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Welcome to Pack and Forth, the official podcast of the Physician Association of California.
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We're here to protect the future of private practice.
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This show is for independent physicians, policymakers, and patients.
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Let's dive in.
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Welcome back, everyone.
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Another episode of Pack and Forth.
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Thank you so much for taking the time.
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Matt Robinson, the host and the CEO of the Physician Association of California.
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Joined by my co-host here, Alan Young.
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Thanks for being here.
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Great to see you again, Matt.
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All right.
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Well, I'm super pumped for our next guest that we have on here.
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Mr.
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Latimer, I have known uh for quite some time, uh actually well over a decade.
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Uh he was actually very instrumental to me getting into uh government affairs and lobbying, uh, and also very important.
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He is the contract lobbying firm for our association of PACs.
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So very instrumental as far as how we got this thing up and going as we're uh now just got over our two-year mark.
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Um had a lot of great conversations with John's over the years, and most of those great conversations and strategic planning uh has actually been on the golf course, which uh is is super fun.
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I don't want to answer that question, man.
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Well, anyway, I think we've had a lot of our uh our great planning.
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Uh we've talked about PAC building this thing up actually on the golf course at his office uh in his lounge, and uh uh uh super super proud to have him here and uh our representation here in Sacramento.
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Let's get right into it.
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John Latimer is the founder and managing partner of Capital Advocacy, one of the largest and most successful lobbying firms in Sacramento.
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With decades of experience in California politics, John brings deep insight into the state's healthcare policy landscape.
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He's consistently ranked among Sacramento's top political players, and he's even been at the center of some of California's most complex policy battles.
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Capital advocacy serves a broad range of clients, as you said, including PAC.
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John Latimer, welcome to PAC and Forth.
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Well, listen, I appreciate being here.
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Uh Matt, as always, it's good to spend time with you.
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Alan, it's good to see you as well.
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Um I'm happy to join this.
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That John Latimer guy you're reading about sure sounds interesting, so I hope I deliver today.
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Um, but I really appreciate the time uh and the and the faith and the trust that um Matt and you and your association have put on our firm.
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It's been a great partnership and it's been an exciting couple of years watching the association grow and happy to be here today talking to you guys a little bit about California politics.
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Us too.
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John, we wanted to start with an overview of healthcare policy and what you've learned about power and influence in the Capitol.
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So if you aren't a big insurance or a big pharma or a labor, how does one yield influence in healthcare policy?
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You know, that that it's that's a really good question, Alan.
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And it's it's frankly, it's hard.
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If you're not one of those big industry players, it's hard because healthcare in California, obviously it's important to us as individuals, our own healthcare, our family's healthcare, um, but it's it's a big part of our economy as well.
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So what you're describing is not just big players in healthcare, but those are big institutional economic forces.
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So for if you're not one of those big groups and a new association like PAC, that is on on behalf of uh physician associations that are physicians that are running their own businesses and attempting to both deliver health care and operate as a business, um, it's challenging to go up against those big entrenched interests.
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What we found is successful for PAC, but also what I've seen over the years is direct engagement.
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So the reality is of all of our doctors live in different districts and they have connectivity to different members of the legislature.
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And so the more that we can engage in the grass we call it grassroots level, that we can create relationships between doctors and the people that represent them, that can get over and above and around the big institutional forces that you describe.
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So we have to do the hard work, the legwork of connecting people, and then I think we can get past some of those big institutional interests and opinions.
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So, I mean, John, I mean, with I mean your focus again, I mean, well, with our with our interests, obviously, and obviously you represent, I mean, numerous groups, associations, companies, and so forth, but like I mean specifically for PAC and also just healthcare in general.
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I mean, what do you within this current political landscape uh as we're in the 2026 legislative session, I mean, what do you see as like some some big priorities uh that are being discussed here uh in Sacramento?
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Well, um I I would say the biggest issue right now, and and this is across all issue areas, but certainly impacts healthcare as well, and it's a challenging one, even for us, is affordability.
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So that is, you know, people are recognizing that all the costs associated with the cost of living have gone up significantly over the last several years.
