Dr. Elisabeth Potter
@drelisabethpotter.bsky.social
Board certified plastic surgeon
Working hard, paying attention, speaking up
https://physiciansled.com/patient-landing-page/take-action.html
Working hard, paying attention, speaking up
https://physiciansled.com/patient-landing-page/take-action.html
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 & she was a good candidate.
His patient had waited six months just to see him. He confirmed she needed a hip replacement & she was a good candidate.
May 29, 2025 at 9:37 PM
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 & she was a good candidate.
His patient had waited six months just to see him. He confirmed she needed a hip replacement & she was a good candidate.
I have another crazy story for you.
Last week, I met with a young patient who only has one breast after mastectomy and radiation. She can’t have an implant. She needs a complex reconstruction called a stacked DIEP flap—using all of her belly tissue to create one breast.
Last week, I met with a young patient who only has one breast after mastectomy and radiation. She can’t have an implant. She needs a complex reconstruction called a stacked DIEP flap—using all of her belly tissue to create one breast.
May 22, 2025 at 6:26 PM
I have another crazy story for you.
Last week, I met with a young patient who only has one breast after mastectomy and radiation. She can’t have an implant. She needs a complex reconstruction called a stacked DIEP flap—using all of her belly tissue to create one breast.
Last week, I met with a young patient who only has one breast after mastectomy and radiation. She can’t have an implant. She needs a complex reconstruction called a stacked DIEP flap—using all of her belly tissue to create one breast.
It feels like I've been going a million miles an hour operating, working & going to conferences.
But I just wanted to say, I love this work so much, & I love the people in healthcare.
I am so grateful for the nurses, the techs, & team who keep showing up—despite the obstacles.
But I just wanted to say, I love this work so much, & I love the people in healthcare.
I am so grateful for the nurses, the techs, & team who keep showing up—despite the obstacles.
May 21, 2025 at 10:14 PM
It feels like I've been going a million miles an hour operating, working & going to conferences.
But I just wanted to say, I love this work so much, & I love the people in healthcare.
I am so grateful for the nurses, the techs, & team who keep showing up—despite the obstacles.
But I just wanted to say, I love this work so much, & I love the people in healthcare.
I am so grateful for the nurses, the techs, & team who keep showing up—despite the obstacles.
If I want to care for patients in the U.S., I have to care about insurance. Americans have been paying premiums with an expectation that coverage will provide access to the care they need & choose.
A breast cancer diagnosis isn’t just physically devastating, it can be financially devastating too.
A breast cancer diagnosis isn’t just physically devastating, it can be financially devastating too.
May 16, 2025 at 10:02 PM
If I want to care for patients in the U.S., I have to care about insurance. Americans have been paying premiums with an expectation that coverage will provide access to the care they need & choose.
A breast cancer diagnosis isn’t just physically devastating, it can be financially devastating too.
A breast cancer diagnosis isn’t just physically devastating, it can be financially devastating too.
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 mastectomy—found out the plastic surgeon she had been seeing is out-of-network and her insurance doesn’t cover any out-of-network care.
So now what?
So now what?
May 9, 2025 at 9:19 PM
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 mastectomy—found out the plastic surgeon she had been seeing is out-of-network and her insurance doesn’t cover any out-of-network care.
So now what?
So now what?
If you don’t know where you are, how can you know how to get where you’re going?
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how we got here. How we let insurance companies that don’t understand the complexity of our work decide what it’s worth.
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how we got here. How we let insurance companies that don’t understand the complexity of our work decide what it’s worth.
May 1, 2025 at 10:12 PM
If you don’t know where you are, how can you know how to get where you’re going?
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how we got here. How we let insurance companies that don’t understand the complexity of our work decide what it’s worth.
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how we got here. How we let insurance companies that don’t understand the complexity of our work decide what it’s worth.
For the doctors out there: It’s time we talk about how unfair the business of medicine has become for providers. If you’ve tried to negotiate fair pay with insurance—whether it worked or not—I want to hear your story. Tag me or share it in the comments. We can’t fix what we don’t talk about.
April 18, 2025 at 11:02 PM
For the doctors out there: It’s time we talk about how unfair the business of medicine has become for providers. If you’ve tried to negotiate fair pay with insurance—whether it worked or not—I want to hear your story. Tag me or share it in the comments. We can’t fix what we don’t talk about.
Her insurance company denied a stay for a surgery without even knowing what the surgery IS.
