#  @drelisabethpotter Dr. Elisabeth Potter Dr. Elisabeth Potter posts on TikTok about insurance, dr, public, if you the most. They currently have [-------] followers and [---] posts still getting attention that total [------] engagements in the last [--] hours. ### Engagements: [------] [#](/creator/tiktok::7189781526509470766/interactions)  ### Mentions: [--] [#](/creator/tiktok::7189781526509470766/posts_active)  ### Followers: [-------] [#](/creator/tiktok::7189781526509470766/followers)  ### CreatorRank: [-------] [#](/creator/tiktok::7189781526509470766/influencer_rank)  ### Social Influence **Social category influence** [finance](/list/finance) [stocks](/list/stocks) [countries](/list/countries) **Social topic influence** [insurance](/topic/insurance) #142, [dr](/topic/dr), [public](/topic/public), [if you](/topic/if-you), [money](/topic/money), [safely](/topic/safely) #480, [environment](/topic/environment), [network](/topic/network), [flap](/topic/flap), [company](/topic/company) #2341 **Top accounts mentioned or mentioned by** [@redbudsurgerycenter](/creator/undefined) [@wearfigs](/creator/undefined) [@tiffany](/creator/undefined) [@ladyspinedoc](/creator/undefined) [@nbcnightlynews](/creator/undefined) [@priscillawthompson](/creator/undefined) [@ckakouris](/creator/undefined) [@redbudsurgerycentera](/creator/undefined) [@doctor](/creator/undefined) [@doctormike](/creator/undefined) [@cnn](/creator/undefined) [@meenasaurus](/creator/undefined) [@ny](/creator/undefined) [@drpottercom](/creator/undefined) [@dr.bortny](/creator/undefined) [@ilya.chern.md](/creator/undefined) **Top assets mentioned** [Cigna Corp (CI)](/topic/$ci) ### Top Social Posts Top posts by engagements in the last [--] hours "Your medical team should always be there to advocate for you #atmgene #plasticsurgeon" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7358602764596874539) 2024-04-16T22:57Z [----] followers, [----] engagements "Happy nurses week everyone Just wanted to give a quick shout out and recognize some of the nurses that I work with. Your work never goes unnoticed and you are all absolute rockstars HappyNursesWeek HappyNursesWeek" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7367083253980728619) 2024-05-09T19:25Z [---] followers, [----] engagements "Just like many patients face misconceptions that breast reconstruction is cosmetic I a board-certified plastic surgeon trained in microsurgery also encounter doctors who dismiss what I do as elective or cosmetic. After I finished up a surgery a doctor remarked There goes the plastic surgeon who cares more about cosmetic surgery than my patients who need to go to the operating room. I made it clear theres nothing cosmetic about what I do. There is nothing elective about what my patients impacted by cancer go through. Womens health often gets deprioritized and we must stand and advocate for" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7398192076120231199) 2024-08-01T15:23Z 383.6K followers, 976.4K engagements "Living with asymmetry Were here to help you. This is a surgical procedure covered by insurance through the Womens Health and Cancer Rights Act. You deserve to feel comfortable in your body. Your needs are valid and were ready to make that change one patient at a time.❤ #AsymmetrySupport #WomensHealth #CancerSurvivor #InsuranceCoverage #BodyConfidence #redbudsurgerycenter #wearehereforyou A message for those who are living with asymmetry A message for those who are living with asymmetry" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7401210577529474334) 2024-08-09T18:37Z 39.3K followers, [----] engagements "Replying to @Tiffany Moon MD Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and stories on the recent post about my run-in with another doctor. Were keeping it classy cute and demurefor our patients always 🙏✨ #Gratitude #StayClassy #demure" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7405266701161483550) 2024-08-20T16:57Z [----] followers, [----] engagements "As PA Week comes to a close I want to give a huge shout out to all the amazing Physician Assistants out there I truly couldnt do what I do without my incredible team of advanced practice providers. Sometimes I hear concerns about the role of PAs in patient care but let me be clear: I am a better doctor because of them. We all have our strengths and limitations and my PAs step in to fill those gaps especially when I need a break. Together we create a supportive environment that enhances patient care. Thank you to all the PAs out there for your dedication and excellence You make a difference" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7424565311686331678) 2024-10-11T17:05Z 388.5K followers, [----] engagements "This week I've been reflecting on the troubling realities many patients and doctors are facing due to insurance company decisions. For example limiting anesthesia hourssomething that directly impacts patient careand pushing for outdated damaging procedures over more modern effective ones. This isn't new. Last year we fought for fair access to breast reconstruction that didnt harm a womans body. But it shouldnt have to be a fight. Insurance companies are increasingly making decisions based on cost not care. This is eroding trust between patients and doctors and we cannot ignore it any longer." [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7447891398482840875) 2024-12-13T13:42Z 39.3K followers, 41.3K engagements "My patients always come first 💙 For those of you who showed concern for my patient that was in surgery there was another surgeon in the room and I appreciate all of you for thinking of the patient first Thats exactly what we should be doing and Im here for that. Thank you for listening and reminding me that there is so much power in sharing our stories" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7457709979127287086) 2025-01-09T00:43Z [----] followers, 206.3K engagements "Recently I hit a breaking point with the state of healthcare. I was frustrated exhausted and feeling like I had no one to turn to. I decided to speak up about my experience and the response has been overwhelming. I became a doctor because I am passionate about helping peoplebut so much of my time is spent fighting insurance companies to value the care my patients deserve. Its disheartening and its not okay. What Ive realized is that staying quiet wont change anything. Speaking out was a turning point for me and what I didnt expect was how many of you feel the same way. Thank you for listening" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7458722403321941291) 2025-01-11T18:12Z 39.3K followers, 55K engagements "Navigating healthcare in [----] means that as a surgeon I dont just care for my patientsI have to care about insurance too. Breast reconstruction for patients affected by breast cancer is about more than just surgery. A cancer diagnosis is already financially devastating and if I dont carefully navigate the insurance system my patients could end up with enormous bills for their care. Thats why Ive worked hard to stay in-network with as many insurance providers as possibleMedicare Medicaid Tricare United Blue Cross Aetna Humana and more. My goal has always been to ensure that insurance isnt an" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7462526949546675502) 2025-01-22T00:16Z 377K followers, 27.3K engagements "So heres where Im at: Its been a wild ride since I shared that video about receiving a message during surgery from United asking me to call them about a patient mid-procedure. As you can imagine its been stressful. But Ive taken a step back gotten centered and engaged. Im incredibly grateful for all the support and kind messages Ive received but honestly whats meant the most to me is the conversation this is sparking. The discomfort Im feeling is real but Ive always said that discomfort is where growth and change happen. So while this feels bigger than personal growth Im in it. Im ready to" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7465397426967366958) 2025-01-29T17:55Z 97.3K followers, 75.3K engagements "Update: I Have Legal Representation So many of you have reached out asking: Do you have attorneys Do you have representation How are you doing I want you to know that Nix Patterson is representing me and having them by my side through this has meant so much. I didnt know what it was like to have a great legal team until I needed one and I truly couldnt ask for better. It reminds me of when I meet someone newly diagnosed with breast cancerI wish we were meeting under different circumstances but if you have to go through this I want to be the one taking care of you because I know I can give you" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7470680758659697966) 2025-02-12T23:37Z 97.2K followers, 119.9K engagements "Insurance Access Today I performed a breast reduction for a patient who had been searching for FOUR YEARS for a plastic surgeon who would take her insurance. She met all the medical criteria but her insurance company only reimbursed $1000 for the procedurewhen the average cost is $7800 and in Austin it's often $13000+. This is the reality of healthcare today: Insurance coverage doesnt guarantee access. When reimbursement rates are too low surgeons simply cant afford to take these cases. The cost of running a practice is rising while insurance payments are declining. I want to help. I want to" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7482907916962516267) 2025-03-17T22:25Z 71.3K followers, [----] engagements "Access to breast reconstruction is being denied because of poor reimbursementand its a problem we need to address. Today I saw a 69-year-old patient who was told she couldnt get a DIEP flap because Medicare doesnt 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. Ill still do the right thing for my patients and perform their surgeries even when I lose moneybut this system needs to change. Its time for CMS and this administration to take a hard look at how" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7484375349724187950) 2025-03-21T21:19Z 71.3K followers, 11.8K engagements "Im so thankful for my family. I didnt tell my parents about the letter from United Health when it first happened. They are in their 80s and I didnt want to worry them. I had the chance to fill them in today and that felt really reaffirming. I come from a long line of strong people who never backed down from a fight when it came their way. I wouldnt trade the way I was raisedor the values they instilled in mefor anything: take care of people and treat them fairly. I filmed this video right after talking to them and yall my Georgia accent really came out. Thats how you know it hit close to home" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7485134231539027242) 2025-03-23T22:24Z 334.5K followers, 95.8K engagements "Im heading back to the hospital and Im bringing you along with me This is a peek into what flap monitoring looks like and why I always keep my phone nearbynot just for pages but to monitor blood flow on my DIEP flap patients. One of my patients flaps dipped slightly tonight so Im going to check on her. I use a monitor for blood flow after a DIEP flap called Vioptix. These monitors help track perfusion (blood flow) in the transplanted tissue and alert me if somethings off like compromised blood supply that could risk flap failure. The Vioptix uses real time non-invasive monitoring and can send" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7486288539345276202) 2025-03-27T01:03Z 71.3K followers, [----] engagements "Im the microsurgeonand insurance companies are telling me when to operate. My patient is [--]. She had aggressive breast cancer positive lymph nodes a strong family historyand she wanted both breasts removed to reduce her risk. But the night before surgery her insurance denied the prophylactic side. So we only removed the breast with cancer. That was a year ago. Shes completed chemo and radiation and now its time for her DIEP flap surgery. She still wants the other breast removed to reduce her risk and for her peace of mind. And its reasonable. We appealed. Again and again. I finally got a" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7491706573472075054) 2025-04-10T15:28Z 97.7K followers, 1M engagements "I think a lot of doctors are embarrassed to admit just how badly weve been taken advantage of by insurance companies. Its hard to admit when the system completely uses you. When I finished fellowship I went into private practice because I just wanted to take care of people. I wanted to take insurance. Whos going to treat people impacted by cancer and not take insurance But heres what nobody tells you: when you try to go in-network you dont get to negotiate. You apply. And if they accept you they tell you what theyll pay. No discussion. And then they can lower that rate anytime. So a lot of" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7495867336889470250) 2025-04-21T20:34Z 89.7K followers, 58.5K engagements "Last week I had a patient scheduled to get her implants placed after mastectomy and tissue expanders. She wanted her surgery done at my outpatient centerRedbud Surgery Centerbecause we prioritize doing whats best for people affected by breast cancer. But her insurance denied the surgical materials I recommended. They didnt just deny themthey told me what I had to use instead. The problem Theyre completely different products. One dissolves naturally over time. The other is made from human skin and stays in the body foreversomething Ive seen lead to complications over the years. And the price" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7504790630724291870) 2025-05-15T21:41Z 301.5K followers, 72.6K engagements "We have all seen the cost of healthcare in America has increase dramatically over the last [--] years. Weve also seen health insurance companies become some of the most profitable companies in the United States. Ive been taking a closer look at healthcare and Im sharing what Ive learned with you. We all deserve to know the truth so that we can demand real reform" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7509270121848818986) 2025-05-27T23:23Z 93K followers, 12.8K engagements "This morning I was prepping for a DIEP flap when an orthopedic surgeon sat down beside me and said "You're not gonna believe what United just did." His patient had waited six months just to see him. He confirmed she needed a hip replacement and she was a good candidate. He submitted everythingher imaging her full records all the evidence. But United denied the case because he didnt include the radiographic findings in the body of his note. Not because she didnt need the surgery. Not because the data wasnt there. But because of a formatting technicality. Now she has to wait again just long" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7509985194473049387) 2025-05-29T21:38Z 93.3K followers, 30K engagements "Ive heard you telling me that your hospitals and clinics are understaffed and stretched too thin. Today it happened to my patient and I know its happening to others too. I showed up to do three breast reconstruction surgeries. But the hospital told me they didnt have enough staff for the last case. It seems they expected me to work faster stretch the team thinner and make it work. Thats not how we do safe surgery. So I called my patient and told her the truth. We agreedwere not doing this case that way. This isnt a one-time thing. Its happening too often. Were being asked to do more with less" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7516648821498137869) 2025-06-16T20:37Z 241.2K followers, 122.9K engagements "I promised to share my thoughts on recent announcements from insurance companies that they will improve prior authorizations for patients and providers. Ive done my homework and unfortunately this pledge falls flat. The truth is that Americans need more than promises. We wont settle for a voluntary pledge to do better from an industry that has fallen so short for so long" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7521540374976875789) 2025-06-30T00:58Z 97.3K followers, [----] engagements "Im a girl from Georgia living in Texas. I love my community. My heart is broken for my fellow Texans. I have the upmost respect for the men and women who are working around the clock to rescue and recover those missing in the floods. Thank you. But today is not a day for politicians to celebrate response efforts or congratulate one another on a job well done. Read the room. We want answers and until you have them we will accept facts. I hope you are providing more detailed information to the parents and family members of those missing" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7523748206627376398) 2025-07-05T23:46Z 97.7K followers, 42.2K engagements "I said Id keep being honest with you. The truth is being vulnerable as a doctor isnt something were taught to do. Were trained to hold it together to push through to never show the cracks. But Ive learned that vulnerability is its own kind of strength. Because at the heart of medicine is truthfinding it facing it and acting on it. Thats what I try to do every day for my patients. And thats what Im trying to do now. This year has tested me. Deeply. And Ive come to realize that being open about that is part of the solutionnot just for me but for this entire system. If good people being good" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7524493671111085367) 2025-07-07T23:58Z 97.9K followers, 13.5K engagements "I am heading in to operate this morning but first I had to say thank you. I am overwhelmed by the number of people who have sent me messages contributed to my gofundme or shared it with others if they are unable to donate. I'm so encouraged and committed to staying the course. My heart is a little lighter today and that's because of you guys 🩵" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7526986418107780407) 2025-07-14T17:12Z 213.1K followers, 173.2K engagements "Lets be real. I spoke out against a big insurance company and now Im being punished for it. But Im not giving up. Its not in my blood. I heard you asking and if you would like to help Ive started a gofundme (link in bio) where you can read the details and consider contributing. Just showing up and following means the world to me. Ill keep it transparent so we can all see what medicine in the US is like in [----] and hopefully build something better for all of us" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7527055224490511671) 2025-07-14T21:39Z 222K followers, 113.3K engagements "I'm so inspired encouraged by the number of folks who are giving. Thank you. I also want you to know I am all in. Weve cashed in our 401k and depleted our savings. When I see you giving your hard-earned money to support this mission I want you to know Im matching that energy with everything Ive got. I told my team this week were working for the American people. We are here to take care of our patients and also to change the environment of insurance in the US and to keep speaking out. Thank you again for believing in this. The GoFundMe is in my bio if youd like to read more or help keep this" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7527712496040332558) 2025-07-16T16:09Z 213.1K followers, 133K engagements "There is a hashtag out there #SaveOurSurgeon and I dont even have the words. Thank you for showing up. For sharing your stories. For wanting to save our practice. Please check out the #SaveOurSurgeon and these stories. This is the why. This is why this movement is so huge because it's not about me. It it's about all of us and helping each other" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7528411569680649527) 2025-07-18T13:23Z 381.4K followers, 571.7K engagements "In less than one week we have almost hit our goal of $500k. I am grateful beyond words. After telling the truth about insurance and being punished for it I was scared I was going to lose my practice. Now I feel like I can breathe again knowing Ill be able to continue serving my patients and speaking out for what I know is right. After encouragement from this incredible community I will be increasing the goal of the GoFundMe. Thank you to everyone who has made a donation or who has helped share my story. I encourage you all to keep telling the truth. Be guided by whats good. With your help Ill" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7528863066998525239) 2025-07-19T18:34Z 222K followers, 128.6K engagements "I wanted to share a few real ways to support the practice right now: If youve been considering elective plastic surgery like a cosmetic breast reduction Id love to talk with you. Im a board-certified plastic surgeon I love this work and we have an incredible facility here in Austin. If youre able to donate you can do so here: GoFundMe (https://gofund.me/9755f8a1) (for direct access the link is in my bio). If you have ideas for investors or philanthropists who might be passionate about supporting access to care investing in the practice or changing healthcareId love to be connected. Im" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7530332581632478478) 2025-07-23T17:37Z 222K followers, 46.3K engagements "Heading into clinic and just wanted to share a few things that have been sitting with me lately. Work hard. Work harder. Nothing works unless I do. If Im asking someone to show up for me I have to meet that with real effortand I promise you thats exactly what Im doing. Im also reminded constantly: I dont know everything. Just because Im a doctor doesnt mean Ive stopped learning. I learn from my patients my team my mentorsevery single day. When things get hard (and they do) I come back to this: have integrity. Do the right thing even when no ones watching. When Im unsure I thinkwhat would my" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7531023665144630541) 2025-07-25T14:18Z [--] followers, 25.3K engagements "Open enrollment for health insurance starts November [--] [----]. Time to apply pressure to the system. Are you with me" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7531817586531618062) 2025-07-27T17:39Z 388.5K followers, 69.3K engagements "I work for you now. Thanks to you weve been able to pay down debts keep the lights on and keep caring for patients. Because of your generosity weve raised over $550000 with an average donation of $70. The practice is stable for the next several months. Im overwhelmed with gratitude and cant wait to share some exciting updates soon. Stay tuned and thank you for believing in this mission 🩵" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7532273690424118541) 2025-07-28T23:09Z 241.3K followers, 116.7K engagements "When @ladyspinedoc saw my practice was on the line after I spoke out against a broken system she reached out to help. We worked together to design this limited edition collab incorporating the @redbudsurgerycenter logo and these words that deeply resonate with me. The Redbud logo is meaningful. Redbud is about turning points. The change of seasonschanging direction and on Lake Austin after warming up to Redbud Island. The phrase: Dig Deep. Rise High feels accurate right now. Its realistic and hopeful. This is my new favorite shirt and bracelet. Its a reminder that while things may be hard I" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7535504510492380471) 2025-08-06T16:06Z 260.4K followers, 267.1K engagements "Grateful to @NBCNightlyNews for shedding light on whats really happening in American healthcareand to @PriscillaWThompson and @c_kakouris_ for helping share this story. The biggest problems have the best solutions and that is what we are going for. Im not giving up. Im determined to keep going and to find for a better way forward in American healthcare" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7535988627998887181) 2025-08-07T23:24Z 241.3K followers, 52.7K engagements "I met with a woman today with breast cancer who has been forced to make an impossible choice. She found a