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So there's a great attention in Sacramento to cost.
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Well, in the area of health care, that becomes also important because they want to make sure that insurance rates aren't rising or you know, personal out-of-pocket expenses for patients aren't rising.
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So affordability is probably the number one driver.
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It's probably the thing that's dominating the most.
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But at the same time, people want access and they want quality.
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So it's a little bit of a um um, it's an interesting debate dichotomy because while we're worried about costs, we're also worried about quality and access.
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And that, of course, for our association is the place that our doctors shine.
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They're in the community and they're providing care.
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But but we have to understand in the debate around healthcare, there's going to be this balance and this push-pull between issues of affordability and issues of access and quality.
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Right, totally.
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So, I mean, and and on that too, I mean, uh like all all great all great points there, too.
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Um, but also even more so, I mean, politically, what's it what's going on, right?
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I mean, we're in a you know, super duper majority uh of Democrats in both the Assembly and the Senate.
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And um, you know, not saying right or wrong with that, but that's just the pure facts, right?
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On the the sheer numbers you have in the Senate and Assembly, you also have a lot going on as well within the governor's race.
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You have various things going on with the shuffling, um, you know, what's gonna happen with Prop 50 and so forth.
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I mean, do you see that as, you know, opportunities or a challenge or kind of a mixture of both?
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Well, I think it's a challenge.
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I mean, um, you know, frankly, you know, I I've been around Democratic politics and politics in California for many years, but we haven't seen this much of a lopsided supermajority legislature in in one direction.
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Um, the the the challenge in that, if if you're a Democrat who likes everything that those Democrats are are calling for, then you feel good.
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But the reality is the tension of a two-party system historically has has has served to bring out the best and brightest ideas, regardless of party, regardless of ideology.
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I think we lose that a little bit in in in this current environment where we have such a progressive democratic um institution in Sacramento.
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Now, at the same time, the backdrop against that is uh is a very different administration in Washington, D.C., right?
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A bunch more obviously it's a Republican administration in Washington, D.C., and this incredible tension between the state and the federal government.
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We also haven't seen that before.
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So the the political dynamics in California are always challenging.
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They're challenging for interest groups when you deal with a Democratic supermajority.
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I do think, you know, governors have have created stability in in the midst of all of that.
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We've had Governor Newsom for eight, seven years.
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He's got eight years in his in his in the amount of time that he can spend in elective office, so he'll term out at the end of next year.
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And that is bringing forth, you know, a debate about who the next governor is gonna be.
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We have multiple candidates on the Democratic side running for governor, a couple of of high-level candidates on the Republican side.
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I do think the future election for governor is probably going to be um as important, if not more important, than whether we have a Democratic supermajority in California.
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And we're gonna we're gonna see.
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Uh it is less than six months from uh the time that we're gonna be voting for governor, less than five months from the time people are gonna be getting ballots in the mail for the next governor, and most people aren't really aware who's running.
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This is a late developing, slow-moving gubernatorial election, and yet it's gonna have huge consequences for all issue areas, but certainly healthcare in California.
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Trevor Burrus, Jr.
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And how so?
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What would a more progressive governor look like in terms of health care policy versus a more moderate governor?
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So, you know, w right away, you get back to these issues of that we talked about a few minutes ago about affordability and access quality, the sort of two balancing acts that we're dealing with in healthcare.
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Um, we had some recent forums for governor where one of the leading questions that was asked goes directly to the heart of healthcare, and it was which govern gubernatorial candidates will support single payer?
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And so that issue is still being pushed in advance by obviously more progressive elements of the Democratic Party.
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Um, who we have as governor, if they're more progressive, they're much more likely to learn, lean towards a system like single payer.
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If we have somebody who's more conservative or moderate, let's say, on the Democratic side, we're just describing the Democratic side.
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The Republicans will not be for single payer and they'll be for more of a market-based.
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If we have a more moderate or conservative Democratic candidate, we're likely to see someone who supports more of the traditional insurance system.
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So it's gonna be a balancing act.
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The more progressive we likely lean closer towards some kind of a single payer, the more moderate we're likely to see more of how do we reform within the current system rather than change our system.
