Rephonic
Artwork for DC EKG
Medicare Part D
Affordable Care Act
340B Program
Medicare
CMS
FDA
Health Savings Accounts
Inflation Reduction Act
Medicaid
National Health Expenditures
Price Transparency
Alzheimer's Disease
Drug Pricing
340B Drug Pricing Program
New York
Hungary
Electronic Health Records
Artificial Intelligence
Paragon Health Institute
Obamacare / Affordable Care Act

Join former White House policy expert Joe Grogan as he cuts through the complexities of healthcare legislation and its real-world implications. Each episode of DC EKG aims to demystify the policies shaping our healthcare system, uncovering how these changes impact patients, providers, and payers across the country.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes149Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentNewsPolitics

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Artwork for DC EKG

Latest Episodes

This is a legacy episode recorded in January 2026. At the time of recording, Naomi Lopez was founder of Nexus Policy Consulting and a leading voice in healthcare policy, healthcare AI, and state health reform.

Joe Grogan sits down with Naomi Lopez f... more

In this "REFILL" episode, Joe Grogan sits down with Jackson Hammond from Paragon Health Institute to unpack what the latest CMS National Health Expenditure data says about where U.S. healthcare is headed. They break down spending trends from $5.2 tri... more

This is a legacy episode recorded in January 2026. At the time of recording, Michael Cannon was Director of Health Policy Studies at the Cato Institute, a leading voice on healthcare reform, the Affordable Care Act, and market-based health policy sol... more

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Recent Guests

Dutch Rojas
Healthcare entrepreneur and social media commentator on direct contracting and market-based solutions
Physician Led Healthcare for America (PHA)
Episode: "REFILL" | Dutch Rojas on Healthcare Economics, Direct Contracting, and Tax-Exempt Health Systems (Originally Aired: September 15, 2025)
Brian Miller
Physician, AEI non-resident fellow focused on FDA regulatory policy and Medicare payment policy
American Enterprise Institute (AEI)
Episode: "REFILL" | Dr. Brian Miller on FDA Regulatory Reform and the Valley of Death in Medical Innovation (Originally Aired: March 21, 2025)
Peter Pitt
President and co-founder of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest; visiting professor at the University of Paris School of Medicine
Center for Medicine in the Public Interest
Episode: "REFILL" | Peter Pitt on FDA Advisory Committees, Make America Healthy Again, and Drug Pricing (Originally Aired: May 23, 2025)
Tevi Troy
Former Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services; presidential historian
DC EKG guest
Episode: "REFILL" White House Rivalries and CDC Reform with Dr. Tevi Troy
Jay Bhattacharya
Stanford professor, health policy researcher
Stanford University
Episode: "REFILL" | Dr. Jay Bhattacharya on COVID Infection Rates, Natural Immunity, and the Great Barrington Declaration (Originally Aired: July 20, 2023)
Ike Brannon
President of Capital Policy Analytics; former chief economist of the House Energy and Commerce Committee; policy researcher on tax and health issues
Capital Policy Analytics
Episode: Tax Expenditures, 340 B Drug Pricing, and Kidney Donation Reform
Ben Ippolito
Senior Fellow in Economic Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute
American Enterprise Institute
Episode: "REFILL" - The Economics of Ozempic and Other Weight Loss Drugs (Originally Aired: May 2024)
Tom Barker
Partner at Foley Hoag; former HHS general counsel; expert on drug pricing policy
Foley Hoag; former HHS
Episode: Tom Barker on The Truth About Drug Pricing Policy
Mark McClellan
Former FDA and CMS administrator, Duke Margolis Institute executive
Duke Margolis Institute, Duke University
Episode: Dr. Mark McClellan on How FDA and CMS Should Work Together

Host

Joe Grogan
Host of the show and former White House policy expert, frequently guides in-depth health policy discussions.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 215 ratings
  • Great podcast

    Love listening to this weekly. Great way to stay updated on current events and policies

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    P Cynthia
    United States2 years ago
  • DC EKG

    Thanks for the info on the country’s failing health care system…

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Judy H L
    United States2 years ago
  • Great Insignt