breast mass over a year ago but waited [--] months to get it diagnosed because she couldnt afford insurance. She works [--] hours a week in the service industry was denied Medicaid and finally had her biopsy covered by Planned Parenthood. Shes now had a mastectomy and chemotherapy. But she still needs radiation and also wants breast reconstruction. But starting in January her Affordable Care Act plan will jump from just over $100 to $500 a month due to The Big Beautiful Billsomething she" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7540084856609344781) 2025-08-19T00:20Z 334.9K followers, 86.1K engagements "This is my why 🩵 There has been a lot happening this month but nothing matters more than this. Seeing my patients and watching them heal after their surgeries. This video a patient sent me is everything. This is the most important thing to me. I love my patients so much" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7543388593729948983) 2025-08-27T22:00Z 335.2K followers, 33.9K engagements "I want to share a story and you can make your own conclusions. I just operated on a patient with breast cancer who had tissue expanders placed a couple weeks ago. While recovering at home she had a seizure and went to the ER. They ordered a brain MRI but heres the problem: MRIs and tissue expanders dont mix. Why Most expanders have metal in the ports. During an MRI the magnetic force can pull or heat that metal damaging the expanderor worse harming the patient. In her case the expanders tore under the pressure of the scan. She even told them she had expanders in and felt pain during the MRI." [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7544185820303854903) 2025-08-30T01:34Z 348.1K followers, 134.4K engagements "A doctor asked why I dont just do cosmetic surgery or other profitable procedures instead of asking for help through GoFundMe Because my dream isnt to make money. My dream is to provide excellent care for people affected by breast cancer and to change healthcare for the better. The answer isnt to change my dream. Its to figure out how to make it possible" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7546608145653648654) 2025-09-05T14:14Z 360.7K followers, 44.7K engagements "Ive been asked a lot about how we got here with insurance and medicine. For too long the medical community has told ourselves Were good people in a bad system. But when insurance denies care the first time youre shocked. The 100th time Its on us to stand up. I recently spoke with a doctor who was told to read 25% more mammograms this year. She raised concerns about patient safety. Leaderships response But youre hitting the numbers We cant just sit by and say the system sucks. Thats not medicine. Its not enough to be good people. Our patients need us to be good doctors. I believe that my" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7547467244184571150) 2025-09-07T21:48Z 366.9K followers, 49.5K engagements "UPDATE: The GoFundMe has raised nearly $780000 with the average donation just $70. I am so grateful. Together youve made a huge dent in the nearly $5 million debt were facing. But Im not out of the woods. I still need to raise another $1.2 million just to keep RedBud Surgery Center open one of the only places in Central Texas where women can have DIEP flap breast reconstruction safely outside of a hospital. UnitedHealthcare says there are plenty of surgery centers but there are none like RedBud. No other ASC is built for breast reconstruction with a team that can perform these surgeries" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7548615251428773134) 2025-09-11T00:03Z 380.2K followers, 86.6K engagements "UPDATE: The GoFundMe has raised nearly $780000 with the average donation just $70. I am so grateful. Together youve made a huge dent in the nearly $5 million debt were facing. But Im not out of the woods. I still need to raise another $1.2 million just to keep RedBud Surgery Center open one of the only places in Central Texas where women can have DIEP flap breast reconstruction safely outside of a hospital. UnitedHealthcare says there are plenty of surgery centers but there are none like RedBud. No other ASC is built for breast reconstruction with a team that can perform these surgeries" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7548620941824118071) 2025-09-11T00:25Z 360.7K followers, [----] engagements "I wanted to show you @redbudsurgerycenter and tell you why I am fighting so hard to protect it. When I walk into RedBud Surgery Center I feel what I felt as a kid walking into my dads small medical office in Augusta GA. The sense that when you made it to his door you were safe and you were cared for. That same spirit lives here. Having my own surgery center is a superpower. It means I dont have to beg a hospital for time in the OR or let an insurance policy dictate how I care for my patients. Here I get to welcome women facing breast cancer into a space designed just for them. My team is" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7549223593452866829) 2025-09-12T15:24Z 362.1K followers, 20.4K engagements "At the very end of my fellowship at MD Anderson I was asked to do a microsurgery procedure on a rat because they wanted to see how fast the fellows were at doing microsurgery. It was hard for me because Ive always been close to animals. A kind gentleman noticed and afterwards he introduced me to Judy. Judy was a research dog in the breast cancer program. Shed undergone surgeries had lymphedema induced and carried surgical wounds on her little body. She was supposed to be euthanized but this man didnt want that for her. He asked if Id help. Together we went to the director of the program and" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7549984839076826382) 2025-09-14T16:37Z 377K followers, 61K engagements "I operate at a local hospital and also at RedBud my surgery center. Recently Ive heard and experienced things at the hospital that concern me deeply. Patients not being properly evaluated before anesthesia surgeries started before I was even in the operating room and families left without answers when they report safety issues. These things should never happen. I am deeply concerned that they are. And I want to be clear I hear similar stories from healthcare workers across the country and Im sharing these specific examples with you because I have direct knowledge of them. These are not" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7550467705959222583) 2025-09-15T23:51Z 371K followers, 70.3K engagements "⚠ Hospital Stories: Part [--] of [--] Over the next few posts Im sharing real stories from just the past week at the hospital. These are things my patients and I are experiencing in real time situations that highlight the cracks in our healthcare system and why I believe safe patient-centered care matters so much. Before I could take my patient with breast cancer back for her surgery she was stopped in the hospital lobby and told she owed $6000. She knew it wasnt right. Shed already met her deductible already had surgery this year and never owed money upfront before like this. But on the day of her" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7553300446794878263) 2025-09-23T15:04Z 375.7K followers, 48.7K engagements "Last week I had the privilege of being in rooms with farmers transportation workers grocery workers and independent providers at the Anti-Monopoly Summit in DC and with incredible women in Chicago committed to doing the right thing in medicine. Everywhere I went I listened. And what I heard reminded me: were not alone in this fight. There are people and companies out there leaning in to stand up against big industries that are trying to crush independent voices and theyre ready to do the right thing for patients. Im ready to not just talk to you about whats been happening in healthcare but to" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7553434412956880183) 2025-09-23T23:43Z 378.4K followers, 21.4K engagements "What do I stand for I stand for the underdog. I stand for workers. I stand for the people who cant stand for themselves. I stand for facts. I stand for taking care of others. I stand against bullies. I stand for America. If it feels like the loudest voices dont represent you then its time to get represented. Speak up. Stand up. Keep your wits about you. Because the American thing matters. Freedom matters. Standing up for each other matters" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7554130222312983863) 2025-09-25T20:43Z 389.8K followers, 16.8K engagements "⚠ Hospital Stories: Part [--] of [--] Last week I was in the middle of a breast reconstruction revision when a nurse came in and said Your next patient is already in the OR. I hadnt finished my first case. I hadnt told anyone to roll her back. And then they added: Shes already asleep. Shes intubated. I was shocked. Patient safety has to come first. No patient should ever be put under anesthesia before their surgeon says its safe to proceed. Yet here was my elderly patient waiting under anesthesia while I was still operating on someone else. This is exactly what worries me about the way hospitals" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7554472862736764173) 2025-09-26T18:53Z 382.3K followers, 100.2K engagements "Closed networks dont 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. Shes had breast cancer a mastectomy radiation and now a painful implant that looks like its about to come through her skin. Shes 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. Its" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7556751928395369783) 2025-10-02T22:17Z 384.8K followers, 30K engagements "Feeling inspired by this incredible team of doctors in the operating room who performed a successful breast reconstruction and liposuction surgery today. Together at @redbudsurgerycenter were redefining possibilities and making a difference one surgery at a time. Grateful to be working alongside these powerhouse women 💪👩⚕ #WomenInMedicine #SurgicalExcellence #girlpower #surgeryday #liposuction #breastreconstruction" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7394880110324616478) 2024-07-23T17:11Z 398.3K followers, [----] engagements "One of my patients came to me after undergoing a TRAM flap surgery somewhere else that cost her nearly $1 million out of pocket only to be left with significant asymmetry. No surgery should ever cost that much. Patients deserve better than this full stop. I was able to help her for a fraction of the cost even without insurance. If something feels wrong trust your instinctsyou dont have to settle. Together we can change this pattern and ensure that patients get the care they deserve ❤ Million Dollar Surgery Million Dollar Surgery" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7430910806784478495) 2024-10-28T19:29Z 399.7K followers, 18.1K engagements "Its time to prioritize what really matters: Better outcomes for patients. Im concerned that the way surgeries are valued right now doesnt put patients first. The system rewards longer procedures more resources and complexitybut NOT better outcomes for patients. Imagine if we rewarded shorter more efficient surgeries with better outcomes. Right now the focus is on the time I spend in the operating room not the healing and recovery of my patients. But the real goal should be improving patient care and recovery time. Its time to overhaul the system to reflect what truly matters: patients getting" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7449919896919526699) 2024-12-19T00:54Z 398.2K followers, 208.6K engagements "As a doctor it is next to impossible for me to reach out and talk to someone at an insurance company. But after posting that video United actually reached out to MY office and left their number. I am going to call them back tomorrow and I will let you know what they say" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7458069970828954926) 2025-01-10T00:00Z 396K followers, 305.4K engagements "Just finished a very special surgery at @redbudsurgerycentera sensation-preserving mastectomy with nerve grafting for our patient who was originally quoted $80000 for this procedure at a hospital. Thanks to the flexibility we have at RedBud she was able to purchase the nerve grafts at cost and we performed the surgery here at a significantly reduced price. This is a real example of how giving doctors more control over care and facilities can lead to better outcomes for patients. We need less corporate involvement in medicine and more opportunities for physicians to lead own and manage" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7462954307068087598) 2025-01-23T03:55Z 392.3K followers, 19.2K engagements "Did you know that since [----] laws have made it nearly impossible for physicians to own hospitals This is a direct result of lobbying by large hospital trade organizationsand its had a huge impact on patient care outcomes and costs. I personally took out loans and invested in @redbudsurgerycenter to create a space where I can provide the best care possible for my patients. Here I have more control over the experience the outcomes and the costs which is something I couldnt achieve in a traditional hospital setting. Hospitals are absolutely necessary for certain surgeries but theres a lot we can" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7463515299573271850) 2025-01-24T16:12Z 399.7K followers, 25.7K engagements "You have asked how you can help. 1Appeal Your Insurance Denials: If your insurance claim gets denied file for an appeal. Everytime. [--] Speak up Truthfully: Sharing your experience publicly or privately will help drive change. 3Stand Against Bullying Gaslighting and Intimidation in Healthcare: What we tolerate we perpetuate. Reach out to those you suspect are being intimidated and offer to support them publicly" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7474770875175177515) 2025-02-24T00:09Z 398.3K followers, 23.7K engagements "There is no algorithm that can replace the instincts of an experienced physician when faced with a patient in need. When the doctor who saw this patient in the Emergency Room examined her spoke with her and decided to admit her I know that he did so because he knew best how to keep her safe. I am grateful. I am disturbed that her insurance company questioned that judgement and presumes to know better than the doctor in front of her. The following statement in the denial letter says so much about the current state of healthcare: When a doctor or facility treats a patient above the recommended" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7481689985540787498) 2025-03-14T15:39Z 392.4K followers, 538.8K engagements "Her insurance company denied a stay for a surgery without even knowing what the surgery IS. My patient and I are planning a DIEP flap breast reconstruction and I want her to stay inpatient for monitoring for more than [--] hours. I am an expert in microsurgery and have done this for over a decade. The insurance company denied the preauthorization for surgery saying that they would approve outpatient surgery but not an inpatient stay. Thats not safe for this patient and this surgery. I requested a peer to peer conversation to explain to a doctor at the insurance company why an inpatient stay is" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7493959383785819434) 2025-04-16T17:10Z 398.2K followers, 131.6K engagements "📍Checking in from Redbud Surgery Center If youre having lymph nodes removed during breast cancer surgery this might be something youve never heard of but should. Today Im performing Immediate Lymphatic Reconstruction (ILR) for a patient having an axillary dissection. She was facing a 30% risk of developing lymphedemaswelling in the arm that can be lifelong and difficult to manage. But theres a way to reduce that risk sometimes to under 10%. Immediate Lymphatic Reconstruction (ILR) is a highly technical procedure where I create a new pathway for lymphatic fluid to drain into the venous system" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7497329402670304558) 2025-04-25T19:07Z 388.5K followers, 24.1K engagements "Did you know that the largest employer of physicians in the United States is United Health Group Did you know that 75% of physicians are now employed by larger entities as opposed to being in independent private practice I want you to know how important it is to protect the private practice of medicine. Im fighting hard to protect the ability of physicians and patients to make independent healthy decisions. To do that we have to start in our communities by protecting the physicians and practices that are independent and holding the line in healthcare for all Americans" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7500998464621284651) 2025-05-05T16:25Z 397.8K followers, 20K engagements "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 mastectomyfound out the plastic surgeon she had been seeing is out-of-network and her insurance doesnt 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 lowtoo low to cover the costs for me and my practicebecause I think its 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 heres the thing: this isnt a one-off." [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7502557485514083630) 2025-05-09T21:15Z 398.2K followers, 77.2K engagements "Did you know that insurance companies can apply for waivers to sell plans that dont meet the standards of network adequacy Its happening here in Texas and across the country. I recently received notification that an insurance company told the state of Texas that they couldnt find an ambulatory surgery center willing to be in network with them in Austin. They lied. My surgery center wants to be in network with them and they know that. They used that lie to justify getting a waiver to sell incomplete coverage to Texans. This isnt just a policy issueits hurting real patients like the woman who" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7515538600755301675) 2025-06-13T20:48Z 399.6K followers, 222.3K engagements "Ive been keeping something from you. The way I cope with hard things is by doing the work and putting the pain in a box. But the truth issince I spoke out against insurance companies things have been really hard. My practice is struggling. I built a surgery center so I could take better care of my patients expecting to do my cases through insurance. But several insurance companies have refused to contract with me since I posted that video. The strain has been so heavy Im not sure I can keep the practice open in its current form. Im sharing this because no insurance company should have the" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7522184679315737870) 2025-07-01T18:39Z 392.4K followers, 299.5K engagements "Our voices are being heard at the highest levels of government. This week during a congressional committee hearing Representative Lloyd Doggett and others made it clear: theyre listening. Our stories are making a difference. Thank you to all who are stepping up. This will take a bipartisan effort and were here for it. Lets keep pushing for healthcare that truly serves the American people. Watch the clip here: https://youtu.be/jirlXiTrSOMsi=k16FNZrEJUWrdJ5j" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7530698882343390519) 2025-07-24T17:18Z 399.7K followers, 453.9K engagements "When I saw that @Doctor Mike donated $10000 to the gofundme to help save my practice I cried happy tears. Who does that It was such an honor to be on Dr. Mikes podcast. His whole crew is the real dealevery bit as kind and genuine as you'd hope. They welcomed me with open arms gave me space to share more of my story offered great advice and reminded me Im not alone. If you havent listened yet I hope you will. Being embraced by this community means more than I can say. Thank you @doctor.mike for everything 🩵 So who does that Great doctors who see me taking the hit for all of us and want me to" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7536302104231677197) 2025-08-08T19:41Z 398.3K followers, 370.8K engagements "We need to have a hard conversation about the future of healthcare in America. Insurance companies are reporting profits are down which means theyre about to ask us to pay more for a product that already isnt meeting our needs. More denials. More control over our care. Less access to the doctors we trust. Is that really where we want to keep sending our money For many people there are other options like pairing a lower-cost catastrophic plan (for major illness or trauma) with self-pay or direct care for routine needs like mammograms lab work colonoscopies and checkups. In many cases paying" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7538556564622314766) 2025-08-14T21:29Z 399.7K followers, 908.6K engagements "Heading to Redbud Surgery Centet to perform a lymphovenous bypass for a patient whose insurance denied it. Shes paying out of pocketbut we were able to make it affordable and doable. I am able to continue doing that because of your support through the GoFundMe 💙 Last night I got a voicemail from a woman offering encouragement to me and my team. She said thatespecially right now in this countrystanding up for ourselves for women and for whats right really resonated with her. Every voicemail DM email and text matters more than you know. Heres what I keep coming back to: we can all stand where" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7538878312144243981) 2025-08-15T18:19Z 392.3K followers, 110.1K engagements "If youre a lawyer you can own your practice. If youre a baker you can own a bakery. Im a surgeon I own the surgery center. Owning @redbudsurgerycenter is so powerful I can help so many more patients. But lately insurance is getting in the way of that. Thank you to @cnn and @meenasaurus for continuing to cover my story so thoughtfully. Thank you to Armando Cardoso CEO of Payr Health for providing such important insight into the contracting process. Thank you to my patients and the American people. From $2 $20 $200 $2000 every dollar youve given to the GoFundMe has made a wold of difference. I" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7541567082979151118) 2025-08-23T00:12Z 399.5K followers, 96.7K engagements "The timing of your diagnosis shouldnt decide your breast reconstruction but for too many patients it does. I just saw a patient who had a mastectomy a few weeks ago and a tissue expander placed. Shes self-employed and already met her $10000 deductible this year. That means any surgery she does before December will be covered but if her next procedure happens after January 1st shell have to pay another $10000 out-of-pocket when her deductible resets. Because of that she told me she cant afford to wait and properly stretch her skin for the best reconstructive result. Instead she wants to finish" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7559686757860642062) 2025-10-10T20:06Z 390.8K followers, 49.4K engagements "Thanks to your support weve been able to keep the doors open at Redbud and continue providing breast reconstruction care to women across Central Texas. Weve made real progress contracting with several insurance companies (not United) and that means more patients can continue to access care outside of corporate medicine. Ive also officially launched a nonprofit to help bridge the gaps in our healthcare system and fund the free surgeries Ive been quietly doing for years. The nonprofit can help patients but it cant keep the practice open. I still need to raise an additional $1.2 million to" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7559966350559431991) 2025-10-11T14:10Z 399.7K followers, 31.9K engagements "For years so many of us in healthcare have quietly worked behind the scenes blending into a sea of blue scrubs and always putting patients first. Ive worn black Figs for years because I think theyre the best scrubs. But recently as a @wearFIGS ambassador Ive started wearing new colors and its been interesting