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So I got to, you know, uh something else to follow up on, John, is I mean, one one of the key things uh in California, and not just not just in healthcare, but this is also specific to healthcare itself, is affordability.
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Um I mean, people's premiums in uh on what they're paying, like for their family or the business owners as far as what they're paying employees.
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And that also, you know, cuts with obviously our members.
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Um, you know, they're small business owners, um, you know, they have to pay their employees and so forth and their insurance.
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But affordability as a whole, I mean, there's been a lot of talk to, like, with the Office of Healthcare affordability, like certain caps and so forth, but also you now have what's going on, what we're realizing here in California, this massive budget uh deficit we have.
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In fact, there was a recent uh LAO report as far as what is projected for this uh uh this year, and then also for the years out.
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How much of that is gonna be steering the discussion on policy, like whatever it may be, right?
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Whether it's you know prior authorization, reimbursement rates, you name it, how much is that, you know, our fiscal stability in California gonna be steering that?
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Yeah, it it it our our budget situation is bleak, which is really fascinating.
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If you think about there were some recent pronouncements by this governor and other elected um officials in California who took great pride in uh in trumpeting the fact that California is now, by various metrics, the fourth largest economy in the world.
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We are that.
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We are bigger than virtually every other nation in the world relative to our economy, and yet being as big and powerful, growing from the fifth spot to the fourth spot, we still are faced with massive budget deficits.
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To me, that's a little bit unnerving that we could have such a strong economy to be as big as that, but at the same time have projected$18 to$20 plus billion dollar budget deficits for the foreseeable future, the next three to five years.
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That will dominate many areas of our debate in Sacramento, but certainly healthcare.
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It's probably going to dominate health care more than anything else because in California we we spend about 40% of our budget dollars go towards health care in one form or another.
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A lot of that is our Medicaid program, but that obviously affects some of our docs who are providing those services.
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But other monies go attached to the healthcare system that is broadly accessed and utilized by by folks who aren't on Medicaid.
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And that can include price supports at um Covered California to help people be able to buy and purchase insurance and then access insurance through the private market.
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The fact that we're gonna have to have massive cuts to our budget system means we're gonna have massive cuts into our healthcare system.
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And that is gonna drive this debate about people wanting things to be cheaper, but at the same time, they want access and they want quality.
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And I think unfortunately, it's gonna make for a um a lot of friction between those two different camps.
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How do we make things a little bit cheaper?
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How do we save some money in the budget?
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But how do we continue to provide access, whether that's for people on Medi-Cal or people in the private insurance market in areas like Cover, California?
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Aaron Powell And how is PAC gonna be positioning itself with all these factors?
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What can you tell our viewers about where this is going and where they see their advocacy group moving forward?
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Yeah, I I think it's gonna be important to continue to tell our story.
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The reality and the significant benefit we have as uh physicians and communities, uh independent practice physicians that are attempting to be partners, not only provide care, but be partners in their community.
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They're gonna have to tell their story both as a practitioner and a provider, but also as a small business person because they're gonna need some help and some support and some recognition in that way.
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I do think at the same time, uh we always want to talk about affordability in healthcare, but it's a very broad term.
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It's used in so many areas.
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At the same time, people also want quality and they want access.
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And one of the things that our, I think our members really represent is access because we're there in the community and we're providing care, we're providing service in our communities.
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So I think it's going to be incumbent upon our members to continue to tell the story.
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Go back to what we talked about in the beginning about how do we get beyond the big interests, be they farmer or whomever, is we have to get involved in a more grassroots sort of uh frame of mind where we go and tell our story at the local level to our local elected officials, to our state assembly members, that they know that that that Dr.
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X, Dr.
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Jones is in their community and providing care and how they're providing care because as much as we want things to be affordable, we also want access and good quality.
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Our people are access and good quality.
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We're also affordable because we're part of the system, but we're also an emphasis on access and quality.
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I'm curious about the need for that storytelling.
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How are independent physicians perceived in the Capitol and the policy-making community?