    Discovered DC EKG and made it my go-to souce recently after deciding I wanted to be more educated in the space to coincide with the start of the new admin

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Malcolm J M
    United States2 years ago
  • DC EKG is my go to for healthcare policy

    DC EKG is my go to for anything niche in the healthcare policy world. The hosts are informative and always deliver fact based, unbiased information that helps keep me informed.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Katiemclaren1129
    United States2 years ago
  • Smart people sharing helpful insights

    Worth adding to the rotation

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Is good m8
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise fact-based, unbiased information and informative hosts.
Episodes are considered insightful and worth adding to a regular rotation for policy professionals.
Fans say it's their go-to source for niche healthcare policy insights.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#13
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#13
Germany/Government
Apple Podcasts
#236
France/Government
Apple Podcasts
#5
Norway/Government
Apple Podcasts
#16
India/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

REFILL | Jackson Hammond on NHE, CMS Reform, and Making Insurance Almost Obsolete (Originally Aired: January 22, 2026)
Q: What does the National Health Expenditures report tell us about the payer mix and spending?
The guests explain that the report shows rising totals and a growing burden from Medicare and Medicaid, with strong emphasis on how private insurance, taxes, and various subsidies contribute to escalating costs, and the urgent need for reform to prevent fiscal strain while maintaining care quality.
REFILL | Jackson Hammond on NHE, CMS Reform, and Making Insurance Almost Obsolete (Originally Aired: January 22, 2026)
Q: What topics are you focused on most in health care policy?
He emphasizes Medicare drug pricing, PBMs, and 340B as core interests, while acknowledging the broader spending trajectory in health care and the need to address both hospital reform and the dynamics of private insurance versus government programs.
REFILL | Jackson Hammond on NHE, CMS Reform, and Making Insurance Almost Obsolete (Originally Aired: January 22, 2026)
Q: How did you get involved in healthcare policy?
Jackson describes starting in trade and criminal justice, moving into healthcare after mentorship under Jamie Light, working through Congressional and state roles during the pandemic, and eventually joining Paragon after roles at American Action Forum and other groups, which helped him develop a focus on drug pricing, PBMs, and 340B.
REFILL | Ryan Long on 340B Drug Pricing, Enhanced ACA Tax Credits, and Medicare Part D (Originally Aired: September 24, 2025)
Q: What did the CBO analysis reveal about 340B and its impact on the federal budget?
The CBO analysis showed that incentives embedded in the 340B program increased federal spending, which in turn raised private insurance premiums, signaling that the program's current structure may be driving up overall costs rather than alleviating them.
Tax Expenditures, 340 B Drug Pricing, and Kidney Donation Reform
Q: From a tax perspective, what would you advocate for as part of a comprehensive tax reform or revenue-raising package regarding 340B?
I would remove the top 20 tax expenditures, including the mortgage interest deduction and the tax break for employer-provided health insurance, because they mostly benefit the upper-middle class and do not achieve their stated goals; this should be paired with broader entitlement reform to address long-term deficits.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About DC EKG

What is DC EKG about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show consistently tackles U.S. health policy through pointed conversations with policy researchers, physicians, and former government officials. Across episodes, topics include health insurance design and market-based reforms, drug pricing, FDA and CMS regulatory dynamics, subsidy mechanics, and public health governance. Notable angles include critiques of government interventions, advocacy for consumer choice, and practical policy pathways that aim to influence how coverage, access, and innovation interact in a large, complex system. The format often blends historical context, real-world anecdotes, and sharp takes on current health policy debates, making it a provocative source for listeners who want principled, policy-forward discuss... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with DC EKG:

1. The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg
2. The Dispatch Podcast
3. The Fifth Column
4. Pod Save America
5. The Daily

How many episodes of DC EKG are there?

DC EKG launched 3 years ago and published 149 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on DC EKG?

Recent guests on DC EKG include:

1. Dutch Rojas
2. Brian Miller
3. Peter Pitt
4. Tevi Troy
5. Jay Bhattacharya
6. Ike Brannon
7. Ben Ippolito
8. Tom Barker

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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