to see how people respond. They notice me differently. It made me think maybe its time we start noticing healthcare workers differently too. Not just as the people who show up every day but as individuals. The nurses respiratory therapists and techs who make the system work. So today Im" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7560732293321461005) 2025-10-13T15:43Z 390.7K followers, [----] engagements "Thank you to everyone who has donated to our GoFundMe. Because of you today was possible. One of the great breast surgeons here in town came over to @redbudsurgerycenter to do a mastectomy and we did an immediate DIEP flap reconstruction. This is exactly what we built Redbud Surgery Center for. And its what your generosity encouragement and belief in this vision have made possible. This year has been rough but also amazing because in the hardest times the biggest things happen. We didnt quit. And today we got to give a patient the kind of care she truly deserves. Her surgery was just three" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7561947251619269902) 2025-10-16T22:17Z 391.3K followers, [----] engagements "As a surgeon one of the biggest reasons Im so passionate about building different kinds of medical practices is because patients feel it when the people caring for them arent happy. You can sense when your care team is overworked disconnected or just trying to survive the systemand it doesnt feel good for anyone. So many doctors and nurses got into this work to help people and somewhere along the way that essence has been taken away. Thats something I want to change. When a patient walks into my office with a new cancer diagnosis theyre scared and they trust me to get them through it. At my" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7563060156955675917) 2025-10-19T22:16Z 392.3K followers, [----] engagements "Did you know that doctors can actually be disciplined for speaking out about whats happening inside their hospitals Its one of the reasons you might not hear more doctors sharing their real opinions because the companies they work for or the hospitals they have privileges at can pressure them to stay silent. Ive experienced this firsthand. A few years ago someone filed a complaint about me. Not for safety but for attitude. It escalated all the way to a hospital committee and it was stressful. I remember sitting in the doctors lounge afterward thinking they just dont get me. I care deeply. Im" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7564733520938044685) 2025-10-24T10:30Z 392.5K followers, 33.8K engagements "Big news and a huge thank you. This year has been full of challenges and opportunities and its getting harder for everyone to access healthcare. Premiums are rising care is more expensive than ever and insurance companies are making medical decisions they shouldnt. But because of you @redbudsurgerycenter is still standing. Your donations kept our doors open helped us stabilize and continue serving patients. Just last week we met a 40-year-old mom with breast cancer who needed a lymphovenous bypass to lower her risk of lymphedema before radiation. Insurance denied her. At the hospital that" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7564899338401451319) 2025-10-24T21:13Z 399.6K followers, 214.5K engagements "You made this surgery possible 💙 Last week we announced the launch of Bluebird a nonprofit created in part to bridge the gap for patients who are denied medically necessary care by insurance. Our very first Bluebird grant helped to fund a lymphovenous bypass for a young mom with breast cancer. Her insurance denied coverage even though this procedure could prevent lifelong lymphedema before she starts radiation. The patient is already home recovering beautifully. At a hospital this surgery would cost nearly $40000. At @redbudsurgerycenter because we own the center and can control costs we" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7566417653305265422) 2025-10-28T23:25Z [--] followers, 44.5K engagements "If youve followed me for a while you probably know that when I post its because theres something I think you should know about healthcare something thats hard to understand unless youre really in it. Whether its insurance legislation or the realities of working in a big hospital my goal is always transparency so you can make the best decisions for you. Thats really what it comes down to: putting patients first. But sometimes speaking up comes with heat. And in full transparency that heat can hurt. If youve ever felt that too I want you to know its okay. It means you care deeply. It means your" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7571219465094827277) 2025-11-10T21:58Z 399.7K followers, 17.2K engagements "I really want to break down what this new legislation the Advancing Womens Health Coverage Act is proposing why it matters and why Im fighting to protect the Womens Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA). At first glance this bill looks like progress. But when I read the actual text I was shocked. The original WHCRA guarantees that if your insurance covers your mastectomy they have to cover your reconstruction. This new bill changes that tying coverage only to a diagnosis of breast cancer. That means individuals with BRCA1 BRCA2 or other high-risk genetic variants who choose preventative" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7571515262898425101) 2025-11-11T17:06Z 399.6K followers, 424K engagements "A meaningful step forward for patient-centered care. CMS just announced the removal of the Inpatient Only List a policy that restricted certain surgeries to hospital settings only. Why this matters: When surgeons and patients can decide the safest most appropriate surgical setting outcomes improve costs decrease and care becomes more accessible. Many procedures can be safely performed in outpatient centers and this shift gives physicians the flexibility to do whats best for each individual patient. This is the kind of change we need in healthcare: decisions driven by medical judgment not by" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7577139285770456333) 2025-11-26T20:50Z 399.7K followers, 29.8K engagements "Lip 6X is going viral for a reason fuller juicier lips in seconds. 💋 Get yours during the Mega Live for up to 45% off FREE shipping giveaways and flash sales happening right now #liptreatment #blackfriday #dealsforyoudays #skincare #skintok" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@therealdimitrijames/video/7577827910577425695) 2025-11-28T17:23Z 75.4K followers, [----] engagements "Today Im sharing an update about a patient many of you remember the woman who drove hours across Texas after her radiated implants became infected and no one near her would take her insurance. We removed her infected implants to protect her health. It was urgent. It was necessary. It was absolutely medically indicated. And yet her insurance company sent her a letter denying the surgery claiming it was not medically necessary. This is the reality too many women face after breast cancer: fighting infections managing complications and then having to battle an insurance company that should be" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7582751261632580919) 2025-12-11T23:47Z 398.5K followers, 30.2K engagements "Some good news: I just finished a DIEP flap here at @RedbudSurgeryCenter in two and a half hours and the patient is doing great. Next up bilateral tissue expanders both cases approved by insurance. Im genuinely encouraged by the progress were seeing. More insurance companies are starting to recognize that supporting independent physicians and outpatient surgery centers is good for patients and good for the system as a whole. When care is patient-centered and physicians are empowered to do their work well everyone wins. Grateful for the people willing to think differently. Ill keep showing up" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7585257975175023885) 2025-12-18T17:55Z 398.3K followers, [----] engagements "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" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7585961387751378190) 2025-12-20T15:24Z 399.7K followers, 20.5K engagements "Day two of Unfiltered. Many people assume doctors have a protected right or even a responsibility to speak out when they see unsafe conditions in a hospital. In reality most physicians who work in private hospitals have signed medical bylaws or contracts that restrict what they are allowed to say publicly. Those policies often limit speaking out on social media or criticizing hospital conditions even when concerns are related to patient safety. Violating them can mean being called before a medical executive committee or losing hospital privileges altogether. I am sharing this because over the" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7588278528483822903) 2025-12-26T21:16Z 399.7K followers, 20.3K engagements "Accountability matters. During a public congressional hearing Congressman Lloyd Doggett raised the barriers my patients and I have faced with UnitedHealth Group. Despite providing safer care at lower cost at @RedbudSurgeryCenter I have been unable to obtain in network status forcing my patients into facilities that are not designed for this level of surgery and into exhausting authorization battles. Congressman Doggett asked Stephen J. Hemsley CEO of UnitedHealth Group to personally investigate this situation and commit to good faith negotiations. In that hearing he publicly agreed to do so." [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7600114130409753887) 2026-01-27T18:44Z 399.5K followers, [----] engagements "Two insurers. Two approvals. Neither happened quickly. This approval took weeks of work. Calls and emails from my team. Patients advocating for themselves. And peer to peer conversations that I now record (The reviewer is notified before we speak) In this call I am explaining why a patients surgery could not safely happen at the facilities her insurance preferred. One hospital has ongoing HVAC failures. Operating rooms cannot maintain safe humidity levels. Surgeries have been canceled repeatedly since December [--]. Another in network hospital was not equipped to care for a DIEP flap patient." [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7603515476676857101) 2026-02-05T22:43Z 401K followers, 102.3K engagements "Sometimes we pour so much into others we forget to check our own tank. Patient check-in complete and a gentle reminder to refill too 🤍 7:58 PM 7:58 PM" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7486296968998735146) 2025-03-27T01:36Z 399.4K followers, 11.8K engagements "This is a follow-up to the story Ive been sharing about my patient. Shes [--] and had aggressive breast cancer. Shes completed chemo and radiation and wants her other breast removed to reduce her risk and regain peace of mind. I already fought for her surgery to be approved. That took a year. Now insurance is telling me when Im allowed to operate. Im a microsurgeon with over a decade of experience. Ive performed this surgery safely for years with a 99% success rate at [--] weeks post-radiation. But theyre saying they want me to wait two more months even though theres no medical guideline" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7498444235612523822) 2025-04-28T19:13Z 400.9K followers, 606.9K engagements "Have you heard of a planned denial I hadnt until an insurance peer reviewer said it out loud during a call. Apparently some insurance companies already know theyre going to deny a procedure before they even hear from the doctor. The peer-to-peer Just going through the motions. Its a term I suspect is used internallybut rarely shared with patients or physicians. And once you hear it you cant unhear it. This isnt how care should work. We need to start calling it what it is" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7499162062795377962) 2025-04-30T17:39Z 400.6K followers, 178.9K engagements "I got a call from insurance asking me to justify why my patientwho had a bilateral mastectomy and DIEP flap reconstructionneeded to stay in the hospital for two days. For context: ✅ She had bilateral mastectomies. ✅ She had complex microsurgery (DIEP flaps). ✅ She required continuous blood-flow monitoring with specialized ViOptix. ✅ Written approval from UnitedHealthcare dated July [--]. And yet AFTER surgery during clinic I was told I had to do a same-day peer-to-peer. I did not request this call. I was exhausted after seeing [--] patients in two days and heading to the hospital to care for the" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7545606078306831671) 2025-09-02T21:25Z 400.1K followers, 1.8M engagements "1. Being grateful to be alive does not mean you have to accept suffering. Survival and quality of life are not opposing goals. You are allowed to want both. [--]. You should never feel rushed into a permanent decision. Urgency often comes from the system not from what your body actually needs in that moment. [--]. Complications are not personal failures. They are medical events. Shame has no place in healing. [--]. Your reconstruction does not define your strength or your femininity. Your worth is not measured by symmetry scars or outcomes. [--]. The right surgeon will make space for your questions. If" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7589791309003623694) 2025-12-30T23:06Z 400.9K followers, 18.7K engagements "1. There is no one best option. There is only what is best for your body your treatment history and your life. [--]. Radiation changes everything. It affects healing implant outcomes and long-term results more than most people are told upfront. [--]. Revision surgery is common. That does not mean something went wrong. It means bodies heal in stages. [--]. You are allowed to seek another opinion. Good care welcomes questions and collaboration. [--]. You are the most important person in the room. When youre with your treatment team you are in charge. This is your body. You are not just along for the ride" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7590169840451702071) 2025-12-31T23:35Z 400.9K followers, 15.9K engagements "So funny story. I showed up to the hospital ready to operate but the OR humidity wasnt safe so cases had to be canceled. Patient safety always comes first. With unexpected time on my hands I did something I rarely do and did something for myself. I recently had Botox and noticed one brow was sitting a little higher than I wanted so I called a friend and stopped by to get it adjusted and did a little eye treatment while I was there. If you are wondering no fight here I just bruise easily Sharing because I think we should normalize being honest about the treatments we have done and hopefully" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7590908217773854007) 2026-01-02T23:21Z 400.6K followers, 45K engagements "The act of signing a denial is practicing medicine. Dr. Tracey Hurley If a physician makes a medical decision and that decision harms a patient we are held accountable. That is how medicine works. Yet insurance companies make treatment decisions every day through denials and prior authorizations without ever seeing the patient and without meaningful accountability when those decisions cause harm. In this powerful investigation Erin Moriarty of [--] Hours examines how insurers are increasingly inserting themselves into medical decision making often driven by profit rather than patient safety." [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7594250296751131918) 2026-01-11T23:30Z 400.8K followers, [----] engagements "Nurses across NYC are striking and I support them. They are advocating for safe staffing ratios fair contracts and healthcare benefits because patient safety depends on having enough well-supported nurses at the bedside. I appreciate their message to the public: if you are sick seek care. Patients getting the care they need is not crossing a picket line. Nurses want to be caring for patientsbut systemic failures have pushed them to take this step. When nurses are stretched too thin both patients and providers suffer. Supporting nurses is supporting better care. Standing in solidarity with" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7595302824888651063) 2026-01-14T19:34Z 400.9K followers, 47.6K engagements "Anti competitive practices are harming patients in Austin right now and I am asking Congress for help. Insurance companies decide where my patients are permitted to have surgery. They have refused to recognize my surgery center @redbudsurgerycenter as in network even though it is fully certified by CMS meets all safety standards and is often a safer environment for complex cancer surgeries. My ask to Congress is simple. Allow doctors and patients to choose where surgery is performed. Pre existing arrangements that force care into specific facilities are anti competitive and not in the best" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7596058171899235639) 2026-01-16T20:25Z 401K followers, 21K engagements "Why do I care so much about where your surgery happens Because its one of the few parts of healthcare I can actually control to make your care better. I spent years training to do highly specialized breast reconstruction. I focused on advocacy. I built an exceptional team. And as a surgeon the place where I operate matters just as much as the surgery itself. This is the environment where I show up for you. It affects safety outcomes and your experience from the moment you walk in. There arent endless options. In my city there are only a handful of facilities where these surgeries can happen." [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7597509079250046221) 2026-01-20T18:16Z 401K followers, 14.1K engagements "Important update for those with CIGNA health insurance: Today CIGNA announced they will no longer be covering the S Codes for DIEP Flap surgeries as of March 12th [----]. What should you do if you are a patient with CIGNA health insurance scheduled to have a DIEP flap AFTER March 12th [----] [--]. Call your doctor [--]. Ask WHAT code they will be using [--]. Make sure those codes are authorized [--]. Email me at: advocacy@drpotter.com I am here to help you You do not have to fight this alone. Challenge accepted Cignawe will not stand for this If you have questions please join the Instagram Live with me and" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7192744480485707051) 2023-01-26T00:02Z 400.9K followers, 25.5K engagements "Its [----] and navigating insurance has somehow gotten even more out of control I just performed two bilateral DIEP flap surgeries and two bilateral tissue expander surgeries. During one of the DIEP cases I was interrupted by a call from United Healthcarewhile the patient was already asleep on the operating table. They demanded information about her diagnosis and inpatient stay justification. I had to scrub out mid-surgery to call United only to find that the person on the line didnt even have access to the patients full medical information despite the procedure already being pre-approved. Its" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7457293170678762798) 2025-01-07T21:46Z 401K followers, 7.1M engagements "Why Is Healthcare Pricing Still a Secret The government created two major rules in the early 2020s to help patients understand the actual cost of healthcare: [--] Transparency in Coverage Rule Requires insurance companies to disclose negotiated rates. [--] Hospital Price Transparency Rule Requires hospitals to publish their prices. The goal To create a real marketplace where patients and providers could compare costs and make informed decisions. But heres the problem: hospitals and insurers arent really complying. Instead of clear easy-to-read pricing theyve published huge unreadable data files" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7470900715679059246) 2025-02-13T13:50Z 400.9K followers, 18.6K engagements "Its October which means open enrollment season has started. Youll probably start getting letters from your insurance company about your plan options for next year and for many people that also means seeing their premiums go up. Im already hearing stories of increases as high as 30% or more. Thats not sustainable for most Americans. The answer isnt that people stop getting healthcare its that we rethink how we pay for it. At my practice and at @RedBudSurgeryCenter Im continuing to work with insurance whenever possible but Im also building a parallel model of care thats transparent and paid for" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7563380327628967223) 2025-10-20T18:59Z 400.9K followers, 161.7K engagements "A surgery was canceled on December [--] because the operating rooms werent safe. Weeks later Im still trying to get it rescheduled. This patient needs breast reconstruction. The same hospital that canceled her surgery continues to have safety issues. They canceled surgeries again today. So Im trying to move her surgery to our surgery center where the operating rooms are safe and the team is built for this exact work. Its mid January and I still cant get it scheduled. Now her insurance says I can do a peer to peer call on January [--]. Ill take the call. Ill explain again why our surgery center is" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7597163899842071863) 2026-01-19T19:56Z 401K followers, 24.3K engagements "I stepped out of a new patients consult to have this peer to peer call at the only time offered to me. You may remember an insurance company recently insisting that theyd never interrupt patient care for insurance matters. Reality Checkit happens all the time. The doctor I spoke with was a general surgeon who had never performed breast reconstruction. He declined to give me his name citing concerns for his personal safety. He was polite but ultimately told me that United considers nerve sparing mastectomies experimental. He would not provide a written rationale or references for the studies" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7491039428274769198) 2025-04-08T20:19Z 401K followers, 2.5M engagements "Its time for receipts in American healthcare. We talk a lot about affordability and price transparency but theres a simple step we could take right now that would change everything. Doctors and hospitals submit detailed billing files. Insurers respond with detailed payment files. Yet none of this is visible to the public. Patients cant see whats charged whats paid or where the money actually goes. Transparency means showing the bills and the receipts. We need a national searchable database of [---] and [---] files for true transparency in healthcare. Share this with your members of Congress and" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7603840754418470157) 2026-02-06T19:46Z 401K followers, [----] engagements "Update: Bill Ackman Speaks Out I wanted to share a powerful post from Bill Ackman. His thoughtful detailed breakdown is worth reading. Im grateful for his support and for shining a clarifying light on the broader issues in our healthcare system. Its worth a read. I value fairness. I think a lot of us do. Please read his full post Ill link it in my bio and let me know your thoughts. And one more thingif theres something you think you can do to be part of that change reach out to me. Im here for it 💙" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7472788864755633454) 2025-02-18T15:57Z 401K followers, 35.7K engagements "Let's be real. I spoke out against a big insurance company and now I'm being punished for it. But l'm not giving up. It's not in my blood. I heard you asking and if you would like to help l've started a gofundme (link in bio) where you can read the details and consider contributing. Just showing up and following means the world to me. I'll keep it transparent so we can all see what medicine in the US is like in [----] and hopefully build something better for all of us" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7526726963520638221) 