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And what are some of the biases that you need to recognize and and uh raise awareness against?
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You know, it it it's a really good question, and this has come up in the past.
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I think increasingly the public's connection, and this is bears out from a number standpoint, more people interact.
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I speak for myself.
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Um I have I'm a member of Kaiser Permanente.
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I see a Kaiser doctor.
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There's so many people who have their experience with healthcare through systems.
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I think in many respects, the the independent private practice physician is what we remember growing up.
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For those of us who are my age anyway, it's what we remember growing up.
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And it's what we frankly, that's really where we made our identification to healthcare.
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And I think there's a great story and a desire to get back to that place where the relationship with practitioner and patient is that personal connectivity.
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Um, it's not the sense of being in a mill or being, you know, you're in an assembly line.
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So there's a great value in that, but I do think it's a story that has to be telled, told because increasingly through employer groups, through government contracting, etc., more and more people are making their connectivity for the delivery of healthcare or seem to understand the delivery of healthcare through systems.
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So we have a great story to tell.
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It's a unique story, it's a different story, and I think for a lot of people, certainly again, my age group, it harkens back to how we understood healthcare from the beginning.
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And I think there's a great story to tell there, and there's a great way to continue to build our brand and awareness through that story.
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Well, and I mean, John, I mean, you and your and your firm has obviously just been unbelievably just like instrumental with uh you know us helping tell our story um as far as PAC, right?
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I mean, you've been around quite some time.
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I mean, it's very rare, uh, it doesn't happen much with a new trade association happening.
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We're now entering into a field where there's many other trade associations, you know, some of which have been around for over 150 years, a lot of other medical societies, you name it, but right, we have that unique perspective on like what we're offering.
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Not, you know, not necessarily like, hey, we're different, therefore you must pay attention to it, but it's that unique, you know, storytelling.
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And you know, one of the things you know we did, we, you know, it was um it was a push for us, you know, is um, you know, it's kind of a stretch goal, right?
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We're like, hey, we're gonna introduce sponsored legislation uh this last year.
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Uh we heard from our members, heard from the board.
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Uh you we need to start fixing this provider credentialment process, meaning that those patients throughout the state, rural area, um, cities, you name it, they can start seeing their doctors faster.
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Um, and there's a lot, obviously, that goes into um you know getting a bill even introduced and getting it through like to the finish line and ultimately sign.
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You mind talking to our audience a little bit since you've done this for many years with many clients, like what it takes now, especially like in today's political climate, uh, to get a bill uh across the finish line.
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Yeah, it was it was uh what we would otherwise call a really heavy lift.
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And uh it was it was a bold undertaking uh for a new association.
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And and I our firms had the had the great pleasure to represent a number of different associations, but we've never been there at the beginning.
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And it's been pretty exciting with PAC to be here at the beginning when you guys have gotten launched, gotten started, and getting going, created, you know, your brand, your awareness, your mission, and then ultimately taking that into the public policy arena and trying to drive change on behalf of the members that you represent.
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So it's been a, you know, first and foremost, it's been a fantastic process for us, and we we really are loving every bit of it.
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Um, it it is hard for a new entity.
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Um, we're fortunate, PAC is fortunate, our firm is known, you are also a known quantity, Matt.
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And that made it a little bit easier together.
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We could approach um a legislator who we know and respect, um and staff that we know and respect, and talk about a problem that had frankly been languishing for a number of years in Sacramento, that being the issue of credentialing and not making progress on making that process easier because we were delaying the ability for doctors to provide care in communities.
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And so, you know, through a lot of hard work, we got an author degree to author that piece of legislation.
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But, you know, there are good ideas that come from groups like ours.
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And then this is the thing I always want to caution people.
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They get their good idea and they think, great, I'm gonna tell people about my good idea, and then it's gonna go straight to the finish line.
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Well, that's not the way the legislative process works.
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There's that old adage of it's you know, it's wason's sausage being made, and you don't want to really watch it too closely.
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But there are a lot of different people who play into that.
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We had to, Matt, you were part of many of these.
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We had negotiating sessions with lots of different interest groups throughout this process.
