How To Rollback Bad Health Care Laws

Is the healthcare mess so hopeless that physicians should either leave it or wait for it to collapse? Are there legislative steps that doctors can take to tangibly improve the practice of medicine? And, if so, how should physicians act within the problematic framework of “organized medicine” to bring about such changes?

Our guest is Dr. Marcelo Hochman (twitter), who is sharing with us some hopeful successes in introducing important legislation by working in conjunction with his local and state medical societies. The three issues he has focused on are 1) a repeal of certificate-of-need laws, 2) a ruling against “non-compete clauses” in physician contracts, and 3) a tax deduction for charitable work provided by physicians. All three issues appeal to the notion that expanding the settings in which physicians can be free to practice will benefit both doctors and society.

Dr. Hochman is an independent solo pediatric facial plastic surgeon who practices in Charleston, South Carolina. He has specialized in the treatment of congenital vascular anomalies. He is a recipient of the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian award, and of other national and local professional and community honors. He currently serves as the President of the Charleston County Medical Society, as Chair of the Coalition to Repeal CON (Certificate of Need), and as Director of The Hemangioma Treatment Foundation.