver disease, which we initially thought was pregnancy related. Despite her condition, Ajara has been traveling to different locations. Please, this is not content, and we cannot sit back and fold our arms. Also, we will take any recommended drug to reduce her pain. We sincerely beg you, our people, to come to her aid. Thank you.
2:44

Good day everyone, I hope you are all doing well. I am here to appeal to the public concerning Ajara. Many of us often question why we post "RIP" messages more than we celebrate and support one another while we are still alive. For God's sake, I am sincerely begging you all, Ajara is currently in a critical condition. Some people think this is content, but it is not. This is real life. Time is not on Ajara's side right now, and we urgently need your support, both financially and in prayers. You all know that I, Mama_no_network, rarely do things like this, but Ajara is a child I love deeply. She is very accommodating and respectful. One of the main reasons I am speaking out is because no matter the amount of money you give Ajara, she is never ungrateful. All she ever says is that she is going home to give it to her mother, who is a stroke patient. She takes care of her mother with every penny she earns. It is not that Ajara is not working or earning, but you all know her condition. I am also appealing because Ajara is currently pregnant. We did not detect the pregnancy early until her condition worsened. In December, I advised her to go to the hospital for proper treatment instead of self medication. It was during that visit we discovered she was pregnant. Sadly, the doctors have now said it is a liver disease, which we initially thought was pregnancy related. Despite her condition, Ajara has been traveling to different locations. Please, this is not content, and we cannot sit back and fold our arms. Also, we will take any recommended drug to reduce her pain. We sincerely beg you, our people, to come to her aid. Thank you.

OBIANUJUAKU

123,367 次观看 • 8 个月前

I’ve heard you telling me that your hospitals and clinics are understaffed and stretched too thin. Today, it happened to my patient and I know it’s happening to others, too. I showed up to do three breast reconstruction surgeries. But the hospital told me they didn’t have enough staff for the last case. It seems they expected me to work faster, stretch the team thinner, and “make it work.” That’s not how we do safe surgery. So I called my patient and told her the truth. We agreed—we’re not doing this case that way. This isn’t a one-time thing. It’s happening too often. We’re being asked to do more, with less, in less time. Patients deserve better—and so do the people taking care of them.
2:11

I’ve heard you telling me that your hospitals and clinics are understaffed and stretched too thin. Today, it happened to my patient and I know it’s happening to others, too. I showed up to do three breast reconstruction surgeries. But the hospital told me they didn’t have enough staff for the last case. It seems they expected me to work faster, stretch the team thinner, and “make it work.” That’s not how we do safe surgery. So I called my patient and told her the truth. We agreed—we’re not doing this case that way. This isn’t a one-time thing. It’s happening too often. We’re being asked to do more, with less, in less time. Patients deserve better—and so do the people taking care of them.

Elisabeth Potter MD

48,012 次观看 • 1 年前

Broncos LT Garett Bolles: "I'm pretty angry and frustrated. There's a lot of tears that came down my face yesterday. I've been here for a long time. And to get that close hurt really bad. But at the same time, I know exactly where this team is going. I know the future that we have. ... People want to come to Denver. I mean, I'll be shocked to see how many free agents want to come here. We got a young team, we got a quarterback. We got the best O-line in football. I don't care what anyone says; we do. That's just reality. Numbers don't lie. Stats don't lie. You guys can look that up. That's just reality. When you have a dominant O-line and a dominant defensive line, people want to come here. When you got a phenomenal quarterback in Bo, people don't give him the credit where he had, the season that he had was phenomenal. ... We have a great running back room. We got great receivers. Obviously, we need some key players to come in and do what they need to do by getting points on the scoreboard. We had a phenomenal defense. We have everything we need. We just need a couple more playmakers. And the sky's the limit for this team."
1:29

Broncos LT Garett Bolles: "I'm pretty angry and frustrated. There's a lot of tears that came down my face yesterday. I've been here for a long time. And to get that close hurt really bad. But at the same time, I know exactly where this team is going. I know the future that we have. ... People want to come to Denver. I mean, I'll be shocked to see how many free agents want to come here. We got a young team, we got a quarterback. We got the best O-line in football. I don't care what anyone says; we do. That's just reality. Numbers don't lie. Stats don't lie. You guys can look that up. That's just reality. When you have a dominant O-line and a dominant defensive line, people want to come here. When you got a phenomenal quarterback in Bo, people don't give him the credit where he had, the season that he had was phenomenal. ... We have a great running back room. We got great receivers. Obviously, we need some key players to come in and do what they need to do by getting points on the scoreboard. We had a phenomenal defense. We have everything we need. We just need a couple more playmakers. And the sky's the limit for this team."

Andrew Mason

283,923 次观看 • 8 个月前

A hugely significant day in UK politics no matter where you are. The political landscape has been changing for quite some time and today map was redrawn. But people are united on one thing; change! Where does Northern Ireland fit into all of this? It's clearer than ever to me that while people are talking about Reform the party, we need Reform of Stormont. We don't know what the future holds, but one thing is certain, we need to guard against all eventualities and the last thing we want is to be without a devolved government. We need a robust system that can't collapse. We need to know that whoever is in Govt in Westminster, that we are in charge of our future. No one else can solve or care about our problems apart from us. Reform of Stormont has now just become an absolute essential. We must be able to govern ourselves no matter who is in No 10.
3:05

A hugely significant day in UK politics no matter where you are. The political landscape has been changing for quite some time and today map was redrawn. But people are united on one thing; change! Where does Northern Ireland fit into all of this? It's clearer than ever to me that while people are talking about Reform the party, we need Reform of Stormont. We don't know what the future holds, but one thing is certain, we need to guard against all eventualities and the last thing we want is to be without a devolved government. We need a robust system that can't collapse. We need to know that whoever is in Govt in Westminster, that we are in charge of our future. No one else can solve or care about our problems apart from us. Reform of Stormont has now just become an absolute essential. We must be able to govern ourselves no matter who is in No 10.

Sorcha Eastwood MP

42,349 次观看 • 4 个月前

Access to breast reconstruction is being denied because of poor reimbursement—and it’s a problem we need to address. Today, I saw a 69-year-old patient who was told she couldn’t get a DIEP flap because Medicare doesn’t pay enough. I hear this over and over. The reality is, CMS reimbursement sets the standard for everyone else, and when it undervalues modern breast reconstruction, patients lose access. I’ll still do the right thing for my patients, and perform their surgeries, even when I lose money—but this system needs to change. It’s time for CMS and this administration to take a hard look at how reimbursements are set. We need a new system that values patient care over profit margins. I’ll keep fighting for that, who else is with me? 💙
2:25

Access to breast reconstruction is being denied because of poor reimbursement—and it’s a problem we need to address. Today, I saw a 69-year-old patient who was told she couldn’t get a DIEP flap because Medicare doesn’t pay enough. I hear this over and over. The reality is, CMS reimbursement sets the standard for everyone else, and when it undervalues modern breast reconstruction, patients lose access. I’ll still do the right thing for my patients, and perform their surgeries, even when I lose money—but this system needs to change. It’s time for CMS and this administration to take a hard look at how reimbursements are set. We need a new system that values patient care over profit margins. I’ll keep fighting for that, who else is with me? 💙

Elisabeth Potter MD

10,475 次观看 • 1 年前