PODCAST · government
DC EKG
by Stay On Course Studios
Join former White House policy expert Joe Grogan as he cuts through the complexities of healthcare legislation and its real-world implications. Each episode of DC EKG aims to demystify the policies shaping our healthcare system, uncovering how these changes impact patients, providers, and payers across the country.
Episodes
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Dr. David Eagle: The Hospital Squeeze
DC EKG with Joe Grogan DC EKG Ep 140 | Joe Grogan & Dr. David Eagle: The Hospital Squeeze Guest: Dr. David Eagle, President, American Independent Medical Practice Association Episode Description Joe Grogan sits down with Dr. David Eagle, President of the American Independent Medical Practice...
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John Desser: Health Savings Accounts and Market-Based Healthcare Solutions
Joe Grogan talks with John Desser, VP and Head of Government Affairs at Health Equity, about market-based healthcare and why Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) may be its future. John's 35-year career runs from an internship in Senator John McCain's office through the Bush administration, eHealth…
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Elizabeth Chamblee Birch on The Pain Brokers
Elizabeth Chamblee Birch, law professor and author of The Pain Brokers, exposes a coordinated healthcare fraud scheme targeting over 100,000 women. Stolen HIPAA-protected health records were weaponized by call centers in India and South Florida to convince women they needed emergency mesh removal...
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John Bertrand on FDA Approval, CMS Reimbursement, and AI Healthcare Reality
Guest: John Bertrand, former Digital Diagnostics Episode Description Joe Grogan sits down with John Bertrand, a veteran healthcare technology executive who scaled Digital Diagnostics to 75 health systems and achieved the first FDA approval and CMS reimbursement for an autonomous AI diagnostic...
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REFILL | Naomi Lopez on Healthcare AI, ACCESS, TEMPO, and the Future of Care (Originally Aired: January 23, 2026)
This is a legacy episode recorded in January 2026. At the time of recording, Naomi Lopez was founder of Nexus Policy Consulting and a leading voice in healthcare policy, healthcare AI, and state health reform. Joe Grogan sits down with Naomi Lopez from Nexus Policy Consulting to recap the first...
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REFILL | Jackson Hammond on NHE, CMS Reform, and Making Insurance Almost Obsolete (Originally Aired: January 22, 2026)
In this "REFILL" episode, Joe Grogan sits down with Jackson Hammond from Paragon Health Institute to unpack what the latest CMS National Health Expenditure data says about where U.S. healthcare is headed. They break down spending trends from $5.2 trillion to projections of $8.6 trillion…
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REFILL | Michael Cannon on STLDI and ACA Coverage: Costs, Choice, and Tradeoffs (Originally Aired: January 27, 2026)
This is a legacy episode recorded in January 2026. At the time of recording, Michael Cannon was Director of Health Policy Studies at the Cato Institute, a leading voice on healthcare reform, the Affordable Care Act, and market-based health policy solutions. Episode Description Joe Grogan sits…
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REFILL | Ryan Long on 340B Drug Pricing, Enhanced ACA Tax Credits, and Medicare Part D (Originally Aired: September 24, 2025)
Joe Grogan sits down with Ryan Long, healthcare policy expert and senior research fellow at Paragon, to discuss three critical healthcare policy issues facing Congress. First, the Congressional Budget Office's landmark analysis of the 340B drug pricing program, which revealed the program…
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"REFILL" | Dutch Rojas on Healthcare Economics, Direct Contracting, and Tax-Exempt Health Systems (Originally Aired: September 15, 2025)
This is a "REFILL" episode recorded in September 2025. At the time of recording, Dutch Rojas was a healthcare entrepreneur, founder of multiple direct contracting companies, and board member of Physician Led Healthcare for America, with a growing following on social media advocating for...
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"REFILL" | Dr. Brian Miller on FDA Regulatory Reform and the Valley of Death in Medical Innovation (Originally Aired: March 21, 2025)
In this "Refill" episode, Joe Grogan sits down with Dr. Brian Miller to discuss the "Valley of Death" - the gap between FDA approval and CMS coverage - and how regulatory reform can accelerate medical innovation. Miller explains how FDA product review can be made more efficient through automation...