2025-07-14T00:25Z 401K followers, 287.5K engagements "Nine minutes on hold and still no answersUnited Healthcare are you serious I recently shared a video explaining how during a DIEP surgery I had to scrub out mid-procedure to address a call from United Healthcare demanding justification for my patients diagnosis and inpatient staydespite the surgery being pre-approved. To make matters worse the representative lacked access to the patients full medical information causing unnecessary disruption. After posting the video United Healthcare actually left a message at my office with a callback number. As a doctor its almost impossible to get through" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7458403013619748142) 2025-01-10T21:33Z 401K followers, 844.1K engagements "Im sharing an actual recent peer-to-peer call that shows what physicians and patients face when trying to get a surgery approved. This call felt as absurd as it sounds. The peer-to-peer call was to advocate for surgery to prevent and treat lymphedema for a patient with breast cancer. Her risk is high and we can perform a surgery to lower it. The doctors from the insurance company on the call were an ophthalmologist with a subspecialty in oculoplastic surgery and a plastic surgeon who currently has a cosmetic practice. Neither doctor has ever performed lymph venous bypassthe surgery I was" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7525884351356144909) 2025-07-11T17:55Z 401K followers, 13.3M engagements "2026: A patient reached out to me yesterday to let me know about a concerning interaction with a hospital system. The patient was scheduled for a therapeutic procedure in advance of surgery. Arrangements were made and the patient paid their estimated portion of the cost. Then they received a call from the facility asking them whether they still had the same insurance. When the patient confirmed that nothing had changed they received a warning from the facility that the estimate no longer applied and costs could go upsignificantly. Why Because the hospital system is renegotiating with the" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7592701396722502967) 2026-01-07T19:20Z 401K followers, 43.2K engagements "UnitedHealthcares Response: Read It for Yourself My statement regarding UnitedHealthcare sending me a Legal Letter & Denying My Patients Stay: I recently shared a video after I was asked to call United Healthcare from the operating room to answer administrative questions about the patient who was having surgery to treat breast cancer. Despite my efforts they denied her stay. I spoke out because this has simply gone too far. My words were true and the situation was absurd. I followed all safety protocols and my patient was with my cosurgeon who continued operating. I had requested an overnight" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7466910156249566510) 2025-02-02T19:45Z 401K followers, 2M engagements "UnitedHealthcare Update: It Just Got Worse On January 7th [----] I shared a video after I was asked to call UnitedHealthcare from the operating room to answer administrative questions about the patient who was having surgery to treat breast cancer. Despite my efforts they denied her stay. UnitedHealthcare didnt stop at calling me during surgery. Now theyve sent me a legal threatand even worse They ended up denying my cancer patients hospital stay. Exactly what I was afraid would happen. Staying overnight after major surgery isnt optionalits medically necessary. But UnitedHealthcare decided they" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7466975435402825003) 2025-02-02T23:58Z 401K followers, 647K engagements "My last case of [----] and my first case of [----] 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 hadnt 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" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7590809552048688439) 2026-01-02T16:58Z 401K followers, 52.4K engagements "It is [----] and healthcare is still not making any common sense. Today multiple cases were canceled again because of a facility issue. The operating rooms werent safe to operate in. So my breast cancer patients had their surgeries delayed for hours and one had to be moved to another facility tomorrow. And whats so frustrating is that I have an operating room I could take these cases to. Its ready. Its safe. But because insurance companies get to decide where were allowed to operate I couldnt use it. In this case it was United. They havent approved me to be in network at my surgery center so" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7594608055275310349) 2026-01-12T22:38Z 401K followers, 82.5K engagements "Insurance companies do not want you to fully understand this story. Because if you do you will understand exactly how American healthcare needs to change. When my patient Rachel needed breast reconstruction her insurance company required that I operate at a hospital that was not equipped to provide the safest care for her recovery. Rachel has spent over [--] years in healthcare as a nurse and nurse practitioner. She understands hospitals. And despite that she was deeply traumatized by what she experienced. On Monday morning in Austin she showed up for surgery and was turned away because the" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7597960101479140621) 2026-01-21T23:26Z 401K followers, 101K engagements "Last year UnitedHealthcare sent me a letter meant to intimidate me into silence. I dont think they expected what happened next. A member of Congress sent them a letter raising the very concerns I refused to stop talking about. Im sharing this because I want you to remember something important. Telling your story matters. Standing up for yourself matters. Standing up for your patients your community and safe healthcare matters. Even when powerful institutions hope youll back down" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7600929967484063031) 2026-01-29T23:30Z 401K followers, 121.1K engagements "You can change American healthcare with the choices you make as a patient. Today I sat with two women who did exactly that. One shared her story publicly after a hospital wasnt prepared for her surgery and her courage helped other patients gain access to better options. Another trusted us with her DIEP flap surgery at Redbud when we had to fight through layers of approvals to make it happen. Four months later shes thriving and now Cigna is in network with Redbud. Because she was willing to choose differently. Patients have more power than they realize. When you ask questions when you advocate" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7606037338078088462) 2026-02-12T17:49Z 401K followers, 10.1K engagements "If I want healthcare to be different I have to practice differently. Today at Redbud we did multiple cases in an environment built around patients not profit margins. We had time. We had focus. We had the right team in the right setting. One patient came to us after receiving a quote of more than $100000 for her cancer surgery elsewhere. The operating room fees alone were quoted at over $30000. We performed her surgery today in a CMS-certified facility with fellowship-trained surgeons and experienced nurses for a fraction of that cost. Same standard of excellence. Different priorities." [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7606512528826305806) 2026-02-14T00:33Z 401K followers, 15.2K engagements "Accountability matters. During a public congressional hearing Congressman Lloyd Doggett raised the barriers my patients and I have faced with UnitedHealth Group. Despite providing safer care at lower cost at @RedbudSurgeryCenter I have been unable to obtain in network status forcing my patients into facilities that are not designed for this level of surgery and into exhausting authorization battles. Congressman Doggett asked Stephen J. Hemsley CEO of UnitedHealth Group to personally investigate this situation and commit to good faith negotiations. In that hearing he publicly agreed to do so." [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7600151782387354911) 2026-01-27T21:10Z 401K followers, 37.5K engagements "A year ago I received a letter from UnitedHealthcare that was meant to scare me into silence. I documented parts of the last year that I havent shared before. That morning as I processed the shock of what was happening on my drive to the hospital I turned on my phone and started recording. As I spoke to you my resolve developed. I knew what I had to do. I had to stand up for the truth my patients and myself. Even though I was terrified I found peace and purpose in that moment. Days later when I shared the threatening letter with you all you stood with me. I know we are far from done but I" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7602454322554604855) 2026-02-03T02:05Z 401K followers, 89.7K engagements "When healthcare feels overwhelming look for one concrete thing you can do. Right now the Department of Education has opened a public comment period on a proposed rule that would remove nursing from the professional degree classification. That sounds technical. It isnt. If this change goes through nurses and advanced practice providers could lose access to certain federal loan programs that make advanced training financially possible. That affects who can afford to become a nurse practitioner. It affects who stays in the workforce. It affects access to care. As a reconstructive microsurgeon I" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7607572538591300878) 2026-02-16T21:07Z 401K followers, [----] engagements "Let's be real. I spoke out against a big insurance company and now I'm being punished for it. But l'm not giving up. It's not in my blood. I heard you asking and if you would like to help l've started a gofundme (link in bio) where you can read the details and consider contributing. Just showing up and following means the world to me. I'll keep it transparent so we can all see what medicine in the US is like in [----] and hopefully build something better for all of us" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7526726963520638221) 2025-07-14T00:25Z 401K followers, 287.5K engagements "UnitedHealthcares Response: Read It for Yourself My statement regarding UnitedHealthcare sending me a Legal Letter & Denying My Patients Stay: I recently shared a video after I was asked to call United Healthcare from the operating room to answer administrative questions about the patient who was having surgery to treat breast cancer. Despite my efforts they denied her stay. I spoke out because this has simply gone too far. My words were true and the situation was absurd. I followed all safety protocols and my patient was with my cosurgeon who continued operating. I had requested an overnight" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7466910156249566510) 2025-02-02T19:45Z 401K followers, 2M engagements "Its [----] and navigating insurance has somehow gotten even more out of control I just performed two bilateral DIEP flap surgeries and two bilateral tissue expander surgeries. During one of the DIEP cases I was interrupted by a call from United Healthcarewhile the patient was already asleep on the operating table. They demanded information about her diagnosis and inpatient stay justification. I had to scrub out mid-surgery to call United only to find that the person on the line didnt even have access to the patients full medical information despite the procedure already being pre-approved. Its" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7457293170678762798) 2025-01-07T21:46Z 401K followers, 7.1M engagements "That is not symbolic language. It is a statement with real policy implications. As a reconstructive microsurgeon I do not practice alone. I rely on nurses and advanced practice providers who are independently licensed credentialed and practicing at the highest level of their training. I could not meet the needs of the women I serve without them. If nursing is removed from the professional degree classification access to certain federal loan programs may be limited. That is not abstract. That affects who can afford advanced training. It affects who enters the workforce. It affects who stays." [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7607958569085865230) 2026-02-17T22:05Z 401K followers, [----] engagements "When healthcare feels overwhelming look for one concrete thing you can do. Right now the Department of Education has opened a public comment period on a proposed rule that would remove nursing from the professional degree classification. That sounds technical. It isnt. If this change goes through nurses and advanced practice providers could lose access to certain federal loan programs that make advanced training financially possible. That affects who can afford to become a nurse practitioner. It affects who stays in the workforce. It affects access to care. As a reconstructive microsurgeon I" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7607572538591300878) 2026-02-16T21:07Z 401K followers, [----] engagements "I have fought publicly for fairness from insurance companies but I know that there are other strong forces keeping healthcare unaffordable and inaccessible for many Americans. The response to unfairness must not be more unfairness. The cycle has to end. Transparency is coming and it will show that respected medical institutions have taken advantage of the public trust. For patients to be protected from unnecessary additional harm by the healthcare industry we must simply agree to stop hurting them. It is becoming painfully clear that the system at all levels has profited from exploiting the" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7606860748257512717) 2026-02-14T23:05Z 401K followers, 47.9K engagements "If I want healthcare to be different I have to practice differently. Today at Redbud we did multiple cases in an environment built around patients not profit margins. We had time. We had focus. We had the right team in the right setting. One patient came to us after receiving a quote of more than $100000 for her cancer surgery elsewhere. The operating room fees alone were quoted at over $30000. We performed her surgery today in a CMS-certified facility with fellowship-trained surgeons and experienced nurses for a fraction of that cost. Same standard of excellence. Different priorities." [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7606512528826305806) 2026-02-14T00:33Z 401K followers, 15.2K engagements "You can change American healthcare with the choices you make as a patient. Today I sat with two women who did exactly that. One shared her story publicly after a hospital wasnt prepared for her surgery and her courage helped other patients gain access to better options. Another trusted us with her DIEP flap surgery at Redbud when we had to fight through layers of approvals to make it happen. Four months later shes thriving and now Cigna is in network with Redbud. Because she was willing to choose differently. Patients have more power than they realize. When you ask questions when you advocate" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7606037338078088462) 2026-02-12T17:49Z 401K followers, 10.1K engagements "Today at Redbud Surgery Center were doing immediate DIEP flap reconstruction and this one matters. We didnt need an exception. We didnt need a long approval process. We were able to move forward because Redbud Surgery Center is now in network with Aetna. That means timely care fewer barriers and decisions being made based on whats best for the patient not paperwork. This is what progress in healthcare looks like. When insurers surgeons and surgery centers align patients win. Were grateful for the opportunity to take great care of this patient today and many more to come.🤍" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7605653244525808909) 2026-02-11T17:00Z 401K followers, 16.4K engagements "The amount of time I spend keeping patients safe is not small. Not every hospital is equipped to do every procedure everyday. I get itMedicine is demanding. Its not for everyone. But our insurance system operates as though every hospital is safe space for all surgeries. And its not a true assumption. I am in network as a surgeon. I am not asking for crazy out of network rates for redbud. I just want to keep my patients safe and provide the very best care for them. I smiled at the end of this call because the doctor heard me and understood the ask. We did this patients surgery safely at Redbud" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7605418552862067981) 2026-02-11T01:48Z 401K followers, 176.9K engagements "Many Americans right now dont feel safe. I see it in my patients and I recognize that we are all carrying an extra weight a fear in our bodies. While we work toward solutions to the challenges we are facing in our communities and in our country take this action. Make the room you are in safer. In conversation make others feel welcome to speak and safe to share their thoughts. Wherever you are give the energy of safety as a gift to those around you. We can build from there" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7605024092185480461) 2026-02-10T00:18Z 401K followers, [----] engagements "Its time for receipts in American healthcare. We talk a lot about affordability and price transparency but theres a simple step we could take right now that would change everything. Doctors and hospitals submit detailed billing files. Insurers respond with detailed payment files. Yet none of this is visible to the public. Patients cant see whats charged whats paid or where the money actually goes. Transparency means showing the bills and the receipts. We need a national searchable database of [---] and [---] files for true transparency in healthcare. Share this with your members of Congress and" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7603840754418470157) 2026-02-06T19:46Z 401K followers, [----] engagements "Two insurers. Two approvals. Neither happened quickly. This approval took weeks of work. Calls and emails from my team. Patients advocating for themselves. And peer to peer conversations that I now record (The reviewer is notified before we speak) In this call I am explaining why a patients surgery could not safely happen at the facilities her insurance preferred. One hospital has ongoing HVAC failures. Operating rooms cannot maintain safe humidity levels. Surgeries have been canceled repeatedly since December [--]. Another in network hospital was not equipped to care for a DIEP flap patient." [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7603515476676857101) 2026-02-05T22:43Z 401K followers, 102.3K engagements "A year ago I received a letter from UnitedHealthcare that was meant to scare me into silence. I documented parts of the last year that I havent shared before. That morning as I processed the shock of what was happening on my drive to the hospital I turned on my phone and started recording. As I spoke to you my resolve developed. I knew what I had to do. I had to stand up for the truth my patients and myself. Even though I was terrified I found peace and purpose in that moment. Days later when I shared the threatening letter with you all you stood with me. I know we are far from done but I" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7602454322554604855) 2026-02-03T02:05Z 401K followers, 89.7K engagements "Last year UnitedHealthcare sent me a letter meant to intimidate me into silence. I dont think they expected what happened next. A member of Congress sent them a letter raising the very concerns I refused to stop talking about. Im sharing this because I want you to remember something important. Telling your story matters. Standing up for yourself matters. Standing up for your patients your community and safe healthcare matters. Even when powerful institutions hope youll back down" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7600929967484063031) 2026-01-29T23:30Z 401K followers, 121.1K engagements "Accountability matters. During a public congressional hearing Congressman Lloyd Doggett raised the barriers my patients and I have faced with UnitedHealth Group. Despite providing safer care at lower cost at @RedbudSurgeryCenter I have been unable to obtain in network status forcing my patients into facilities that are not designed for this level of surgery and into exhausting authorization battles. Congressman Doggett asked Stephen J. Hemsley CEO of UnitedHealth Group to personally investigate this situation and commit to good faith negotiations. In that hearing he publicly agreed to do so." [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7600151782387354911) 2026-01-27T21:10Z 401K followers, 37.5K engagements "Insurance companies do not want you to fully understand this story. Because if you do you will understand exactly how American healthcare needs to change. When my patient Rachel needed breast reconstruction her insurance company required that I operate at a hospital that was not equipped to provide the safest care for her recovery. Rachel has spent over [--] years in healthcare as a nurse and nurse practitioner. She understands hospitals. And despite that she was deeply traumatized by what she experienced. On Monday morning in Austin she showed up for surgery and was turned away because the" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7597960101479140621) 2026-01-21T23:26Z 401K followers, 101K engagements "Why do I care so much about where your surgery happens Because its one of the few parts of healthcare I can actually control to make your care better. I spent years training to do highly specialized breast reconstruction. I focused on advocacy. I built an exceptional team. And as a surgeon the place where I operate matters just as much as the surgery itself. This is the environment where I show up for you. It affects safety outcomes and your experience from the moment you walk in. There arent endless options. In my city there are only a handful of facilities where these surgeries can happen." [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7597509079250046221) 2026-01-20T18:16Z 401K followers, 14.1K engagements "A surgery was canceled on December [--] because the operating rooms werent safe. Weeks later Im still trying to get it rescheduled. This patient needs breast reconstruction. The same hospital that canceled her surgery continues to have safety issues. They canceled surgeries again today. So Im trying to move her surgery to our surgery center where the operating rooms are safe and the team is built for this exact work. Its mid January and I still cant get it scheduled. Now her insurance says I can do a peer to peer call on January [--]. Ill take the call. Ill explain again why our surgery center is" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7597163899842071863) 2026-01-19T19:56Z 401K followers, 24.3K engagements "Anti competitive practices are harming patients in Austin right now and I am asking Congress for help. Insurance companies decide where my patients are permitted to have surgery. They have refused to recognize my surgery center @redbudsurgerycenter as in network even though it is fully certified by CMS meets all safety standards and is often a safer environment for complex cancer surgeries. My ask to Congress is simple. Allow doctors and patients to choose where surgery is performed. Pre existing arrangements that force care into specific facilities are anti competitive and not in the best" [TikTok Link](https://www.tiktok.com/@drelisabethpotter/video/7596058171899235639) 2026-01-16T20:25Z 401K followers, 21K engagements Limited data mode. Full metrics available with subscription: lunarcrush.com/pricing
@drelisabethpotter Dr. Elisabeth Potter
Dr. Elisabeth Potter posts on TikTok about insurance, dr, public, if you the most. They currently have [-------] followers and [---] posts still getting attention that total [------] engagements in the last [--] hours.