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Had to get secure, you know, four different committee votes to affirmatively move the bill along, different floor votes, obviously had to get a signature by the governor.
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That takes time.
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We had a great benefit, excuse me, in this process that we could lean on one of our doctors from up Northern California who is intimately familiar with this process.
00:18:58.079 --> 00:19:00.079
He could be, if you will, our expert.
00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:01.440
He could come and testify.
00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:19.440
And frankly, excuse me, that kind of engagement from a doctor who was willing to get in a car and come all the way down from Humboldt County and have these conversations in front of the legislature, um, that made us um all the stronger and our and our information all the more credible and frankly easier to accept.
00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:23.119
So there's uh there's a lot of hard work that goes into that process.
00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:29.200
It's a lot of time, it's a long, it takes about nine months to introduce a piece of legislation and negotiate it all the way through.
00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:38.400
People don't realize this, but far and away of every year, far more bills don't get passed than do get passed.
00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:56.480
For for this being a new association to be able to get a bill passed all the way on an important subject within one year, um, you know, frankly, is to our credit, and uh, and and I share that credit where our firm does with you, but it's uh it's a great feather in the cap for PAC getting started in the public policy arena.
00:19:57.200 --> 00:20:00.400
And and and again, I I I can't thank you guys enough.
00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:05.440
I mean, for I mean, you guys' expertise, capital advocacy, uh just I mean, absolutely incredible.
00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:12.480
And it was a it was a fun, also, also unique process for me uh doing this as well, um, especially within this capacity.
00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:15.759
Um, you know, you talked about, you know, I referencing Dr.
00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:22.559
Lou who came in uh uh from Humboldt, which was pretty impressive, him testifying in the first policy committee there in Assembly Health.
00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:27.599
And, you know, our our members, you know them, uh you know our board members obviously very, very well.
00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:30.480
Um they're still small business owners, right?
00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:35.200
And which is you know different than a lot of uh those physicians within large systems, right?
00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:38.160
They don't have they don't have dedicated vacation time.
00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:39.920
I don't get two weeks off a year, right?
00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:42.799
Um I don't get a pension uh after five years.
00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:45.920
Um I don't get my dues paid um by my group.
00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:48.640
I don't get my medical malpractice liability insurance paid.
00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:54.559
So everything that they do on their own time is literally on their own dime as well.
00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:55.839
They're having to pay for it.
00:20:55.920 --> 00:20:59.039
So that means I'm not seeing patients, I'm not getting reimbursed.
00:20:59.119 --> 00:21:02.559
Also, I may upset my patients who I've built all this trust with the community.
00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:21.519
So, with that said, right, there's obviously, you know, you can get involved in Sacramento, but you know, if you have any advice, right, to our audience, like if it's if it's and this is no fault to them, whether you're in San Diego, San Francisco, hey, I want to be involved, but I just don't have the time to come to Sacramento, which obviously isn't always necessary.
00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:28.480
Any advice to them, like, hey, I want to start helping you out pack, I want to get involved, I want to build relationships, what can I do?
00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:29.519
Any advice to them?
00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:30.240
Absolutely.
00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:43.200
Well, first of all, um the fact that that it is a sacrifice to engage in a in a political meeting, in a political conversation, in a policy conversation, um, let the legislature will see that, know that, and appreciate that.
00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:49.119
And so the the value of people's time is appreciated, and they should know that when they're spending their time.
00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:50.160
It is appreciated.
00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:55.680
What I would say for for folks out there, we would love more engagement from our docs.
00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:57.519
We would really love more engagement.
00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:59.759
And I would love it to be, frankly, in their community.
00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:00.640
First.
00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:07.119
So what I would encourage them is to reach out to PAC, connect with us at PAC, let us help you figure out.
00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:11.680
If you don't know, we can help you figure out who your local state assembly member or state senate, right?
00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:18.000
A lot of people forget we have a state assembly that's 80 members, districts across the state, and then we have a state senate, 40 members.
00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:22.079
We can help in each and everybody has both an assembly member and a senator.
00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:24.000
And we can help you figure out who those people are.