April 16, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Her insurance company denied a stay for a surgery without even knowing what the surgery IS.
I’ve been asked—yet again—to stop in the middle of my surgery day and justify why a patient scheduled for DIEP flap needs an overnight hospital stay. While I’m in the OR doing the hard work of breast reconstruction, I’m also expected to fight the system outside of it.
April 11, 2025 at 5:45 PM
I’ve been asked—yet again—to stop in the middle of my surgery day and justify why a patient scheduled for DIEP flap needs an overnight hospital stay. While I’m in the OR doing the hard work of breast reconstruction, I’m also expected to fight the system outside of it.
Sharing this email from the insurance company for transparency. Insurers are not medical providers yet they’re dictating when I can operate based on arbitrary policies. This delay isn’t just frustrating. It’s harmful to my patient. Insurance should not be allowed to practice medicine.
April 10, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Sharing this email from the insurance company for transparency. Insurers are not medical providers yet they’re dictating when I can operate based on arbitrary policies. This delay isn’t just frustrating. It’s harmful to my patient. Insurance should not be allowed to practice medicine.
I’m the microsurgeon and insurance companies are telling me when to operate. Insurance companies are practicing medicine—and that’s not okay. Make it make sense.
April 10, 2025 at 4:08 PM
I’m the microsurgeon and insurance companies are telling me when to operate. Insurance companies are practicing medicine—and that’s not okay. Make it make sense.
Stepped out of a new patient’s consult for a peer to peer at the only time United offered me. You may remember an insurance company recently insisting that they’d never interrupt patient care for insurance matters. Reality check, it happens all the time...
April 8, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Stepped out of a new patient’s consult for a peer to peer at the only time United offered me. You may remember an insurance company recently insisting that they’d never interrupt patient care for insurance matters. Reality check, it happens all the time...
Our team has two incredible, full-time professionals—Mary and Ebonie—dedicated to dealing with insurance. They advocate for our patients, so our patients can focus on healing.
This week? They’ve been on repeat calls with the same insurer…
This week? They’ve been on repeat calls with the same insurer…
April 7, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Our team has two incredible, full-time professionals—Mary and Ebonie—dedicated to dealing with insurance. They advocate for our patients, so our patients can focus on healing.
This week? They’ve been on repeat calls with the same insurer…
This week? They’ve been on repeat calls with the same insurer…
After sharing that another patient was denied life-saving care, so many of you asked: What can I do?
This is it. There’s a resolution before the House of Representatives that would allow physicians to own hospitals again—something we haven’t been able to do since the Affordable Care Act in 2010.
This is it. There’s a resolution before the House of Representatives that would allow physicians to own hospitals again—something we haven’t been able to do since the Affordable Care Act in 2010.
April 3, 2025 at 8:38 PM
After sharing that another patient was denied life-saving care, so many of you asked: What can I do?
This is it. There’s a resolution before the House of Representatives that would allow physicians to own hospitals again—something we haven’t been able to do since the Affordable Care Act in 2010.
This is it. There’s a resolution before the House of Representatives that would allow physicians to own hospitals again—something we haven’t been able to do since the Affordable Care Act in 2010.
Another insurance denial. Another patient put at risk.
We did everything right. My PA saw a patient with signs of a Deep Venous Thrombosis (a dangerous blood clot). We ordered an ultrasound, confirmed the diagnosis, & prescribed the medication to help prevent dangerous complications.
We did everything right. My PA saw a patient with signs of a Deep Venous Thrombosis (a dangerous blood clot). We ordered an ultrasound, confirmed the diagnosis, & prescribed the medication to help prevent dangerous complications.
April 2, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Another insurance denial. Another patient put at risk.
We did everything right. My PA saw a patient with signs of a Deep Venous Thrombosis (a dangerous blood clot). We ordered an ultrasound, confirmed the diagnosis, & prescribed the medication to help prevent dangerous complications.
We did everything right. My PA saw a patient with signs of a Deep Venous Thrombosis (a dangerous blood clot). We ordered an ultrasound, confirmed the diagnosis, & prescribed the medication to help prevent dangerous complications.
After cases, I testified in strong support of Senate Bill 1137—because every woman deserves access to breast reconstruction and no one should have to take out loans or make exorbitant cash payments to access the breast reconstruction that’s best for them.