Engagements: [------] #
Mentions: [--] #
Followers: [-------] #
CreatorRank: [-------] #
Social Influence
Social category influence finance stocks countries
Social topic influence insurance #142, dr, public, if you, money, safely #480, environment, network, flap, company #2341
Top accounts mentioned or mentioned by @redbudsurgerycenter @wearfigs @tiffany @ladyspinedoc @nbcnightlynews @priscillawthompson @ckakouris @redbudsurgerycentera @doctor @doctormike @cnn @meenasaurus @ny @drpottercom @dr.bortny @ilya.chern.md
Top assets mentioned Cigna Corp (CI)
Top Social Posts
Top posts by engagements in the last [--] hours
"Your medical team should always be there to advocate for you #atmgene #plasticsurgeon"
TikTok Link 2024-04-16T22:57Z [----] followers, [----] engagements
"Happy nurses week everyone Just wanted to give a quick shout out and recognize some of the nurses that I work with. Your work never goes unnoticed and you are all absolute rockstars HappyNursesWeek HappyNursesWeek"
TikTok Link 2024-05-09T19:25Z [---] followers, [----] engagements
"Just like many patients face misconceptions that breast reconstruction is cosmetic I a board-certified plastic surgeon trained in microsurgery also encounter doctors who dismiss what I do as elective or cosmetic. After I finished up a surgery a doctor remarked There goes the plastic surgeon who cares more about cosmetic surgery than my patients who need to go to the operating room. I made it clear theres nothing cosmetic about what I do. There is nothing elective about what my patients impacted by cancer go through. Womens health often gets deprioritized and we must stand and advocate for"
TikTok Link 2024-08-01T15:23Z 383.6K followers, 976.4K engagements
"Living with asymmetry Were here to help you. This is a surgical procedure covered by insurance through the Womens Health and Cancer Rights Act. You deserve to feel comfortable in your body. Your needs are valid and were ready to make that change one patient at a time.❤ #AsymmetrySupport #WomensHealth #CancerSurvivor #InsuranceCoverage #BodyConfidence #redbudsurgerycenter #wearehereforyou A message for those who are living with asymmetry A message for those who are living with asymmetry"
TikTok Link 2024-08-09T18:37Z 39.3K followers, [----] engagements
"Replying to @Tiffany Moon MD Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and stories on the recent post about my run-in with another doctor. Were keeping it classy cute and demurefor our patients always 🙏✨ #Gratitude #StayClassy #demure"
TikTok Link 2024-08-20T16:57Z [----] followers, [----] engagements
"As PA Week comes to a close I want to give a huge shout out to all the amazing Physician Assistants out there I truly couldnt do what I do without my incredible team of advanced practice providers. Sometimes I hear concerns about the role of PAs in patient care but let me be clear: I am a better doctor because of them. We all have our strengths and limitations and my PAs step in to fill those gaps especially when I need a break. Together we create a supportive environment that enhances patient care. Thank you to all the PAs out there for your dedication and excellence You make a difference"
TikTok Link 2024-10-11T17:05Z 388.5K followers, [----] engagements
"This week I've been reflecting on the troubling realities many patients and doctors are facing due to insurance company decisions. For example limiting anesthesia hourssomething that directly impacts patient careand pushing for outdated damaging procedures over more modern effective ones. This isn't new. Last year we fought for fair access to breast reconstruction that didnt harm a womans body. But it shouldnt have to be a fight. Insurance companies are increasingly making decisions based on cost not care. This is eroding trust between patients and doctors and we cannot ignore it any longer."
TikTok Link 2024-12-13T13:42Z 39.3K followers, 41.3K engagements
"My patients always come first 💙 For those of you who showed concern for my patient that was in surgery there was another surgeon in the room and I appreciate all of you for thinking of the patient first Thats exactly what we should be doing and Im here for that. Thank you for listening and reminding me that there is so much power in sharing our stories"
TikTok Link 2025-01-09T00:43Z [----] followers, 206.3K engagements
"Recently I hit a breaking point with the state of healthcare. I was frustrated exhausted and feeling like I had no one to turn to. I decided to speak up about my experience and the response has been overwhelming. I became a doctor because I am passionate about helping peoplebut so much of my time is spent fighting insurance companies to value the care my patients deserve. Its disheartening and its not okay. What Ive realized is that staying quiet wont change anything. Speaking out was a turning point for me and what I didnt expect was how many of you feel the same way. Thank you for listening"
TikTok Link 2025-01-11T18:12Z 39.3K followers, 55K engagements
"Navigating healthcare in [----] means that as a surgeon I dont just care for my patientsI have to care about insurance too. Breast reconstruction for patients affected by breast cancer is about more than just surgery. A cancer diagnosis is already financially devastating and if I dont carefully navigate the insurance system my patients could end up with enormous bills for their care. Thats why Ive worked hard to stay in-network with as many insurance providers as possibleMedicare Medicaid Tricare United Blue Cross Aetna Humana and more. My goal has always been to ensure that insurance isnt an"
TikTok Link 2025-01-22T00:16Z 377K followers, 27.3K engagements
"So heres where Im at: Its been a wild ride since I shared that video about receiving a message during surgery from United asking me to call them about a patient mid-procedure. As you can imagine its been stressful. But Ive taken a step back gotten centered and engaged. Im incredibly grateful for all the support and kind messages Ive received but honestly whats meant the most to me is the conversation this is sparking. The discomfort Im feeling is real but Ive always said that discomfort is where growth and change happen. So while this feels bigger than personal growth Im in it. Im ready to"
TikTok Link 2025-01-29T17:55Z 97.3K followers, 75.3K engagements
"Update: I Have Legal Representation So many of you have reached out asking: Do you have attorneys Do you have representation How are you doing I want you to know that Nix Patterson is representing me and having them by my side through this has meant so much. I didnt know what it was like to have a great legal team until I needed one and I truly couldnt ask for better. It reminds me of when I meet someone newly diagnosed with breast cancerI wish we were meeting under different circumstances but if you have to go through this I want to be the one taking care of you because I know I can give you"
TikTok Link 2025-02-12T23:37Z 97.2K followers, 119.9K engagements
"Insurance Access Today I performed a breast reduction for a patient who had been searching for FOUR YEARS for a plastic surgeon who would take her insurance. She met all the medical criteria but her insurance company only reimbursed $1000 for the procedurewhen the average cost is $7800 and in Austin it's often $13000+. This is the reality of healthcare today: Insurance coverage doesnt guarantee access. When reimbursement rates are too low surgeons simply cant afford to take these cases. The cost of running a practice is rising while insurance payments are declining. I want to help. I want to"
TikTok Link 2025-03-17T22:25Z 71.3K followers, [----] engagements
"Access to breast reconstruction is being denied because of poor reimbursementand its a problem we need to address. Today I saw a 69-year-old patient who was told she couldnt get a DIEP flap because Medicare doesnt 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. Ill still do the right thing for my patients and perform their surgeries even when I lose moneybut this system needs to change. Its time for CMS and this administration to take a hard look at how"
TikTok Link 2025-03-21T21:19Z 71.3K followers, 11.8K engagements
"Im so thankful for my family. I didnt tell my parents about the letter from United Health when it first happened. They are in their 80s and I didnt want to worry them. I had the chance to fill them in today and that felt really reaffirming. I come from a long line of strong people who never backed down from a fight when it came their way. I wouldnt trade the way I was raisedor the values they instilled in mefor anything: take care of people and treat them fairly. I filmed this video right after talking to them and yall my Georgia accent really came out. Thats how you know it hit close to home"
TikTok Link 2025-03-23T22:24Z 334.5K followers, 95.8K engagements
"Im heading back to the hospital and Im bringing you along with me This is a peek into what flap monitoring looks like and why I always keep my phone nearbynot just for pages but to monitor blood flow on my DIEP flap patients. One of my patients flaps dipped slightly tonight so Im going to check on her. I use a monitor for blood flow after a DIEP flap called Vioptix. These monitors help track perfusion (blood flow) in the transplanted tissue and alert me if somethings off like compromised blood supply that could risk flap failure. The Vioptix uses real time non-invasive monitoring and can send"
TikTok Link 2025-03-27T01:03Z 71.3K followers, [----] engagements
"Im the microsurgeonand insurance companies are telling me when to operate. My patient is [--]. She had aggressive breast cancer positive lymph nodes a strong family historyand she wanted both breasts removed to reduce her risk. But the night before surgery her insurance denied the prophylactic side. So we only removed the breast with cancer. That was a year ago. Shes completed chemo and radiation and now its time for her DIEP flap surgery. She still wants the other breast removed to reduce her risk and for her peace of mind. And its reasonable. We appealed. Again and again. I finally got a"
TikTok Link 2025-04-10T15:28Z 97.7K followers, 1M engagements
"I think a lot of doctors are embarrassed to admit just how badly weve been taken advantage of by insurance companies. Its hard to admit when the system completely uses you. When I finished fellowship I went into private practice because I just wanted to take care of people. I wanted to take insurance. Whos going to treat people impacted by cancer and not take insurance But heres what nobody tells you: when you try to go in-network you dont get to negotiate. You apply. And if they accept you they tell you what theyll pay. No discussion. And then they can lower that rate anytime. So a lot of"
TikTok Link 2025-04-21T20:34Z 89.7K followers, 58.5K engagements
"Last week I had a patient scheduled to get her implants placed after mastectomy and tissue expanders. She wanted her surgery done at my outpatient centerRedbud Surgery Centerbecause we prioritize doing whats best for people affected by breast cancer. But her insurance denied the surgical materials I recommended. They didnt just deny themthey told me what I had to use instead. The problem Theyre completely different products. One dissolves naturally over time. The other is made from human skin and stays in the body foreversomething Ive seen lead to complications over the years. And the price"
TikTok Link 2025-05-15T21:41Z 301.5K followers, 72.6K engagements
"We have all seen the cost of healthcare in America has increase dramatically over the last [--] years. Weve also seen health insurance companies become some of the most profitable companies in the United States. Ive been taking a closer look at healthcare and Im sharing what Ive learned with you. We all deserve to know the truth so that we can demand real reform"
TikTok Link 2025-05-27T23:23Z 93K followers, 12.8K engagements
"This morning I was prepping for a DIEP flap when an orthopedic surgeon sat down beside me and said "You're not gonna believe what United just did." His patient had waited six months just to see him. He confirmed she needed a hip replacement and she was a good candidate. He submitted everythingher imaging her full records all the evidence. But United denied the case because he didnt include the radiographic findings in the body of his note. Not because she didnt need the surgery. Not because the data wasnt there. But because of a formatting technicality. Now she has to wait again just long"
TikTok Link 2025-05-29T21:38Z 93.3K followers, 30K engagements
"Ive heard you telling me that your hospitals and clinics are understaffed and stretched too thin. Today it happened to my patient and I know its happening to others too. I showed up to do three breast reconstruction surgeries. But the hospital told me they didnt have enough staff for the last case. It seems they expected me to work faster stretch the team thinner and make it work. Thats not how we do safe surgery. So I called my patient and told her the truth. We agreedwere not doing this case that way. This isnt a one-time thing. Its happening too often. Were being asked to do more with less"
TikTok Link 2025-06-16T20:37Z 241.2K followers, 122.9K engagements
"I promised to share my thoughts on recent announcements from insurance companies that they will improve prior authorizations for patients and providers. Ive done my homework and unfortunately this pledge falls flat. The truth is that Americans need more than promises. We wont settle for a voluntary pledge to do better from an industry that has fallen so short for so long"
TikTok Link 2025-06-30T00:58Z 97.3K followers, [----] engagements
"Im a girl from Georgia living in Texas. I love my community. My heart is broken for my fellow Texans. I have the upmost respect for the men and women who are working around the clock to rescue and recover those missing in the floods. Thank you. But today is not a day for politicians to celebrate response efforts or congratulate one another on a job well done. Read the room. We want answers and until you have them we will accept facts. I hope you are providing more detailed information to the parents and family members of those missing"
TikTok Link 2025-07-05T23:46Z 97.7K followers, 42.2K engagements
"I said Id keep being honest with you. The truth is being vulnerable as a doctor isnt something were taught to do. Were trained to hold it together to push through to never show the cracks. But Ive learned that vulnerability is its own kind of strength. Because at the heart of medicine is truthfinding it facing it and acting on it. Thats what I try to do every day for my patients. And thats what Im trying to do now. This year has tested me. Deeply. And Ive come to realize that being open about that is part of the solutionnot just for me but for this entire system. If good people being good"
TikTok Link 2025-07-07T23:58Z 97.9K followers, 13.5K engagements
"I am heading in to operate this morning but first I had to say thank you. I am overwhelmed by the number of people who have sent me messages contributed to my gofundme or shared it with others if they are unable to donate. I'm so encouraged and committed to staying the course. My heart is a little lighter today and that's because of you guys 🩵"
TikTok Link 2025-07-14T17:12Z 213.1K followers, 173.2K engagements
"Lets be real. I spoke out against a big insurance company and now Im being punished for it. But Im not giving up. Its not in my blood. I heard you asking and if you would like to help Ive started a gofundme (link in bio) where you can read the details and consider contributing. Just showing up and following means the world to me. Ill keep it transparent so we can all see what medicine in the US is like in [----] and hopefully build something better for all of us"
TikTok Link 2025-07-14T21:39Z 222K followers, 113.3K engagements
"I'm so inspired encouraged by the number of folks who are giving. Thank you. I also want you to know I am all in. Weve cashed in our 401k and depleted our savings. When I see you giving your hard-earned money to support this mission I want you to know Im matching that energy with everything Ive got. I told my team this week were working for the American people. We are here to take care of our patients and also to change the environment of insurance in the US and to keep speaking out. Thank you again for believing in this. The GoFundMe is in my bio if youd like to read more or help keep this"
TikTok Link 2025-07-16T16:09Z 213.1K followers, 133K engagements
"There is a hashtag out there #SaveOurSurgeon and I dont even have the words. Thank you for showing up. For sharing your stories. For wanting to save our practice. Please check out the #SaveOurSurgeon and these stories. This is the why. This is why this movement is so huge because it's not about me. It it's about all of us and helping each other"
TikTok Link 2025-07-18T13:23Z 381.4K followers, 571.7K engagements
"In less than one week we have almost hit our goal of $500k. I am grateful beyond words. After telling the truth about insurance and being punished for it I was scared I was going to lose my practice. Now I feel like I can breathe again knowing Ill be able to continue serving my patients and speaking out for what I know is right. After encouragement from this incredible community I will be increasing the goal of the GoFundMe. Thank you to everyone who has made a donation or who has helped share my story. I encourage you all to keep telling the truth. Be guided by whats good. With your help Ill"
TikTok Link 2025-07-19T18:34Z 222K followers, 128.6K engagements
"I wanted to share a few real ways to support the practice right now: If youve been considering elective plastic surgery like a cosmetic breast reduction Id love to talk with you. Im a board-certified plastic surgeon I love this work and we have an incredible facility here in Austin. If youre able to donate you can do so here: GoFundMe (https://gofund.me/9755f8a1) (for direct access the link is in my bio). If you have ideas for investors or philanthropists who might be passionate about supporting access to care investing in the practice or changing healthcareId love to be connected. Im"
TikTok Link 2025-07-23T17:37Z 222K followers, 46.3K engagements
"Heading into clinic and just wanted to share a few things that have been sitting with me lately. Work hard. Work harder. Nothing works unless I do. If Im asking someone to show up for me I have to meet that with real effortand I promise you thats exactly what Im doing. Im also reminded constantly: I dont know everything. Just because Im a doctor doesnt mean Ive stopped learning. I learn from my patients my team my mentorsevery single day. When things get hard (and they do) I come back to this: have integrity. Do the right thing even when no ones watching. When Im unsure I thinkwhat would my"
TikTok Link 2025-07-25T14:18Z [--] followers, 25.3K engagements
"Open enrollment for health insurance starts November [--] [----]. Time to apply pressure to the system. Are you with me"
TikTok Link 2025-07-27T17:39Z 388.5K followers, 69.3K engagements
"I work for you now. Thanks to you weve been able to pay down debts keep the lights on and keep caring for patients. Because of your generosity weve raised over $550000 with an average donation of $70. The practice is stable for the next several months. Im overwhelmed with gratitude and cant wait to share some exciting updates soon. Stay tuned and thank you for believing in this mission 🩵"
TikTok Link 2025-07-28T23:09Z 241.3K followers, 116.7K engagements
"When @ladyspinedoc saw my practice was on the line after I spoke out against a broken system she reached out to help. We worked together to design this limited edition collab incorporating the @redbudsurgerycenter logo and these words that deeply resonate with me. The Redbud logo is meaningful. Redbud is about turning points. The change of seasonschanging direction and on Lake Austin after warming up to Redbud Island. The phrase: Dig Deep. Rise High feels accurate right now. Its realistic and hopeful. This is my new favorite shirt and bracelet. Its a reminder that while things may be hard I"
TikTok Link 2025-08-06T16:06Z 260.4K followers, 267.1K engagements
"Grateful to @NBCNightlyNews for shedding light on whats really happening in American healthcareand to @PriscillaWThompson and @c_kakouris_ for helping share this story. The biggest problems have the best solutions and that is what we are going for. Im not giving up. Im determined to keep going and to find for a better way forward in American healthcare"
TikTok Link 2025-08-07T23:24Z 241.3K followers, 52.7K engagements
"I met with a woman today with breast cancer who has been forced to make an impossible choice. She found a breast mass over a year ago but waited [--] months to get it diagnosed because she couldnt afford insurance. She works [--] hours a week in the service industry was denied Medicaid and finally had her biopsy covered by Planned Parenthood. Shes now had a mastectomy and chemotherapy. But she still needs radiation and also wants breast reconstruction. But starting in January her Affordable Care Act plan will jump from just over $100 to $500 a month due to The Big Beautiful Billsomething she"
TikTok Link 2025-08-19T00:20Z 334.9K followers, 86.1K engagements
"This is my why 🩵 There has been a lot happening this month but nothing matters more than this. Seeing my patients and watching them heal after their surgeries. This video a patient sent me is everything. This is the most important thing to me. I love my patients so much"
TikTok Link 2025-08-27T22:00Z 335.2K followers, 33.9K engagements
"I want to share a story and you can make your own conclusions. I just operated on a patient with breast cancer who had tissue expanders placed a couple weeks ago. While recovering at home she had a seizure and went to the ER. They ordered a brain MRI but heres the problem: MRIs and tissue expanders dont mix. Why Most expanders have metal in the ports. During an MRI the magnetic force can pull or heat that metal damaging the expanderor worse harming the patient. In her case the expanders tore under the pressure of the scan. She even told them she had expanders in and felt pain during the MRI."