00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:25.519
We can help you set up meetings.
00:22:25.599 --> 00:22:26.319
We'll encourage you.
00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:27.759
We can give you talking points.
00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:31.440
We want that level of engagement from people in their community.
00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:38.720
And frankly, that will make us as an association and organization stronger if we can get more of that engagement at the local level.
00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:42.799
Then, yes, at times we may call people out and say, hey, we're going to have a lobby day.
00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:44.720
Can we get people to come up to Sacramento?
00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:49.759
And for those who are farther away, that's harder to do, but maybe we'll pull some people in from the region.
00:22:50.240 --> 00:23:06.240
But that it is incredibly valuable that an assembly member from San Diego meets some independent practice doctors in San Diego, that a state senator from Riverside County meets some independent practice physicians from Riverside County in each of our communities throughout the state.
00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:08.480
We're blessed with our membership.
00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:10.559
We have people in every one of these districts.
00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:14.960
It'd be great if we could get to a place where we're connecting more of them with their local electeds.
00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:15.759
Great, great.
00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:20.160
Well, I got one more thing for you, and this is you know just for our our audience's benefit.
00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:27.279
And uh as I'm staring at our our putting green over there, that we had to move uh for this nice table uh for our podcast.
00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:29.119
But uh since you're a golfer, I'm a golfer.
00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:30.000
It's okay, Alan.
00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:31.519
I know it's getting there.
00:23:31.599 --> 00:23:32.079
We'll work on it.
00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:33.759
Um kids will get older, don't worry.
00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:36.880
But this will help relate with the audience for those that are golfers, okay?
00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:38.799
So just like a little quick lighting round here.
00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:39.039
Okay.
00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:39.440
Okay.
00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:40.880
Blade or mallet?
00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:42.319
Uh blade.
00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:44.480
Walk or ride?
00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:47.920
Walk, preferably, although I've got a little planner fasciitis.
00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:48.880
I need some doctor help.
00:23:49.279 --> 00:23:50.079
That's nasty.
00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:51.759
Um that that lingers.
00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:52.319
That lingers.
00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:53.200
All right, all right.
00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:54.400
Music or no music?
00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:55.279
Music.
00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:56.799
I didn't think so.
00:23:57.119 --> 00:23:59.599
Matt Robinson turned onto the music and the golf course.
00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:01.279
I understand he's more of a hip-hop guy.
00:24:01.359 --> 00:24:04.720
If you could choose the tunes, what genre would you be doing?
00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:07.119
You know, I'm I'm I'm up for anything.
00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:08.079
I'm up for anything.
00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:12.240
What it does, honestly, I think, is it takes you out of your head a little bit, and that's good.
00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:12.799
Right?
00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:15.200
Golf is if it's played in the mind, it's a bad thing.
00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:15.759
All right.
00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:18.559
And last one, where's the next golf trip planned?
00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:20.079
I want to go back to Ireland.
00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:25.359
I was blessed enough to go to Ireland in uh this summer, and I I am anxious to get back.
00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:26.799
Amazing place, great people.
00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:27.839
Absolutely, absolutely.
00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:30.400
Well, again, thank you so much for your time and uh being on.
00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:31.200
Happy to do it.
00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:31.680
Have me again.
00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:32.079
It was great.
00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:32.480
A lot of fun.
00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:33.119
Thanks, Alan.
00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:33.599
Thanks, Matt.
00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:34.960
All right, thanks, Sean.
00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:05.200
Welcome to Pack and Forth, the official podcast of the Physician Association of California.
00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:08.080
We're here to protect the future of private practice.
00:00:08.240 --> 00:00:12.160
This show is for independent physicians, policymakers, and patients.
00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:13.119
Let's dive in.
00:00:13.679 --> 00:00:14.640
Welcome back, everyone.
00:00:14.800 --> 00:00:16.960
Another episode of Pack and Forth.
00:00:17.120 --> 00:00:18.559
Thank you so much for taking the time.
00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:24.640
Matt Robinson, the host and the CEO of the Physician Association of California.
00:00:25.039 --> 00:00:27.120
Joined by my co-host here, Alan Young.