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"REFILL" | Peter Pitt on FDA Advisory Committees, Make America Healthy Again, and Drug Pricing (Originally Aired: May 23, 2025)
Joe Grogan sits down with Peter Pitt, FDA veteran and expert on healthcare regulation, to discuss FDA advisory committees, the Make America Healthy Again initiative, and critical gaps in pharmaceutical labeling. Pitt addresses why obesity-related drug dosing information is missing from labels…
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"REFILL" - Ryan Long on the ACA Subsidy Fight, Phantom Enrollees, and Reforming 340B
Podcast TitleDC EKG with Joe Grogan: A Healthcare Policy Podcast This is a REFILL of Episode124 - (Original air date: January 27, 2026) Episode Title - Ryan Long on the ACA Subsidy Fight, Phantom Enrollees, and Reforming 340B Episode Description - Joe Grogan is joined by Ryan Long of Paragon…
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"REFILL" White House Rivalries and CDC Reform with Dr. Tevi Troy
An episode pulled from the archives, Joe Grogan and Eric Ueland welcome Dr. Tevi Troy, former Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, presidential historian, and best selling author of Fight House: Rivalries in the White House from Truman to Trump. First aired in February 2023 at the...
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"REFILL" | Dr. Jay Bhattacharya on COVID Infection Rates, Natural Immunity, and the Great Barrington Declaration (Originally Aired: July 20, 2023)
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya on COVID-19 Seroprevalence, Natural Immunity, and the Great Barrington Declaration (Originally Aired July 20, 2023) This episode originally aired on July 20, 2023, the same day Stanford University President Tessier-Levine was forced to resign. Dr. Jay offers detailed…
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Tax Expenditures, 340 B Drug Pricing, and Kidney Donation Reform
DC EKG with Joe Grogan Episode 137: Tax Expenditures, 340 B Drug Pricing, and Kidney Donation Reform Air Date: June 15, 2026 Episode Description In this episode, Joe Grogan sits down with Dr. Ike Brannon, President of Capital Policy Analytics and Senior Fellow at the Jack Kemp Foundation, to...
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"REFILL" - The Economics of Ozempic and Other Weight Loss Drugs (Originally Aired: May 2024)
DC EKG with Joe Grogan The Economics of Ozempic and Other Weight Loss Drugs Episode 136.5 (“Prescription Refill” – A replay from the archives) Original Air Date: May 2024 In this episode, Joe Grogan welcomes Ben Ippolito, Senior Fellow in Economic Policy Studies at the American Enterprise...
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Tom Barker on The Truth About Drug Pricing Policy
In Episode 136 of DC EKG, Joe Grogan hosts Tom Barker, a top drug-pricing attorney at Foley Hoag and former acting general counsel of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the Bush administration. Tom helped implement Medicare Part D and now advises drugmakers and policymakers on complex pricing...
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Dr. Redfield's Warning: Hantavirus| Bird Flu| Long COVID and More
In Episode 134 of DC EKG, former CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield joins Joe Grogan to discuss his new book, Redfield's Warning, and break down three major threats to public health: Long COVID, Hantavirus, and bird flu. Dr. Redfield explains the persistent viral reservoirs in long COVID patients,...
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The European Union Explained with Christiaan Alting von Geusau
In Episode 133 of DC EKG, Joe Grogan welcomes back Dr. Christiaan Alting von Geusau for Part 2 of their conversation, this time turning to the European Union. Christiaan walks Joe through the post-World War II origins of the EU as a peace initiative built around the Schuman Plan, the pooling of...
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Hungary Election After Orban with Christiaan Alting von Geusau
In Episode 132 of DC EKG, Joe Grogan sits down with Dr. Christiaan Alting von Geusau for a timely discussion on Hungary’s election, Viktor Orbán’s loss, and what comes next under Peter Magyar. Christiaan explains why the size of the election wipeout surprised even seasoned observers, why the...
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Obamacare, HSAs, and Reference Pricing with Dr. John Goodman
In Episode 131 of DC EKG, Joe Grogan sits down with Dr. John Goodman to discuss what both parties continue to get wrong about healthcare, why patient incentives still matter, and how market-based reforms could lower costs and improve access. Drawing on decades of work in health economics and...
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340B | Part D | the Real Drivers of Drug Costs with Ryan Long
In Episode 130 of DC EKG, Joe Grogan sits down with Ryan Long to unpack two policy stories that are driving real-world drug costs and healthcare spending: the 340B program and the fallout from Medicare Part D changes under the Inflation Reduction Act. Ryan explains why the current 340B structure...
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340B, Part D, and the Real Drivers of Drug Costs with Ryan Long
In Episode 130 of DC EKG, Joe Grogan sits down with Ryan Long to unpack two policy stories that are driving real-world drug costs and healthcare spending: the 340B program and the fallout from Medicare Part D changes under the Inflation Reduction Act. Ryan explains why the current 340B structure...
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State AI Laws, Preemption and Health Innovation with Adam Thierer
In Episode 129 of DC EKG, Joe Grogan sits down with returning guest Adam Thierer, Resident Senior Fellow for Technology and Innovation at the R Street Institute, to break down the surge of state by state AI laws and why a patchwork approach could slow innovation, especially in healthcare. Adam...