TikTok Link 2025-08-30T01:34Z 348.1K followers, 134.4K engagements
"A doctor asked why I dont just do cosmetic surgery or other profitable procedures instead of asking for help through GoFundMe Because my dream isnt to make money. My dream is to provide excellent care for people affected by breast cancer and to change healthcare for the better. The answer isnt to change my dream. Its to figure out how to make it possible"
TikTok Link 2025-09-05T14:14Z 360.7K followers, 44.7K engagements
"Ive been asked a lot about how we got here with insurance and medicine. For too long the medical community has told ourselves Were good people in a bad system. But when insurance denies care the first time youre shocked. The 100th time Its on us to stand up. I recently spoke with a doctor who was told to read 25% more mammograms this year. She raised concerns about patient safety. Leaderships response But youre hitting the numbers We cant just sit by and say the system sucks. Thats not medicine. Its not enough to be good people. Our patients need us to be good doctors. I believe that my"
TikTok Link 2025-09-07T21:48Z 366.9K followers, 49.5K engagements
"UPDATE: The GoFundMe has raised nearly $780000 with the average donation just $70. I am so grateful. Together youve made a huge dent in the nearly $5 million debt were facing. But Im not out of the woods. I still need to raise another $1.2 million just to keep RedBud Surgery Center open one of the only places in Central Texas where women can have DIEP flap breast reconstruction safely outside of a hospital. UnitedHealthcare says there are plenty of surgery centers but there are none like RedBud. No other ASC is built for breast reconstruction with a team that can perform these surgeries"
TikTok Link 2025-09-11T00:03Z 380.2K followers, 86.6K engagements
"UPDATE: The GoFundMe has raised nearly $780000 with the average donation just $70. I am so grateful. Together youve made a huge dent in the nearly $5 million debt were facing. But Im not out of the woods. I still need to raise another $1.2 million just to keep RedBud Surgery Center open one of the only places in Central Texas where women can have DIEP flap breast reconstruction safely outside of a hospital. UnitedHealthcare says there are plenty of surgery centers but there are none like RedBud. No other ASC is built for breast reconstruction with a team that can perform these surgeries"
TikTok Link 2025-09-11T00:25Z 360.7K followers, [----] engagements
"I wanted to show you @redbudsurgerycenter and tell you why I am fighting so hard to protect it. When I walk into RedBud Surgery Center I feel what I felt as a kid walking into my dads small medical office in Augusta GA. The sense that when you made it to his door you were safe and you were cared for. That same spirit lives here. Having my own surgery center is a superpower. It means I dont have to beg a hospital for time in the OR or let an insurance policy dictate how I care for my patients. Here I get to welcome women facing breast cancer into a space designed just for them. My team is"
TikTok Link 2025-09-12T15:24Z 362.1K followers, 20.4K engagements
"At the very end of my fellowship at MD Anderson I was asked to do a microsurgery procedure on a rat because they wanted to see how fast the fellows were at doing microsurgery. It was hard for me because Ive always been close to animals. A kind gentleman noticed and afterwards he introduced me to Judy. Judy was a research dog in the breast cancer program. Shed undergone surgeries had lymphedema induced and carried surgical wounds on her little body. She was supposed to be euthanized but this man didnt want that for her. He asked if Id help. Together we went to the director of the program and"
TikTok Link 2025-09-14T16:37Z 377K followers, 61K engagements
"I operate at a local hospital and also at RedBud my surgery center. Recently Ive heard and experienced things at the hospital that concern me deeply. Patients not being properly evaluated before anesthesia surgeries started before I was even in the operating room and families left without answers when they report safety issues. These things should never happen. I am deeply concerned that they are. And I want to be clear I hear similar stories from healthcare workers across the country and Im sharing these specific examples with you because I have direct knowledge of them. These are not"
TikTok Link 2025-09-15T23:51Z 371K followers, 70.3K engagements
"⚠ Hospital Stories: Part [--] of [--] Over the next few posts Im sharing real stories from just the past week at the hospital. These are things my patients and I are experiencing in real time situations that highlight the cracks in our healthcare system and why I believe safe patient-centered care matters so much. Before I could take my patient with breast cancer back for her surgery she was stopped in the hospital lobby and told she owed $6000. She knew it wasnt right. Shed already met her deductible already had surgery this year and never owed money upfront before like this. But on the day of her"
TikTok Link 2025-09-23T15:04Z 375.7K followers, 48.7K engagements
"Last week I had the privilege of being in rooms with farmers transportation workers grocery workers and independent providers at the Anti-Monopoly Summit in DC and with incredible women in Chicago committed to doing the right thing in medicine. Everywhere I went I listened. And what I heard reminded me: were not alone in this fight. There are people and companies out there leaning in to stand up against big industries that are trying to crush independent voices and theyre ready to do the right thing for patients. Im ready to not just talk to you about whats been happening in healthcare but to"
TikTok Link 2025-09-23T23:43Z 378.4K followers, 21.4K engagements
"What do I stand for I stand for the underdog. I stand for workers. I stand for the people who cant stand for themselves. I stand for facts. I stand for taking care of others. I stand against bullies. I stand for America. If it feels like the loudest voices dont represent you then its time to get represented. Speak up. Stand up. Keep your wits about you. Because the American thing matters. Freedom matters. Standing up for each other matters"
TikTok Link 2025-09-25T20:43Z 389.8K followers, 16.8K engagements
"⚠ Hospital Stories: Part [--] of [--] Last week I was in the middle of a breast reconstruction revision when a nurse came in and said Your next patient is already in the OR. I hadnt finished my first case. I hadnt told anyone to roll her back. And then they added: Shes already asleep. Shes intubated. I was shocked. Patient safety has to come first. No patient should ever be put under anesthesia before their surgeon says its safe to proceed. Yet here was my elderly patient waiting under anesthesia while I was still operating on someone else. This is exactly what worries me about the way hospitals"
TikTok Link 2025-09-26T18:53Z 382.3K followers, 100.2K engagements
"Closed networks dont 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. Shes had breast cancer a mastectomy radiation and now a painful implant that looks like its about to come through her skin. Shes 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. Its"
TikTok Link 2025-10-02T22:17Z 384.8K followers, 30K engagements
"Feeling inspired by this incredible team of doctors in the operating room who performed a successful breast reconstruction and liposuction surgery today. Together at @redbudsurgerycenter were redefining possibilities and making a difference one surgery at a time. Grateful to be working alongside these powerhouse women 💪👩⚕ #WomenInMedicine #SurgicalExcellence #girlpower #surgeryday #liposuction #breastreconstruction"
TikTok Link 2024-07-23T17:11Z 398.3K followers, [----] engagements
"One of my patients came to me after undergoing a TRAM flap surgery somewhere else that cost her nearly $1 million out of pocket only to be left with significant asymmetry. No surgery should ever cost that much. Patients deserve better than this full stop. I was able to help her for a fraction of the cost even without insurance. If something feels wrong trust your instinctsyou dont have to settle. Together we can change this pattern and ensure that patients get the care they deserve ❤ Million Dollar Surgery Million Dollar Surgery"
TikTok Link 2024-10-28T19:29Z 399.7K followers, 18.1K engagements
"Its time to prioritize what really matters: Better outcomes for patients. Im concerned that the way surgeries are valued right now doesnt put patients first. The system rewards longer procedures more resources and complexitybut NOT better outcomes for patients. Imagine if we rewarded shorter more efficient surgeries with better outcomes. Right now the focus is on the time I spend in the operating room not the healing and recovery of my patients. But the real goal should be improving patient care and recovery time. Its time to overhaul the system to reflect what truly matters: patients getting"
TikTok Link 2024-12-19T00:54Z 398.2K followers, 208.6K engagements
"As a doctor it is next to impossible for me to reach out and talk to someone at an insurance company. But after posting that video United actually reached out to MY office and left their number. I am going to call them back tomorrow and I will let you know what they say"
TikTok Link 2025-01-10T00:00Z 396K followers, 305.4K engagements
"Just finished a very special surgery at @redbudsurgerycentera sensation-preserving mastectomy with nerve grafting for our patient who was originally quoted $80000 for this procedure at a hospital. Thanks to the flexibility we have at RedBud she was able to purchase the nerve grafts at cost and we performed the surgery here at a significantly reduced price. This is a real example of how giving doctors more control over care and facilities can lead to better outcomes for patients. We need less corporate involvement in medicine and more opportunities for physicians to lead own and manage"
TikTok Link 2025-01-23T03:55Z 392.3K followers, 19.2K engagements
"Did you know that since [----] laws have made it nearly impossible for physicians to own hospitals This is a direct result of lobbying by large hospital trade organizationsand its had a huge impact on patient care outcomes and costs. I personally took out loans and invested in @redbudsurgerycenter to create a space where I can provide the best care possible for my patients. Here I have more control over the experience the outcomes and the costs which is something I couldnt achieve in a traditional hospital setting. Hospitals are absolutely necessary for certain surgeries but theres a lot we can"
TikTok Link 2025-01-24T16:12Z 399.7K followers, 25.7K engagements
"You have asked how you can help. 1Appeal Your Insurance Denials: If your insurance claim gets denied file for an appeal. Everytime. [--] Speak up Truthfully: Sharing your experience publicly or privately will help drive change. 3Stand Against Bullying Gaslighting and Intimidation in Healthcare: What we tolerate we perpetuate. Reach out to those you suspect are being intimidated and offer to support them publicly"
TikTok Link 2025-02-24T00:09Z 398.3K followers, 23.7K engagements
"There is no algorithm that can replace the instincts of an experienced physician when faced with a patient in need. When the doctor who saw this patient in the Emergency Room examined her spoke with her and decided to admit her I know that he did so because he knew best how to keep her safe. I am grateful. I am disturbed that her insurance company questioned that judgement and presumes to know better than the doctor in front of her. The following statement in the denial letter says so much about the current state of healthcare: When a doctor or facility treats a patient above the recommended"
TikTok Link 2025-03-14T15:39Z 392.4K followers, 538.8K engagements
"Her insurance company denied a stay for a surgery without even knowing what the surgery IS. My patient and I are planning a DIEP flap breast reconstruction and I want her to stay inpatient for monitoring for more than [--] hours. I am an expert in microsurgery and have done this for over a decade. The insurance company denied the preauthorization for surgery saying that they would approve outpatient surgery but not an inpatient stay. Thats not safe for this patient and this surgery. I requested a peer to peer conversation to explain to a doctor at the insurance company why an inpatient stay is"
TikTok Link 2025-04-16T17:10Z 398.2K followers, 131.6K engagements
"📍Checking in from Redbud Surgery Center If youre having lymph nodes removed during breast cancer surgery this might be something youve never heard of but should. Today Im performing Immediate Lymphatic Reconstruction (ILR) for a patient having an axillary dissection. She was facing a 30% risk of developing lymphedemaswelling in the arm that can be lifelong and difficult to manage. But theres a way to reduce that risk sometimes to under 10%. Immediate Lymphatic Reconstruction (ILR) is a highly technical procedure where I create a new pathway for lymphatic fluid to drain into the venous system"
TikTok Link 2025-04-25T19:07Z 388.5K followers, 24.1K engagements
"Did you know that the largest employer of physicians in the United States is United Health Group Did you know that 75% of physicians are now employed by larger entities as opposed to being in independent private practice I want you to know how important it is to protect the private practice of medicine. Im fighting hard to protect the ability of physicians and patients to make independent healthy decisions. To do that we have to start in our communities by protecting the physicians and practices that are independent and holding the line in healthcare for all Americans"
TikTok Link 2025-05-05T16:25Z 397.8K followers, 20K engagements
"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 mastectomyfound out the plastic surgeon she had been seeing is out-of-network and her insurance doesnt 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 lowtoo low to cover the costs for me and my practicebecause I think its 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 heres the thing: this isnt a one-off."