April 1, 2025 at 9:26 PM
After cases, I testified in strong support of Senate Bill 1137—because every woman deserves access to breast reconstruction and no one should have to take out loans or make exorbitant cash payments to access the breast reconstruction that’s best for them.
“This isn’t the conversation I imagined having when I graduated from medical school.”
I became a surgeon to help people. I never thought I’d be spending so much time fighting insurance companies, just to get my patients the care they deserve.
I became a surgeon to help people. I never thought I’d be spending so much time fighting insurance companies, just to get my patients the care they deserve.
March 28, 2025 at 6:25 PM
“This isn’t the conversation I imagined having when I graduated from medical school.”
I became a surgeon to help people. I never thought I’d be spending so much time fighting insurance companies, just to get my patients the care they deserve.
I became a surgeon to help people. I never thought I’d be spending so much time fighting insurance companies, just to get my patients the care they deserve.
Access to breast reconstruction is being denied because of poor reimbursement—and it’s a problem we need to address.
Today, I saw a 69-year-old patient who was told she couldn’t get a DIEP flap because Medicare doesn’t pay enough.
Today, I saw a 69-year-old patient who was told she couldn’t get a DIEP flap because Medicare doesn’t pay enough.
March 21, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Access to breast reconstruction is being denied because of poor reimbursement—and it’s a problem we need to address.
Today, I saw a 69-year-old patient who was told she couldn’t get a DIEP flap because Medicare doesn’t pay enough.
Today, I saw a 69-year-old patient who was told she couldn’t get a DIEP flap because Medicare doesn’t pay enough.
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 ER 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.
March 14, 2025 at 2:20 PM
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 ER 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 hit a breaking point.
I became a doctor to help people—not to fight insurance companies for the care my patients deserve. But lately, that’s what medicine feels like. It’s exhausting. It’s disheartening. And it’s not okay.
I became a doctor to help people—not to fight insurance companies for the care my patients deserve. But lately, that’s what medicine feels like. It’s exhausting. It’s disheartening. And it’s not okay.
March 13, 2025 at 10:49 PM
I hit a breaking point.
I became a doctor to help people—not to fight insurance companies for the care my patients deserve. But lately, that’s what medicine feels like. It’s exhausting. It’s disheartening. And it’s not okay.
I became a doctor to help people—not to fight insurance companies for the care my patients deserve. But lately, that’s what medicine feels like. It’s exhausting. It’s disheartening. And it’s not okay.
UnitedHealthcare, are you serious? After my last video, they left a callback number—but I still couldn’t reach the right person. If doctors can’t get through, what chance do patients have?
What’s the biggest roadblock you’ve faced with insurance? Drop it below. 👇
What’s the biggest roadblock you’ve faced with insurance? Drop it below. 👇
March 10, 2025 at 10:32 PM
UnitedHealthcare, are you serious? After my last video, they left a callback number—but I still couldn’t reach the right person. If doctors can’t get through, what chance do patients have?
What’s the biggest roadblock you’ve faced with insurance? Drop it below. 👇
What’s the biggest roadblock you’ve faced with insurance? Drop it below. 👇
As a doctor, it’s nearly impossible to reach a real person at an insurance company. But after my last video, United called my office and left their number. I’ll be calling them back tomorrow—let’s see what they have to say…
March 5, 2025 at 8:40 PM
As a doctor, it’s nearly impossible to reach a real person at an insurance company. But after my last video, United called my office and left their number. I’ll be calling them back tomorrow—let’s see what they have to say…
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! That’s exactly what we should be doing and I’m here for that.
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! That’s exactly what we should be doing and I’m here for that.
March 2, 2025 at 8:40 PM
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! That’s exactly what we should be doing and I’m here for that.
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! That’s exactly what we should be doing and I’m here for that.
It’s 2025, and navigating insurance is worse than ever.
I had to scrub out mid-surgery to justify a pre-approved DIEP case—while my patient was asleep on the table. The person on the line didn’t even have full access to her medical records.
I had to scrub out mid-surgery to justify a pre-approved DIEP case—while my patient was asleep on the table. The person on the line didn’t even have full access to her medical records.
February 26, 2025 at 6:13 PM
It’s 2025, and navigating insurance is worse than ever.
I had to scrub out mid-surgery to justify a pre-approved DIEP case—while my patient was asleep on the table. The person on the line didn’t even have full access to her medical records.
I had to scrub out mid-surgery to justify a pre-approved DIEP case—while my patient was asleep on the table. The person on the line didn’t even have full access to her medical records.