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HTI 5, Health Data Control and AI with Kat McDavitt and Lisa Bari
In Episode 128 of DC EKG, Joe Grogan is joined by Kat McDavitt and Lisa Bari, co-hosts of the Health Tech Talk Show, for a practical conversation on what the next wave of health IT policy could unlock for patients and innovation. They break down the proposed HTI 5 rule from ONC, why it is framed…
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Rural Health on the Front Lines: Dr. Manny Sethi on Access, Private Equity, and Prevention
Episode 127 Rural Health on the Front Lines: Dr. Manny Sethi on Access, Private Equity, and Prevention In Episode 127 of DC EKG, Joe Grogan sits down with Dr. Manny Sethi of Vanderbilt and Healthy Tennessee to talk about what rural health looks like up close and what policy changes could actually...
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Alzheimer’s in Real Life: Sue Peschin on Early Detection, Biomarkers, CED, and the ASAP Act
In Episode 126 Joe speaks with Sue Peschin, President and CEO of the Alliance for Aging Research, about what Alzheimer’s and dementia look like in the real world and how policy determines who gets help and when. Sue explains the mission and 40–year history of the Alliance for Aging Research and...
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STLDI and ACA Coverage: Costs, Choice, and Tradeoffs
"Obamacare Exempt" Plans - STLDI and ACA Coverage: Costs, Choice, and Tradeoffs Joe Grogan is joined by Michael Cannon (Cato Institute) to break down short-term, limited-duration insurance (STLDI), also known as “Obamacare-exempt” plans. They explain why STLDI can be far cheaper than ACA exchange...
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Ryan Long on the ACA Subsidy Fight, Phantom Enrollees, and Reforming 340B
Podcast TitleDC EKG with Joe Grogan: A Healthcare Policy Podcast Episode124 Episode TitleRyan Long on the ACA Subsidy Fight, Phantom Enrollees, and Reforming 340B Episode DescriptionJoe Grogan is joined by Ryan Long of Paragon Health Institute and the University of Southern California to break…
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Healthcare AI Gets Real: Naomi Lopez on ACCESS, TEMPO, and the Future of Care
DC EKG with Joe Grogan: A Healthcare Policy Podcast Ep. 122 In this episode of DC EKG with Joe Grogan: A Healthcare Policy Podcast, Joe recaps the first Healthcare AI Policy Summit, held on December 10th in Washington, DC, with his co-host for the event, Naomi Lopez, founder of Nexus Policy...
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Are We Getting Our Money’s Worth? Jackson Hammond on NHE, CMS Reform & Making Insurance Almost Obsolete
In Episode 123 of DC EKG, Joe Grogan sits down with Jackson Hammond (Senior Policy Analyst, Paragon Health Institute) to unpack what the latest CMS National Health Expenditure (NHE) data says about where U.S. health care is headed. They break down the June 2025 NHE release, compare it to…
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Fixing Obamacare Without Repeal: Tony LoSasso on Competition, Subsidies & Fiscal Reality
In this episode of DC EKG with Joe Grogan: A Healthcare Policy Podcast, Joe sits down with health economist Tony LoSasso to dissect what serious, workable Obamacare reforms could look like without blowing up the Affordable Care Act entirely. They dig into the structure of healthcare subsidies…
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Ryan Long on The Hidden Costs of 340B and ACA Subsidies—and Why Reform Matters
In this episode of DC EKG, host Joe Grogan is joined by Ryan Long, Capitol Hill veteran and senior research fellow at the Paragon Institute, to unpack two big health policy debates: the 340B drug discount program and the enhanced ACA premium tax credits. Ryan explains how 340B drives higher drug...
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Dutch Rojas on Physician-Owned Hospitals, Transparency, and Ending Healthcare Monopolies
In this episode of DC EKG, Joe Grogan sits down with healthcare entrepreneur and advocate Dutch Rojas to unpack some of the most pressing and misunderstood issues in American healthcare. From his unconventional path from accounting into healthcare to his outspoken advocacy for physician-owned...
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Inside the Business of American Healthcare with Wharton’s Dr. Lawton Burns
Join host Joe Grogan for an exclusive masterclass with Dr. Robert Burns, James Joo-Jin Kim Professor of Health Care Management at the Wharton School. A nationally recognized expert on the U.S. healthcare system, Dr. Burns unpacks the complex forces driving healthcare costs. With a background in...
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Debunking the Myths of the One Big Beautiful Bill with Brian Blase
Critics have been quick to attack the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), but how much of what you’ve heard is true? In this episode, Joe Grogan sits down with Brian Blase to set the record straight on the bill’s health policy reforms and why they matter. From Medicaid funding changes to the role of...