TikTok Link 2025-05-09T21:15Z 398.2K followers, 77.2K engagements
"Did you know that insurance companies can apply for waivers to sell plans that dont meet the standards of network adequacy Its happening here in Texas and across the country. I recently received notification that an insurance company told the state of Texas that they couldnt find an ambulatory surgery center willing to be in network with them in Austin. They lied. My surgery center wants to be in network with them and they know that. They used that lie to justify getting a waiver to sell incomplete coverage to Texans. This isnt just a policy issueits hurting real patients like the woman who"
TikTok Link 2025-06-13T20:48Z 399.6K followers, 222.3K engagements
"Ive been keeping something from you. The way I cope with hard things is by doing the work and putting the pain in a box. But the truth issince I spoke out against insurance companies things have been really hard. My practice is struggling. I built a surgery center so I could take better care of my patients expecting to do my cases through insurance. But several insurance companies have refused to contract with me since I posted that video. The strain has been so heavy Im not sure I can keep the practice open in its current form. Im sharing this because no insurance company should have the"
TikTok Link 2025-07-01T18:39Z 392.4K followers, 299.5K engagements
"Our voices are being heard at the highest levels of government. This week during a congressional committee hearing Representative Lloyd Doggett and others made it clear: theyre listening. Our stories are making a difference. Thank you to all who are stepping up. This will take a bipartisan effort and were here for it. Lets keep pushing for healthcare that truly serves the American people. Watch the clip here: https://youtu.be/jirlXiTrSOMsi=k16FNZrEJUWrdJ5j"
TikTok Link 2025-07-24T17:18Z 399.7K followers, 453.9K engagements
"When I saw that @Doctor Mike donated $10000 to the gofundme to help save my practice I cried happy tears. Who does that It was such an honor to be on Dr. Mikes podcast. His whole crew is the real dealevery bit as kind and genuine as you'd hope. They welcomed me with open arms gave me space to share more of my story offered great advice and reminded me Im not alone. If you havent listened yet I hope you will. Being embraced by this community means more than I can say. Thank you @doctor.mike for everything 🩵 So who does that Great doctors who see me taking the hit for all of us and want me to"
TikTok Link 2025-08-08T19:41Z 398.3K followers, 370.8K engagements
"We need to have a hard conversation about the future of healthcare in America. Insurance companies are reporting profits are down which means theyre about to ask us to pay more for a product that already isnt meeting our needs. More denials. More control over our care. Less access to the doctors we trust. Is that really where we want to keep sending our money For many people there are other options like pairing a lower-cost catastrophic plan (for major illness or trauma) with self-pay or direct care for routine needs like mammograms lab work colonoscopies and checkups. In many cases paying"
TikTok Link 2025-08-14T21:29Z 399.7K followers, 908.6K engagements
"Heading to Redbud Surgery Centet to perform a lymphovenous bypass for a patient whose insurance denied it. Shes paying out of pocketbut we were able to make it affordable and doable. I am able to continue doing that because of your support through the GoFundMe 💙 Last night I got a voicemail from a woman offering encouragement to me and my team. She said thatespecially right now in this countrystanding up for ourselves for women and for whats right really resonated with her. Every voicemail DM email and text matters more than you know. Heres what I keep coming back to: we can all stand where"
TikTok Link 2025-08-15T18:19Z 392.3K followers, 110.1K engagements
"If youre a lawyer you can own your practice. If youre a baker you can own a bakery. Im a surgeon I own the surgery center. Owning @redbudsurgerycenter is so powerful I can help so many more patients. But lately insurance is getting in the way of that. Thank you to @cnn and @meenasaurus for continuing to cover my story so thoughtfully. Thank you to Armando Cardoso CEO of Payr Health for providing such important insight into the contracting process. Thank you to my patients and the American people. From $2 $20 $200 $2000 every dollar youve given to the GoFundMe has made a wold of difference. I"
TikTok Link 2025-08-23T00:12Z 399.5K followers, 96.7K engagements
"The timing of your diagnosis shouldnt decide your breast reconstruction but for too many patients it does. I just saw a patient who had a mastectomy a few weeks ago and a tissue expander placed. Shes self-employed and already met her $10000 deductible this year. That means any surgery she does before December will be covered but if her next procedure happens after January 1st shell have to pay another $10000 out-of-pocket when her deductible resets. Because of that she told me she cant afford to wait and properly stretch her skin for the best reconstructive result. Instead she wants to finish"
TikTok Link 2025-10-10T20:06Z 390.8K followers, 49.4K engagements
"Thanks to your support weve been able to keep the doors open at Redbud and continue providing breast reconstruction care to women across Central Texas. Weve made real progress contracting with several insurance companies (not United) and that means more patients can continue to access care outside of corporate medicine. Ive also officially launched a nonprofit to help bridge the gaps in our healthcare system and fund the free surgeries Ive been quietly doing for years. The nonprofit can help patients but it cant keep the practice open. I still need to raise an additional $1.2 million to"
TikTok Link 2025-10-11T14:10Z 399.7K followers, 31.9K engagements
"For years so many of us in healthcare have quietly worked behind the scenes blending into a sea of blue scrubs and always putting patients first. Ive worn black Figs for years because I think theyre the best scrubs. But recently as a @wearFIGS ambassador Ive started wearing new colors and its been interesting to see how people respond. They notice me differently. It made me think maybe its time we start noticing healthcare workers differently too. Not just as the people who show up every day but as individuals. The nurses respiratory therapists and techs who make the system work. So today Im"
TikTok Link 2025-10-13T15:43Z 390.7K followers, [----] engagements
"Thank you to everyone who has donated to our GoFundMe. Because of you today was possible. One of the great breast surgeons here in town came over to @redbudsurgerycenter to do a mastectomy and we did an immediate DIEP flap reconstruction. This is exactly what we built Redbud Surgery Center for. And its what your generosity encouragement and belief in this vision have made possible. This year has been rough but also amazing because in the hardest times the biggest things happen. We didnt quit. And today we got to give a patient the kind of care she truly deserves. Her surgery was just three"
TikTok Link 2025-10-16T22:17Z 391.3K followers, [----] engagements
"As a surgeon one of the biggest reasons Im so passionate about building different kinds of medical practices is because patients feel it when the people caring for them arent happy. You can sense when your care team is overworked disconnected or just trying to survive the systemand it doesnt feel good for anyone. So many doctors and nurses got into this work to help people and somewhere along the way that essence has been taken away. Thats something I want to change. When a patient walks into my office with a new cancer diagnosis theyre scared and they trust me to get them through it. At my"
TikTok Link 2025-10-19T22:16Z 392.3K followers, [----] engagements
"Did you know that doctors can actually be disciplined for speaking out about whats happening inside their hospitals Its one of the reasons you might not hear more doctors sharing their real opinions because the companies they work for or the hospitals they have privileges at can pressure them to stay silent. Ive experienced this firsthand. A few years ago someone filed a complaint about me. Not for safety but for attitude. It escalated all the way to a hospital committee and it was stressful. I remember sitting in the doctors lounge afterward thinking they just dont get me. I care deeply. Im"
TikTok Link 2025-10-24T10:30Z 392.5K followers, 33.8K engagements
"Big news and a huge thank you. This year has been full of challenges and opportunities and its getting harder for everyone to access healthcare. Premiums are rising care is more expensive than ever and insurance companies are making medical decisions they shouldnt. But because of you @redbudsurgerycenter is still standing. Your donations kept our doors open helped us stabilize and continue serving patients. Just last week we met a 40-year-old mom with breast cancer who needed a lymphovenous bypass to lower her risk of lymphedema before radiation. Insurance denied her. At the hospital that"
TikTok Link 2025-10-24T21:13Z 399.6K followers, 214.5K engagements
"You made this surgery possible 💙 Last week we announced the launch of Bluebird a nonprofit created in part to bridge the gap for patients who are denied medically necessary care by insurance. Our very first Bluebird grant helped to fund a lymphovenous bypass for a young mom with breast cancer. Her insurance denied coverage even though this procedure could prevent lifelong lymphedema before she starts radiation. The patient is already home recovering beautifully. At a hospital this surgery would cost nearly $40000. At @redbudsurgerycenter because we own the center and can control costs we"
TikTok Link 2025-10-28T23:25Z [--] followers, 44.5K engagements
"If youve followed me for a while you probably know that when I post its because theres something I think you should know about healthcare something thats hard to understand unless youre really in it. Whether its insurance legislation or the realities of working in a big hospital my goal is always transparency so you can make the best decisions for you. Thats really what it comes down to: putting patients first. But sometimes speaking up comes with heat. And in full transparency that heat can hurt. If youve ever felt that too I want you to know its okay. It means you care deeply. It means your"
TikTok Link 2025-11-10T21:58Z 399.7K followers, 17.2K engagements
"I really want to break down what this new legislation the Advancing Womens Health Coverage Act is proposing why it matters and why Im fighting to protect the Womens Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA). At first glance this bill looks like progress. But when I read the actual text I was shocked. The original WHCRA guarantees that if your insurance covers your mastectomy they have to cover your reconstruction. This new bill changes that tying coverage only to a diagnosis of breast cancer. That means individuals with BRCA1 BRCA2 or other high-risk genetic variants who choose preventative"
TikTok Link 2025-11-11T17:06Z 399.6K followers, 424K engagements
"A meaningful step forward for patient-centered care. CMS just announced the removal of the Inpatient Only List a policy that restricted certain surgeries to hospital settings only. Why this matters: When surgeons and patients can decide the safest most appropriate surgical setting outcomes improve costs decrease and care becomes more accessible. Many procedures can be safely performed in outpatient centers and this shift gives physicians the flexibility to do whats best for each individual patient. This is the kind of change we need in healthcare: decisions driven by medical judgment not by"
TikTok Link 2025-11-26T20:50Z 399.7K followers, 29.8K engagements
"Lip 6X is going viral for a reason fuller juicier lips in seconds. 💋 Get yours during the Mega Live for up to 45% off FREE shipping giveaways and flash sales happening right now #liptreatment #blackfriday #dealsforyoudays #skincare #skintok"
TikTok Link 2025-11-28T17:23Z 75.4K followers, [----] engagements
"Today Im sharing an update about a patient many of you remember the woman who drove hours across Texas after her radiated implants became infected and no one near her would take her insurance. We removed her infected implants to protect her health. It was urgent. It was necessary. It was absolutely medically indicated. And yet her insurance company sent her a letter denying the surgery claiming it was not medically necessary. This is the reality too many women face after breast cancer: fighting infections managing complications and then having to battle an insurance company that should be"
TikTok Link 2025-12-11T23:47Z 398.5K followers, 30.2K engagements
"Some good news: I just finished a DIEP flap here at @RedbudSurgeryCenter in two and a half hours and the patient is doing great. Next up bilateral tissue expanders both cases approved by insurance. Im genuinely encouraged by the progress were seeing. More insurance companies are starting to recognize that supporting independent physicians and outpatient surgery centers is good for patients and good for the system as a whole. When care is patient-centered and physicians are empowered to do their work well everyone wins. Grateful for the people willing to think differently. Ill keep showing up"
TikTok Link 2025-12-18T17:55Z 398.3K followers, [----] engagements
"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"
TikTok Link 2025-12-20T15:24Z 399.7K followers, 20.5K engagements
"Day two of Unfiltered. Many people assume doctors have a protected right or even a responsibility to speak out when they see unsafe conditions in a hospital. In reality most physicians who work in private hospitals have signed medical bylaws or contracts that restrict what they are allowed to say publicly. Those policies often limit speaking out on social media or criticizing hospital conditions even when concerns are related to patient safety. Violating them can mean being called before a medical executive committee or losing hospital privileges altogether. I am sharing this because over the"
TikTok Link 2025-12-26T21:16Z 399.7K followers, 20.3K engagements
"Accountability matters. During a public congressional hearing Congressman Lloyd Doggett raised the barriers my patients and I have faced with UnitedHealth Group. Despite providing safer care at lower cost at @RedbudSurgeryCenter I have been unable to obtain in network status forcing my patients into facilities that are not designed for this level of surgery and into exhausting authorization battles. Congressman Doggett asked Stephen J. Hemsley CEO of UnitedHealth Group to personally investigate this situation and commit to good faith negotiations. In that hearing he publicly agreed to do so."
TikTok Link 2026-01-27T18:44Z 399.5K followers, [----] engagements
"Two insurers. Two approvals. Neither happened quickly. This approval took weeks of work. Calls and emails from my team. Patients advocating for themselves. And peer to peer conversations that I now record (The reviewer is notified before we speak) In this call I am explaining why a patients surgery could not safely happen at the facilities her insurance preferred. One hospital has ongoing HVAC failures. Operating rooms cannot maintain safe humidity levels. Surgeries have been canceled repeatedly since December [--]. Another in network hospital was not equipped to care for a DIEP flap patient."
TikTok Link 2026-02-05T22:43Z 401K followers, 102.3K engagements
"Sometimes we pour so much into others we forget to check our own tank. Patient check-in complete and a gentle reminder to refill too 🤍 7:58 PM 7:58 PM"
TikTok Link 2025-03-27T01:36Z 399.4K followers, 11.8K engagements
"This is a follow-up to the story Ive been sharing about my patient. Shes [--] and had aggressive breast cancer. Shes completed chemo and radiation and wants her other breast removed to reduce her risk and regain peace of mind. I already fought for her surgery to be approved. That took a year. Now insurance is telling me when Im allowed to operate. Im a microsurgeon with over a decade of experience. Ive performed this surgery safely for years with a 99% success rate at [--] weeks post-radiation. But theyre saying they want me to wait two more months even though theres no medical guideline"
TikTok Link 2025-04-28T19:13Z 400.9K followers, 606.9K engagements
"Have you heard of a planned denial I hadnt until an insurance peer reviewer said it out loud during a call. Apparently some insurance companies already know theyre going to deny a procedure before they even hear from the doctor. The peer-to-peer Just going through the motions. Its a term I suspect is used internallybut rarely shared with patients or physicians. And once you hear it you cant unhear it. This isnt how care should work. We need to start calling it what it is"
TikTok Link 2025-04-30T17:39Z 400.6K followers, 178.9K engagements
"I got a call from insurance asking me to justify why my patientwho had a bilateral mastectomy and DIEP flap reconstructionneeded to stay in the hospital for two days. For context: ✅ She had bilateral mastectomies. ✅ She had complex microsurgery (DIEP flaps). ✅ She required continuous blood-flow monitoring with specialized ViOptix. ✅ Written approval from UnitedHealthcare dated July [--]. And yet AFTER surgery during clinic I was told I had to do a same-day peer-to-peer. I did not request this call. I was exhausted after seeing [--] patients in two days and heading to the hospital to care for the"
TikTok Link 2025-09-02T21:25Z 400.1K followers, 1.8M engagements
"1. Being grateful to be alive does not mean you have to accept suffering. Survival and quality of life are not opposing goals. You are allowed to want both. [--]. You should never feel rushed into a permanent decision. Urgency often comes from the system not from what your body actually needs in that moment. [--]. Complications are not personal failures. They are medical events. Shame has no place in healing. [--]. Your reconstruction does not define your strength or your femininity. Your worth is not measured by symmetry scars or outcomes. [--]. The right surgeon will make space for your questions. If"
TikTok Link 2025-12-30T23:06Z 400.9K followers, 18.7K engagements
"1. There is no one best option. There is only what is best for your body your treatment history and your life. [--]. Radiation changes everything. It affects healing implant outcomes and long-term results more than most people are told upfront. [--]. Revision surgery is common. That does not mean something went wrong. It means bodies heal in stages. [--]. You are allowed to seek another opinion. Good care welcomes questions and collaboration. [--]. You are the most important person in the room. When youre with your treatment team you are in charge. This is your body. You are not just along for the ride"
TikTok Link 2025-12-31T23:35Z 400.9K followers, 15.9K engagements
"So funny story. I showed up to the hospital ready to operate but the OR humidity wasnt safe so cases had to be canceled. Patient safety always comes first. With unexpected time on my hands I did something I rarely do and did something for myself. I recently had Botox and noticed one brow was sitting a little higher than I wanted so I called a friend and stopped by to get it adjusted and did a little eye treatment while I was there. If you are wondering no fight here I just bruise easily Sharing because I think we should normalize being honest about the treatments we have done and hopefully"
TikTok Link 2026-01-02T23:21Z 400.6K followers, 45K engagements
"The act of signing a denial is practicing medicine. Dr. Tracey Hurley If a physician makes a medical decision and that decision harms a patient we are held accountable. That is how medicine works. Yet insurance companies make treatment decisions every day through denials and prior authorizations without ever seeing the patient and without meaningful accountability when those decisions cause harm. In this powerful investigation Erin Moriarty of [--] Hours examines how insurers are increasingly inserting themselves into medical decision making often driven by profit rather than patient safety."
TikTok Link 2026-01-11T23:30Z 400.8K followers, [----] engagements
"Nurses across NYC are striking and I support them. They are advocating for safe staffing ratios fair contracts and healthcare benefits because patient safety depends on having enough well-supported nurses at the bedside. I appreciate their message to the public: if you are sick seek care. Patients getting the care they need is not crossing a picket line. Nurses want to be caring for patientsbut systemic failures have pushed them to take this step. When nurses are stretched too thin both patients and providers suffer. Supporting nurses is supporting better care. Standing in solidarity with"
TikTok Link 2026-01-14T19:34Z 400.9K followers, 47.6K engagements
"Anti competitive practices are harming patients in Austin right now and I am asking Congress for help. Insurance companies decide where my patients are permitted to have surgery. They have refused to recognize my surgery center @redbudsurgerycenter as in network even though it is fully certified by CMS meets all safety standards and is often a safer environment for complex cancer surgeries. My ask to Congress is simple. Allow doctors and patients to choose where surgery is performed. Pre existing arrangements that force care into specific facilities are anti competitive and not in the best"
TikTok Link 2026-01-16T20:25Z 401K followers, 21K engagements
"Why do I care so much about where your surgery happens Because its one of the few parts of healthcare I can actually control to make your care better. I spent years training to do highly specialized breast reconstruction. I focused on advocacy. I built an exceptional team. And as a surgeon the place where I operate matters just as much as the surgery itself. This is the environment where I show up for you. It affects safety outcomes and your experience from the moment you walk in. There arent endless options. In my city there are only a handful of facilities where these surgeries can happen."
