Healthcare Americana

Hosted by Christopher Habig

Business Entrepreneurship Health Fitness Education

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Episodes

285

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

People are lost navigating healthcare. Doctors are forced to treat their patients like an assembly line. An emphasis on production works in a factory making widgets, but not with people. Direct Primary Care changes all of this.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 15, 202635 min

Predicting & Preventing Heart Attacks

In this episode of Healthcare Americana, host Christopher Habig is joined by Dr. Bernardo Perez-Villa, Vice President of Medical Affairs at Hello Heart, to explore how technology and artificial intelligence are transforming cardiovascular care between office visits. Dr. Perez Villa shares insights into the limitations of traditional, infrequent doctor visits for managing "silent killers" like hypertension and high cholesterol, emphasizing the need to convert daily at-home metrics into clear, actionable clinical insights. The conversation examines Hello Heart’s user-friendly platform and clinically validated outcomes, discussing how digital health tools, backed by strong guardrails and predictive AI, can empower patients, enhance physician decision-making, and shift healthcare from a reactive system to proactive prevention before catastrophic cardiac events occur. More on Freedom Healthworks & FreedomDoc Health Subscribe at https://healthcareamericana.com/ More on Dr. Bernardo Perez-Villa & Hello Heart Follow Healthcare Americana: Instagram & LinkedIN

September 30, 202642 min

Why Miracle Drugs Can’t Fix Broken Delivery

In this episode of Healthcare Americana, host Christopher Habig welcomes Dr. Marschall Runge, cardiologist, scientist, former CEO of Michigan Medicine, and author of The Great Healthcare Disruption , to explore why rapid medical advances have not translated into better overall health for average Americans. Together, they break down the biggest flaws in the current medical system, including high administrative costs, fragmented specialty care, and crowded emergency rooms. Dr. Runge highlights how a strong, ongoing doctor-patient relationship is essential for effective chronic disease management and disease prevention. The conversation also compares short-term retail medicine with models like Direct Primary Care, demonstrating how relationship-based care can lower costs, improve patient satisfaction, and restore fundamental trust in medicine. Ultimately, this discussion highlights why reorganizing care around the patient may be the most important healthcare breakthrough of our time. More on Freedom Healthworks & FreedomDoc Health Subscribe at https://healthcareamericana.com/ More on Dr. Marschall Runge & The Great Healthcare Disruption Follow Healthcare Americana: Instagram & LinkedIN

August 27, 202642 min

Beyond Access: Bringing Mammography Directly to the Patient

In this episode of Healthcare Americana, host Christopher Habig sits down with Dr. Ryan Polselli, founder of MammoLink and a former Navy nuclear power operator turned breast imaging radiologist. They talk about why having a local clinic nearby doesn't mean much if patients never actually go, and how inconvenient healthcare systems cause people to put off lifesaving screenings. Dr. Polselli explains why he left traditional hospital radiology to build a mobile screening service that brings mammograms straight to patients. They break down what it takes to run mobile healthcare, from working with employers and handling billing headaches to building real trust with patients. Dr. Polselli shares how MammoLink delivers same-day results, handles dense breast tissue screenings on the spot, and where AI actually fits into the future of radiology without replacing the human touch. More on Freedom Healthworks & FreedomDoc Health Subscribe at https://healthcareamericana.com/ More on Dr. Ryan Polselli & MammoLink Follow Healthcare Americana: Instagram & LinkedIN

May 29, 202641 min

How Employers Can Reclaim Control with Community-Owned Health Plans

For most employers, the annual health insurance renewal cycle is a source of pure frustration. It’s often marked by rising costs, confusing packages, and a total lack of control. In this episode of Healthcare Americana, host Christopher Habig sits down with Niko Caparisos, Program Architect at Community-Owned Health Plans (COHP). Together, they explore how shifting the focus back to local, independent vendors can dramatically reduce costs while improving the patient experience. Niko discusses his mission to educate benefits brokers and empower employers to ditch rigid, one-size-fits-all national plans in favor of grassroots, community-centered solutions. The conversation digs deep into how Direct Primary Care (DPC) and cash-pay consumerism can fix the broken way we pay for healthcare in America. Niko shares actionable strategies for companies looking to reclaim their healthcare data, including how to support a remote workforce and how to implement a phased, multi-year approach to self-funding. If you are tired of repeating the same broken benefit renewal cycle every year, this episode provides a clear, solution-oriented roadmap to building a transparent, high-quality health benefit from the ground up. More on Freedom Healthworks & FreedomDoc Health Subscribe at https://healthcareamericana.com/ More on Niko J. Caparisos & Community-Owned Health Plans Follow Healthcare Americana: Instagram & LinkedIN

