Ep. 23 - New Year, New Healthcare: Ditching the Bureaucratic Model in 2024 (Dr. Kelly Shockley and Dr. John Dygert)

In the midst of the pandemic, Colorado's legislature pushed through a little talked-about state-controlled plan that would majorly impact the delivery of healthcare services in Colorado. Why are some elected officials so eager to change things and put the government in charge?

Dr. Kelly Shockley and Dr. John Dygert joined me on Unleashed this week to discuss the problems with our current system and how they’re innovating a new healthcare future in our state. 

The Truth Unleashed: Governor Polis and the Democratic leadership here in Colorado are on a mission to lead our state towards universal healthcare, or socialized medicine, that jeopardizes medical miracles with bureaucratic barriers and false promises for affordability. 

The Lies Exposed: What’s so bad about the Colorado Affordable Health Care Option? Let’s take a look…

• With unintended consequences to quality and access, it may force hospitals to eliminate some critical care functions.
• Health insurance premiums in the individual market went up 10% during the law's first year (2023) and are expected to rise again next year, contrary to promises of affordability.
• Insurers are leaving the exchange market, reducing options for Coloradans, despite its promises of accessibility.
• So far, only one-third of the individual plans and 80% of Colorado Option plans on the small employer’s market are hitting the state's targets.
• Government control in healthcare could jeopardize the existing high-quality care and innovation in Colorado's healthcare system.
• Colorado Democrats have even taken a unique step by providing state subsidies to 11,000 undocumented immigrants for their healthcare needs.

In contrast, a free-market approach to healthcare, combined with a direct primary care model, can offer a viable solution to our healthcare challenges. Here's how I propose we fix healthcare in Colorado:

1. Embrace free-market principles and encourage competition among healthcare providers, insurers, and pharmaceutical companies
2. Grow a Direct Primary Care Model where patients pay a monthly subscription directly to their primary care physician
3. Remove barriers to entry for healthcare providers
4. Promote price transparency to empower patients to make informed decisions about their care
5. Educate the public about their rights and options in a free-market healthcare system
6. Establish a non-governmental group responsible for monitoring the impact of these changes
7. Allow medical professionals to keep achieving remarkable results without red tape, overregulation, and government control

How can we take action?

1. Seek Alternative Health Care Options: Consider exploring healthcare options outside the traditional medical system, such as chiropractic care like Dr. Shockley, concierge medical services like Dr. Dygert, or functional/integrative medicine that focuses on personalized, root-cause treatment.
2. Advocate for Personal Health Choices: Encourage discussions, advocate for healthcare choices that align with personal values and principles, and seek healthcare providers who respect and accommodate these preferences.
3. Adopt Healthier Lifestyle Practices: The current system thrives on us already being sick, so the best thing you can do for yourself and your family is to take control of your health! Implement healthier lifestyle choices, particularly in diet and exercise, and focus on teaching these values to your kids to instill healthy habits from a young age.

Check out Dr. Shockley a