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Sean Spicer on Why Legacy Media Is Failing, Trump’s Impact & the Future of GOP Messaging
In this episode of DC EKG, Joe Grogan sits down with Sean Spicer, former White House Press Secretary and host of The Sean Spicer Show. Spicer shares his experiences from working in various political roles, his thoughts on Republican strategies for the midterms, and the challenges of communicating...
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Stephen Parente on How Transparency Can Fix U.S. Healthcare Costs
Stephen Parente, former White House Chief Economist for Health Policy and current Minnesota Insurance Industry Chair of Health Finance and Associate Dean at the Carlson School of Management, joins host Joe Grogan to discuss the state of healthcare transparency. They dive into the pros and cons of...
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Dan Troy on the FDA, Free Speech, and the Future of Drug Innovation
In this episode of DC EKG, host Joe Grogan sits down with Dan Troy, former Chief Counsel of the FDA and a nationally recognized expert on healthcare law and the First Amendment. They explore Troy’s unique journey from free speech litigator to one of the FDA’s top legal voices, examining how the...
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How to Rescue Medicare and Rebuild America’s Health Insurance Market with Michael Cannon
In this episode, Michael F. Cannon, the Cato Institute’s Director of Health Policy Studies, dives into the policy decisions that shaped Medicare and fundamentally distorted the U.S. health insurance market. From how tax incentives nudged Americans into employer-sponsored plans to the unintended...
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Peter Pitts on Navigating FDA Bureaucracy and Unlocking Health Innovation
In this conversation, Joe Grogan interviews Peter Pitts, a former FDA associate commissioner and current president of the Center for Medicine and the Public Interest. They discuss the role of FDA advisory committees, the importance of transparency in regulatory processes, and the intersection of...
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Tevi Troy on Power, Politics, and the Fight to Reclaim Big Pharma’s Image
In this episode of DC EKG, host Joe Grogan interviews historian and political veteran Tevi Troy about the complex relationship between U.S. presidents and powerful industries. They discuss themes from his book The Power and the Money: The Epic Clashes Between Commanders in Chief and Titans of...
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How to Restore Patient Care in a Broken System with Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio
Joe Grogan sits down with Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio, a neurosurgeon and health policy researcher, for a wide-ranging conversation on the challenges facing America’s healthcare system. Drawing on his experience at a safety net hospital, Dr. DiGiorgio discusses the realities of trauma care, including…
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Ryan Long on How the 340B Drug Program Got Hijacked—and What It’s Costing Patients
In this episode of DC EKG, policy expert Ryan Long unpacks the tangled evolution of the 340B program—from its origins in the early 1990s to its explosive, unintended role in today’s healthcare market. Originally designed to help hospitals serving the uninsured access affordable drugs, 340B has...
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How Legal Shifts Are Reshaping U.S. Healthcare Policy with Kelly Cleary
In this episode of DC EKG, host Joe Grogan speaks with Kelly Cleary, a partner at Akin Law, about her career in healthcare regulatory law and her experience at HHS. They discuss the recent repeal of the Richardson waiver, its historical significance, and implications for healthcare policy and...
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How Regulatory Reform Can Accelerate Medical Innovation in America with Dr. Brian Miller
In this episode of DC EKG, host Joe Grogan sits down with Dr. Brian J. Miller to dissect the critical barriers slowing medical innovation in the United States. Together, they unpack the notorious "Valley of Death"—the daunting gap between FDA approval and Medicare coverage that delays patient...
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Unpacking the Obamacare Money Laundering Scheme with Brian Blase
In this episode, Joe Grogan and Brian Blase dive into the current state of Medicaid, exploring the urgent need for reforms to tackle inefficiencies, improper payments, and discriminatory reimbursement rates. Blase discusses the challenges stemming from the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable...
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Trump’s Healthcare Overhaul & Canada as the 51st State? Sally Pipes Weighs In
In this episode, Joe Grogan and Sally Pipes dive into the future of U.S. healthcare policy, discussing potential reforms under a second Trump administration. They explore executive orders, Medicaid challenges, and the flaws in Canada’s healthcare system. The conversation also tackles a…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Join former White House policy expert Joe Grogan as he cuts through the complexities of healthcare legislation and its real-world implications. Each episode of DC EKG aims to demystify the policies shaping our healthcare system, uncovering how these changes impact patients, providers, and payers across the country.
HOSTED BY
Stay On Course Studios
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does DC EKG have?
DC EKG currently has 153 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is DC EKG about?
Join former White House policy expert Joe Grogan as he cuts through the complexities of healthcare legislation and its real-world implications. Each episode of DC EKG aims to demystify the policies shaping our healthcare system, uncovering how these changes impact patients, providers, and payers...
How often does DC EKG release new episodes?
DC EKG publishes regularly with 153 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to DC EKG?
You can listen to DC EKG on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts DC EKG?
DC EKG is created and hosted by Stay On Course Studios.
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