April 30, 202632 min

You’re Entering the Healthcare System in the Wrong Place

What if one of the biggest drivers of healthcare costs, missed work, and unnecessary surgeries isn't what you think? In this episode of Healthcare Americana, Christopher Habig sits down with Tim Spooner, CEO of Solveglobal, to break down why musculoskeletal (MSK) care continues to frustrate patients and employers alike. From delayed access and overuse of imaging to a system that rewards escalation instead of resolution, Tim explains how most people enter care at the wrong point and end up stuck in a costly, ineffective cycle. The conversation explores a better path forward by starting with early, hands-on evaluation and treating the root cause before issues spiral into major claims. Tim shares how a proactive MSK strategy can reduce costs, improve outcomes, and even shift workplace culture by helping employees feel better and stay productive. For employers looking to take control of healthcare spending and for patients tired of the runaround, this episode offers a clear look at what happens when care is built around solving problems instead of prolonging them. More on Freedom Healthworks & FreedomDoc Health Subscribe at https://healthcareamericana.com/ More on Tim Spooner & Solveglobal Follow Healthcare Americana: Instagram & LinkedIN

March 31, 202642 min

Why Your Health Plan Gets More Expensive Every Year

In this episode of Healthcare Americana, Christopher Habig talks with Colton Storla about why employer health plans keep getting more expensive and why most companies never get clear answers. Colton explains how the renewal process works and how hidden incentives, lack of transparency, and multiple middlemen continue to drive costs higher without improving care. The discussion also explores a better path forward, highlighting how employers can take control by using clear data, building direct relationships with providers, and adding options like direct primary care. This episode challenges business leaders to rethink how they buy healthcare, and shows how a simpler and more intentional approach can lower costs and improve care for employees. More on Freedom Healthworks & FreedomDoc Health Subscribe at https://healthcareamericana.com/ More on Colton Storla & North Risk Partners Follow Healthcare Americana: Instagram & LinkedIN

February 18, 202633 min

Breaking Healthcare Monopolies: The Future of Free Market Healthcare

In this episode of Healthcare Americana, host Christopher Habig speaks with Matt Ohrt, the new Executive Director of the Free Market Medical Association (FMMA), about the future of free market healthcare in America. They discuss how price transparency, direct primary care, and employer-driven health plans can lower costs and improve access to quality care. Matt explains why rising healthcare costs are driven by broken payment systems, not better medicine, and how employers can use their buying power to demand fair, upfront pricing. The conversation also highlights the growing grassroots movement of independent physicians, surgery centers, and business leaders who are working to restore competition and choice in healthcare. If you care about affordable healthcare, physician freedom, and real reform that works in practice, this episode outlines a clear and practical path forward. More on Freedom Healthworks & FreedomDoc Health Subscribe at https://healthcareamericana.com/ More on Matt Ohrt & FMMA Follow Healthcare Americana: Instagram & LinkedIN

January 27, 202637 min

The CEO Mindset: Navigating Cancer and Healthcare with Kathy Giusti

In this episode of Healthcare Americana, host Christopher Habig sits down with Kathy Giusti, two-time cancer survivor and founder of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. Kathy explains why patients must adopt a "CEO mindset" to navigate the complexities of the American healthcare system. From the evolution of precision medicine to the life-saving power of self-advocacy, she shares how she transformed her personal battle into a global mission for better medical research. Tune in to learn how to take control of your health journey, build a support community, and leverage the latest advancements in immunotherapy to improve patient outcomes. More on Freedom Healthworks & FreedomDoc Health Subscribe at https://healthcareamericana.com/ More on Kathy Giusti , Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation , Fatal to Fearless Follow Healthcare Americana: Instagram & LinkedIN

December 16, 202533 min

Why Marketing Is Make-or-Break for Direct Primary Care

In this episode of Healthcare Americana, host Christopher Habig sits down with Sierra Lavallee, head of marketing at Freedom Healthworks, to explain why smart, strategic marketing is one of the most important factors in building a successful direct primary care practice. They discuss how marketing helps connect the right patients with the right doctors, why visibility and education matter more than ever in today’s consumer-driven healthcare environment, and how physicians can market themselves without sacrificing professionalism. From branding and websites to social media, community engagement, and patient follow-up, this conversation breaks down practical, real-world marketing strategies that help DPC clinics grow from an idea into a thriving, patient-centered business. More on Freedom Healthworks & FreedomDoc Health Subscribe at https://healthcareamericana.com/ More on Sierra Lavallee Follow Healthcare Americana: Instagram & LinkedIN

December 9, 202536 min

The Prior Authorization Crisis and 340B Drug Program Explained

In this episode of Healthcare Americana, host Christopher Habig talks with neurosurgeon and healthcare policy leader Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio about the growing crisis around prior authorizations. They discuss how complicated approval processes delay urgent care, burden physicians, and put patients at risk. Dr. DiGiorgio explains why smarter, low-friction models such as gold-carding and stronger subspecialty board oversight could help rebuild trust between physicians and payers. The conversation also covers the 340B drug discount program, which Dr. DiGiorgio has testified about before Congress. He explains how a program originally designed to help low-income patients has become a major revenue source for large hospital systems and often increases costs for Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance. Together, they offer a clear and accessible look at what is broken in these systems and what meaningful reform could achieve. More on Freedom Healthworks & FreedomDoc Health Subscribe at https://healthcareamericana.com/ More on Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio Follow Healthcare Americana: Instagram & LinkedIN