re: Nick's Real Concern

I think we agree much closer than we see here. I have very serious concerns regarding the lack of oversight of our healthcare system. As a country, we rank in the bottom of the Top 10 and have so for about 2 decades. The world leaders constantly tell us it’s our accessibility that kills us. As a physician, it breaks my heart. I’m not a socialist, but there’s room for capitalism in healthcare AND accessibility for all. It just takes oversight and vigilance to prevent large scale organizations/companies from excluding the poor and taking advantage of the haves. Unstable ground is an overstatement. I know physicians who predicted in the 80’s that we’d be where we are right now.

As a physician, can you freely prescribe any medication you want at all times without getting push back from your medical group based upon “agreements” they have with specific pharmaceutical companies? My friends that work for Merck, Pfizer, Bristol Meyers, etc all talk about such deals that ultimately go to the benefit of big Pharma.

I’m a rarity in the medical community today. I have my own practice. I’m not employed by anyone and never will be, Lord willing.

However, you are absolutely correct that Big Pharma wields enormous power. Way more than they should. Worse, now the generic companies are getting into it. When was the last time you saw $10, $4 or free generics??

Now, people in suits making more than the physicians they employ are telling them what they can prescribe, where to send patients for referrals, how many they have to see in a day and how much vacation they can have. To be in private practice (ie not employed), the average physician will pay $30,000 per year JUST for the Electronic Health Records system the Feds require us to have. That’s BEFORE paying rent, paying your staff and paying the electric bill to keep the lights on!! It’s insane and unfortunate. The Feds are forcing the US to go to socialized medicine before our very eyes.

A&M can't outspend Bama. Otherwise they would prove it.

It's about how motivated boosters are willing to spend, not how much money you have. Otherwise Harvard would dominate CFB.

The only thing you can legally spend money on is coaches salaries and facilities. A&M is somewhat on par with Bama and a few others.

If NIL collectives are the future, then look at facilities and coaches salaries as the present-day gauge.

Texas is watching all this very closely, there alums are going to have extra billions laying around if gas stays this high

Saban announced what his QB gets in NIL money. Throwing out some numbers to the public. But that’s not a promise.

Jimbo did the same thing, not making a promise but letting examples from players on campus tell the story.

Saban is just pissed Jimbo is winning head to head recruiting pitches.