TikTok Link 2026-01-20T18:16Z 401K followers, 14.1K engagements
"Important update for those with CIGNA health insurance: Today CIGNA announced they will no longer be covering the S Codes for DIEP Flap surgeries as of March 12th [----]. What should you do if you are a patient with CIGNA health insurance scheduled to have a DIEP flap AFTER March 12th [----] [--]. Call your doctor [--]. Ask WHAT code they will be using [--]. Make sure those codes are authorized [--]. Email me at: advocacy@drpotter.com I am here to help you You do not have to fight this alone. Challenge accepted Cignawe will not stand for this If you have questions please join the Instagram Live with me and"
TikTok Link 2023-01-26T00:02Z 400.9K followers, 25.5K engagements
"Its [----] and navigating insurance has somehow gotten even more out of control I just performed two bilateral DIEP flap surgeries and two bilateral tissue expander surgeries. During one of the DIEP cases I was interrupted by a call from United Healthcarewhile the patient was already asleep on the operating table. They demanded information about her diagnosis and inpatient stay justification. I had to scrub out mid-surgery to call United only to find that the person on the line didnt even have access to the patients full medical information despite the procedure already being pre-approved. Its"
TikTok Link 2025-01-07T21:46Z 401K followers, 7.1M engagements
"Why Is Healthcare Pricing Still a Secret The government created two major rules in the early 2020s to help patients understand the actual cost of healthcare: [--] Transparency in Coverage Rule Requires insurance companies to disclose negotiated rates. [--] Hospital Price Transparency Rule Requires hospitals to publish their prices. The goal To create a real marketplace where patients and providers could compare costs and make informed decisions. But heres the problem: hospitals and insurers arent really complying. Instead of clear easy-to-read pricing theyve published huge unreadable data files"
TikTok Link 2025-02-13T13:50Z 400.9K followers, 18.6K engagements
"Its October which means open enrollment season has started. Youll probably start getting letters from your insurance company about your plan options for next year and for many people that also means seeing their premiums go up. Im already hearing stories of increases as high as 30% or more. Thats not sustainable for most Americans. The answer isnt that people stop getting healthcare its that we rethink how we pay for it. At my practice and at @RedBudSurgeryCenter Im continuing to work with insurance whenever possible but Im also building a parallel model of care thats transparent and paid for"
TikTok Link 2025-10-20T18:59Z 400.9K followers, 161.7K engagements
"A surgery was canceled on December [--] because the operating rooms werent safe. Weeks later Im still trying to get it rescheduled. This patient needs breast reconstruction. The same hospital that canceled her surgery continues to have safety issues. They canceled surgeries again today. So Im trying to move her surgery to our surgery center where the operating rooms are safe and the team is built for this exact work. Its mid January and I still cant get it scheduled. Now her insurance says I can do a peer to peer call on January [--]. Ill take the call. Ill explain again why our surgery center is"
TikTok Link 2026-01-19T19:56Z 401K followers, 24.3K engagements
"I stepped out of a new patients consult to have this peer to peer call at the only time offered to me. You may remember an insurance company recently insisting that theyd never interrupt patient care for insurance matters. Reality Checkit happens all the time. The doctor I spoke with was a general surgeon who had never performed breast reconstruction. He declined to give me his name citing concerns for his personal safety. He was polite but ultimately told me that United considers nerve sparing mastectomies experimental. He would not provide a written rationale or references for the studies"
TikTok Link 2025-04-08T20:19Z 401K followers, 2.5M engagements
"Its time for receipts in American healthcare. We talk a lot about affordability and price transparency but theres a simple step we could take right now that would change everything. Doctors and hospitals submit detailed billing files. Insurers respond with detailed payment files. Yet none of this is visible to the public. Patients cant see whats charged whats paid or where the money actually goes. Transparency means showing the bills and the receipts. We need a national searchable database of [---] and [---] files for true transparency in healthcare. Share this with your members of Congress and"
TikTok Link 2026-02-06T19:46Z 401K followers, [----] engagements
"Update: Bill Ackman Speaks Out I wanted to share a powerful post from Bill Ackman. His thoughtful detailed breakdown is worth reading. Im grateful for his support and for shining a clarifying light on the broader issues in our healthcare system. Its worth a read. I value fairness. I think a lot of us do. Please read his full post Ill link it in my bio and let me know your thoughts. And one more thingif theres something you think you can do to be part of that change reach out to me. Im here for it 💙"
TikTok Link 2025-02-18T15:57Z 401K followers, 35.7K engagements
"Let's be real. I spoke out against a big insurance company and now I'm being punished for it. But l'm not giving up. It's not in my blood. I heard you asking and if you would like to help l've started a gofundme (link in bio) where you can read the details and consider contributing. Just showing up and following means the world to me. I'll keep it transparent so we can all see what medicine in the US is like in [----] and hopefully build something better for all of us"
TikTok Link 2025-07-14T00:25Z 401K followers, 287.5K engagements
"Nine minutes on hold and still no answersUnited Healthcare are you serious I recently shared a video explaining how during a DIEP surgery I had to scrub out mid-procedure to address a call from United Healthcare demanding justification for my patients diagnosis and inpatient staydespite the surgery being pre-approved. To make matters worse the representative lacked access to the patients full medical information causing unnecessary disruption. After posting the video United Healthcare actually left a message at my office with a callback number. As a doctor its almost impossible to get through"
TikTok Link 2025-01-10T21:33Z 401K followers, 844.1K engagements
"Im sharing an actual recent peer-to-peer call that shows what physicians and patients face when trying to get a surgery approved. This call felt as absurd as it sounds. The peer-to-peer call was to advocate for surgery to prevent and treat lymphedema for a patient with breast cancer. Her risk is high and we can perform a surgery to lower it. The doctors from the insurance company on the call were an ophthalmologist with a subspecialty in oculoplastic surgery and a plastic surgeon who currently has a cosmetic practice. Neither doctor has ever performed lymph venous bypassthe surgery I was"
TikTok Link 2025-07-11T17:55Z 401K followers, 13.3M engagements
"2026: A patient reached out to me yesterday to let me know about a concerning interaction with a hospital system. The patient was scheduled for a therapeutic procedure in advance of surgery. Arrangements were made and the patient paid their estimated portion of the cost. Then they received a call from the facility asking them whether they still had the same insurance. When the patient confirmed that nothing had changed they received a warning from the facility that the estimate no longer applied and costs could go upsignificantly. Why Because the hospital system is renegotiating with the"
TikTok Link 2026-01-07T19:20Z 401K followers, 43.2K engagements
"UnitedHealthcares Response: Read It for Yourself My statement regarding UnitedHealthcare sending me a Legal Letter & Denying My Patients Stay: I recently shared a video after I was asked to call United Healthcare from the operating room to answer administrative questions about the patient who was having surgery to treat breast cancer. Despite my efforts they denied her stay. I spoke out because this has simply gone too far. My words were true and the situation was absurd. I followed all safety protocols and my patient was with my cosurgeon who continued operating. I had requested an overnight"
TikTok Link 2025-02-02T19:45Z 401K followers, 2M engagements
"UnitedHealthcare Update: It Just Got Worse On January 7th [----] I shared a video after I was asked to call UnitedHealthcare from the operating room to answer administrative questions about the patient who was having surgery to treat breast cancer. Despite my efforts they denied her stay. UnitedHealthcare didnt stop at calling me during surgery. Now theyve sent me a legal threatand even worse They ended up denying my cancer patients hospital stay. Exactly what I was afraid would happen. Staying overnight after major surgery isnt optionalits medically necessary. But UnitedHealthcare decided they"
TikTok Link 2025-02-02T23:58Z 401K followers, 647K engagements
"My last case of [----] and my first case of [----] 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 hadnt 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"
TikTok Link 2026-01-02T16:58Z 401K followers, 52.4K engagements
"It is [----] and healthcare is still not making any common sense. Today multiple cases were canceled again because of a facility issue. The operating rooms werent safe to operate in. So my breast cancer patients had their surgeries delayed for hours and one had to be moved to another facility tomorrow. And whats so frustrating is that I have an operating room I could take these cases to. Its ready. Its safe. But because insurance companies get to decide where were allowed to operate I couldnt use it. In this case it was United. They havent approved me to be in network at my surgery center so"
TikTok Link 2026-01-12T22:38Z 401K followers, 82.5K engagements
"Insurance companies do not want you to fully understand this story. Because if you do you will understand exactly how American healthcare needs to change. When my patient Rachel needed breast reconstruction her insurance company required that I operate at a hospital that was not equipped to provide the safest care for her recovery. Rachel has spent over [--] years in healthcare as a nurse and nurse practitioner. She understands hospitals. And despite that she was deeply traumatized by what she experienced. On Monday morning in Austin she showed up for surgery and was turned away because the"
TikTok Link 2026-01-21T23:26Z 401K followers, 101K engagements
"Last year UnitedHealthcare sent me a letter meant to intimidate me into silence. I dont think they expected what happened next. A member of Congress sent them a letter raising the very concerns I refused to stop talking about. Im sharing this because I want you to remember something important. Telling your story matters. Standing up for yourself matters. Standing up for your patients your community and safe healthcare matters. Even when powerful institutions hope youll back down"
TikTok Link 2026-01-29T23:30Z 401K followers, 121.1K engagements
"You can change American healthcare with the choices you make as a patient. Today I sat with two women who did exactly that. One shared her story publicly after a hospital wasnt prepared for her surgery and her courage helped other patients gain access to better options. Another trusted us with her DIEP flap surgery at Redbud when we had to fight through layers of approvals to make it happen. Four months later shes thriving and now Cigna is in network with Redbud. Because she was willing to choose differently. Patients have more power than they realize. When you ask questions when you advocate"
TikTok Link 2026-02-12T17:49Z 401K followers, 10.1K engagements
"If I want healthcare to be different I have to practice differently. Today at Redbud we did multiple cases in an environment built around patients not profit margins. We had time. We had focus. We had the right team in the right setting. One patient came to us after receiving a quote of more than $100000 for her cancer surgery elsewhere. The operating room fees alone were quoted at over $30000. We performed her surgery today in a CMS-certified facility with fellowship-trained surgeons and experienced nurses for a fraction of that cost. Same standard of excellence. Different priorities."
TikTok Link 2026-02-14T00:33Z 401K followers, 15.2K engagements
"Accountability matters. During a public congressional hearing Congressman Lloyd Doggett raised the barriers my patients and I have faced with UnitedHealth Group. Despite providing safer care at lower cost at @RedbudSurgeryCenter I have been unable to obtain in network status forcing my patients into facilities that are not designed for this level of surgery and into exhausting authorization battles. Congressman Doggett asked Stephen J. Hemsley CEO of UnitedHealth Group to personally investigate this situation and commit to good faith negotiations. In that hearing he publicly agreed to do so."
TikTok Link 2026-01-27T21:10Z 401K followers, 37.5K engagements
"A year ago I received a letter from UnitedHealthcare that was meant to scare me into silence. I documented parts of the last year that I havent shared before. That morning as I processed the shock of what was happening on my drive to the hospital I turned on my phone and started recording. As I spoke to you my resolve developed. I knew what I had to do. I had to stand up for the truth my patients and myself. Even though I was terrified I found peace and purpose in that moment. Days later when I shared the threatening letter with you all you stood with me. I know we are far from done but I"
TikTok Link 2026-02-03T02:05Z 401K followers, 89.7K engagements
"When healthcare feels overwhelming look for one concrete thing you can do. Right now the Department of Education has opened a public comment period on a proposed rule that would remove nursing from the professional degree classification. That sounds technical. It isnt. If this change goes through nurses and advanced practice providers could lose access to certain federal loan programs that make advanced training financially possible. That affects who can afford to become a nurse practitioner. It affects who stays in the workforce. It affects access to care. As a reconstructive microsurgeon I"
TikTok Link 2026-02-16T21:07Z 401K followers, [----] engagements
"Let's be real. I spoke out against a big insurance company and now I'm being punished for it. But l'm not giving up. It's not in my blood. I heard you asking and if you would like to help l've started a gofundme (link in bio) where you can read the details and consider contributing. Just showing up and following means the world to me. I'll keep it transparent so we can all see what medicine in the US is like in [----] and hopefully build something better for all of us"
TikTok Link 2025-07-14T00:25Z 401K followers, 287.5K engagements
"UnitedHealthcares Response: Read It for Yourself My statement regarding UnitedHealthcare sending me a Legal Letter & Denying My Patients Stay: I recently shared a video after I was asked to call United Healthcare from the operating room to answer administrative questions about the patient who was having surgery to treat breast cancer. Despite my efforts they denied her stay. I spoke out because this has simply gone too far. My words were true and the situation was absurd. I followed all safety protocols and my patient was with my cosurgeon who continued operating. I had requested an overnight"
TikTok Link 2025-02-02T19:45Z 401K followers, 2M engagements
"Its [----] and navigating insurance has somehow gotten even more out of control I just performed two bilateral DIEP flap surgeries and two bilateral tissue expander surgeries. During one of the DIEP cases I was interrupted by a call from United Healthcarewhile the patient was already asleep on the operating table. They demanded information about her diagnosis and inpatient stay justification. I had to scrub out mid-surgery to call United only to find that the person on the line didnt even have access to the patients full medical information despite the procedure already being pre-approved. Its"
TikTok Link 2025-01-07T21:46Z 401K followers, 7.1M engagements
"That is not symbolic language. It is a statement with real policy implications. As a reconstructive microsurgeon I do not practice alone. I rely on nurses and advanced practice providers who are independently licensed credentialed and practicing at the highest level of their training. I could not meet the needs of the women I serve without them. If nursing is removed from the professional degree classification access to certain federal loan programs may be limited. That is not abstract. That affects who can afford advanced training. It affects who enters the workforce. It affects who stays."
TikTok Link 2026-02-17T22:05Z 401K followers, [----] engagements
"When healthcare feels overwhelming look for one concrete thing you can do. Right now the Department of Education has opened a public comment period on a proposed rule that would remove nursing from the professional degree classification. That sounds technical. It isnt. If this change goes through nurses and advanced practice providers could lose access to certain federal loan programs that make advanced training financially possible. That affects who can afford to become a nurse practitioner. It affects who stays in the workforce. It affects access to care. As a reconstructive microsurgeon I"
TikTok Link 2026-02-16T21:07Z 401K followers, [----] engagements
"I have fought publicly for fairness from insurance companies but I know that there are other strong forces keeping healthcare unaffordable and inaccessible for many Americans. The response to unfairness must not be more unfairness. The cycle has to end. Transparency is coming and it will show that respected medical institutions have taken advantage of the public trust. For patients to be protected from unnecessary additional harm by the healthcare industry we must simply agree to stop hurting them. It is becoming painfully clear that the system at all levels has profited from exploiting the"
TikTok Link 2026-02-14T23:05Z 401K followers, 47.9K engagements
"If I want healthcare to be different I have to practice differently. Today at Redbud we did multiple cases in an environment built around patients not profit margins. We had time. We had focus. We had the right team in the right setting. One patient came to us after receiving a quote of more than $100000 for her cancer surgery elsewhere. The operating room fees alone were quoted at over $30000. We performed her surgery today in a CMS-certified facility with fellowship-trained surgeons and experienced nurses for a fraction of that cost. Same standard of excellence. Different priorities."
TikTok Link 2026-02-14T00:33Z 401K followers, 15.2K engagements
"You can change American healthcare with the choices you make as a patient. Today I sat with two women who did exactly that. One shared her story publicly after a hospital wasnt prepared for her surgery and her courage helped other patients gain access to better options. Another trusted us with her DIEP flap surgery at Redbud when we had to fight through layers of approvals to make it happen. Four months later shes thriving and now Cigna is in network with Redbud. Because she was willing to choose differently. Patients have more power than they realize. When you ask questions when you advocate"
TikTok Link 2026-02-12T17:49Z 401K followers, 10.1K engagements
"Today at Redbud Surgery Center were doing immediate DIEP flap reconstruction and this one matters. We didnt need an exception. We didnt need a long approval process. We were able to move forward because Redbud Surgery Center is now in network with Aetna. That means timely care fewer barriers and decisions being made based on whats best for the patient not paperwork. This is what progress in healthcare looks like. When insurers surgeons and surgery centers align patients win. Were grateful for the opportunity to take great care of this patient today and many more to come.🤍"
TikTok Link 2026-02-11T17:00Z 401K followers, 16.4K engagements
"The amount of time I spend keeping patients safe is not small. Not every hospital is equipped to do every procedure everyday. I get itMedicine is demanding. Its not for everyone. But our insurance system operates as though every hospital is safe space for all surgeries. And its not a true assumption. I am in network as a surgeon. I am not asking for crazy out of network rates for redbud. I just want to keep my patients safe and provide the very best care for them. I smiled at the end of this call because the doctor heard me and understood the ask. We did this patients surgery safely at Redbud"
TikTok Link 2026-02-11T01:48Z 401K followers, 176.9K engagements
"Many Americans right now dont feel safe. I see it in my patients and I recognize that we are all carrying an extra weight a fear in our bodies. While we work toward solutions to the challenges we are facing in our communities and in our country take this action. Make the room you are in safer. In conversation make others feel welcome to speak and safe to share their thoughts. Wherever you are give the energy of safety as a gift to those around you. We can build from there"
TikTok Link 2026-02-10T00:18Z 401K followers, [----] engagements
"Its time for receipts in American healthcare. We talk a lot about affordability and price transparency but theres a simple step we could take right now that would change everything. Doctors and hospitals submit detailed billing files. Insurers respond with detailed payment files. Yet none of this is visible to the public. Patients cant see whats charged whats paid or where the money actually goes. Transparency means showing the bills and the receipts. We need a national searchable database of [---] and [---] files for true transparency in healthcare. Share this with your members of Congress and"
TikTok Link 2026-02-06T19:46Z 401K followers, [----] engagements
"Two insurers. Two approvals. Neither happened quickly. This approval took weeks of work. Calls and emails from my team. Patients advocating for themselves. And peer to peer conversations that I now record (The reviewer is notified before we speak) In this call I am explaining why a patients surgery could not safely happen at the facilities her insurance preferred. One hospital has ongoing HVAC failures. Operating rooms cannot maintain safe humidity levels. Surgeries have been canceled repeatedly since December [--]. Another in network hospital was not equipped to care for a DIEP flap patient."
TikTok Link 2026-02-05T22:43Z 401K followers, 102.3K engagements
"A year ago I received a letter from UnitedHealthcare that was meant to scare me into silence. I documented parts of the last year that I havent shared before. That morning as I processed the shock of what was happening on my drive to the hospital I turned on my phone and started recording. As I spoke to you my resolve developed. I knew what I had to do. I had to stand up for the truth my patients and myself. Even though I was terrified I found peace and purpose in that moment. Days later when I shared the threatening letter with you all you stood with me. I know we are far from done but I"
TikTok Link 2026-02-03T02:05Z 401K followers, 89.7K engagements
"Last year UnitedHealthcare sent me a letter meant to intimidate me into silence. I dont think they expected what happened next. A member of Congress sent them a letter raising the very concerns I refused to stop talking about. Im sharing this because I want you to remember something important. Telling your story matters. Standing up for yourself matters. Standing up for your patients your community and safe healthcare matters. Even when powerful institutions hope youll back down"
TikTok Link 2026-01-29T23:30Z 401K followers, 121.1K engagements
"Accountability matters. During a public congressional hearing Congressman Lloyd Doggett raised the barriers my patients and I have faced with UnitedHealth Group. Despite providing safer care at lower cost at @RedbudSurgeryCenter I have been unable to obtain in network status forcing my patients into facilities that are not designed for this level of surgery and into exhausting authorization battles. Congressman Doggett asked Stephen J. Hemsley CEO of UnitedHealth Group to personally investigate this situation and commit to good faith negotiations. In that hearing he publicly agreed to do so."
TikTok Link 2026-01-27T21:10Z 401K followers, 37.5K engagements
"Insurance companies do not want you to fully understand this story. Because if you do you will understand exactly how American healthcare needs to change. When my patient Rachel needed breast reconstruction her insurance company required that I operate at a hospital that was not equipped to provide the safest care for her recovery. Rachel has spent over [--] years in healthcare as a nurse and nurse practitioner. She understands hospitals. And despite that she was deeply traumatized by what she experienced. On Monday morning in Austin she showed up for surgery and was turned away because the"
TikTok Link 2026-01-21T23:26Z 401K followers, 101K engagements
"Why do I care so much about where your surgery happens Because its one of the few parts of healthcare I can actually control to make your care better. I spent years training to do highly specialized breast reconstruction. I focused on advocacy. I built an exceptional team. And as a surgeon the place where I operate matters just as much as the surgery itself. This is the environment where I show up for you. It affects safety outcomes and your experience from the moment you walk in. There arent endless options. In my city there are only a handful of facilities where these surgeries can happen."
TikTok Link 2026-01-20T18:16Z 401K followers, 14.1K engagements
"A surgery was canceled on December [--] because the operating rooms werent safe. Weeks later Im still trying to get it rescheduled. This patient needs breast reconstruction. The same hospital that canceled her surgery continues to have safety issues. They canceled surgeries again today. So Im trying to move her surgery to our surgery center where the operating rooms are safe and the team is built for this exact work. Its mid January and I still cant get it scheduled. Now her insurance says I can do a peer to peer call on January [--]. Ill take the call. Ill explain again why our surgery center is"
TikTok Link 2026-01-19T19:56Z 401K followers, 24.3K engagements
"Anti competitive practices are harming patients in Austin right now and I am asking Congress for help. Insurance companies decide where my patients are permitted to have surgery. They have refused to recognize my surgery center @redbudsurgerycenter as in network even though it is fully certified by CMS meets all safety standards and is often a safer environment for complex cancer surgeries. My ask to Congress is simple. Allow doctors and patients to choose where surgery is performed. Pre existing arrangements that force care into specific facilities are anti competitive and not in the best"
TikTok Link 2026-01-16T20:25Z 401K followers, 21K engagements
Limited data mode. Full metrics available with subscription: lunarcrush.com/pricing