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Thanks for being here.
00:00:27.920 --> 00:00:28.879
Great to see you again, Matt.
00:00:29.039 --> 00:00:29.440
All right.
00:00:29.519 --> 00:00:32.719
Well, I'm super pumped for our next guest that we have on here.
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Mr.
00:00:34.079 --> 00:00:39.280
Latimer, I have known uh for quite some time, uh actually well over a decade.
00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:47.039
Uh he was actually very instrumental to me getting into uh government affairs and lobbying, uh, and also very important.
00:00:47.359 --> 00:00:52.399
He is the contract lobbying firm for our association of PACs.
00:00:52.560 --> 00:00:59.200
So very instrumental as far as how we got this thing up and going as we're uh now just got over our two-year mark.
00:00:59.520 --> 00:01:08.400
Um had a lot of great conversations with John's over the years, and most of those great conversations and strategic planning uh has actually been on the golf course, which uh is is super fun.
00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:12.239
I don't want to answer that question, man.
00:01:13.280 --> 00:01:16.640
Well, anyway, I think we've had a lot of our uh our great planning.
00:01:16.719 --> 00:01:27.280
Uh we've talked about PAC building this thing up actually on the golf course at his office uh in his lounge, and uh uh uh super super proud to have him here and uh our representation here in Sacramento.
00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:28.959
Let's get right into it.
00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:37.040
John Latimer is the founder and managing partner of Capital Advocacy, one of the largest and most successful lobbying firms in Sacramento.
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With decades of experience in California politics, John brings deep insight into the state's healthcare policy landscape.
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He's consistently ranked among Sacramento's top political players, and he's even been at the center of some of California's most complex policy battles.
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Capital advocacy serves a broad range of clients, as you said, including PAC.
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John Latimer, welcome to PAC and Forth.
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Well, listen, I appreciate being here.
00:02:01.519 --> 00:02:03.359
Uh Matt, as always, it's good to spend time with you.
00:02:03.519 --> 00:02:05.200
Alan, it's good to see you as well.
00:02:05.359 --> 00:02:06.879
Um I'm happy to join this.
00:02:06.959 --> 00:02:11.199
That John Latimer guy you're reading about sure sounds interesting, so I hope I deliver today.
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Um, but I really appreciate the time uh and the and the faith and the trust that um Matt and you and your association have put on our firm.
00:02:18.800 --> 00:02:26.560
It's been a great partnership and it's been an exciting couple of years watching the association grow and happy to be here today talking to you guys a little bit about California politics.
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Us too.
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John, we wanted to start with an overview of healthcare policy and what you've learned about power and influence in the Capitol.
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So if you aren't a big insurance or a big pharma or a labor, how does one yield influence in healthcare policy?
00:02:44.319 --> 00:02:46.800
You know, that that it's that's a really good question, Alan.
00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:48.159
And it's it's frankly, it's hard.
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If you're not one of those big industry players, it's hard because healthcare in California, obviously it's important to us as individuals, our own healthcare, our family's healthcare, um, but it's it's a big part of our economy as well.
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So what you're describing is not just big players in healthcare, but those are big institutional economic forces.
00:03:06.639 --> 00:03:24.080
So for if you're not one of those big groups and a new association like PAC, that is on on behalf of uh physician associations that are physicians that are running their own businesses and attempting to both deliver health care and operate as a business, um, it's challenging to go up against those big entrenched interests.
00:03:24.240 --> 00:03:29.520
What we found is successful for PAC, but also what I've seen over the years is direct engagement.
00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:35.840
So the reality is of all of our doctors live in different districts and they have connectivity to different members of the legislature.
00:03:35.919 --> 00:03:48.560
And so the more that we can engage in the grass we call it grassroots level, that we can create relationships between doctors and the people that represent them, that can get over and above and around the big institutional forces that you describe.
00:03:48.719 --> 00:03:56.879
So we have to do the hard work, the legwork of connecting people, and then I think we can get past some of those big institutional interests and opinions.
00:03:57.520 --> 00:04:11.599
So, I mean, John, I mean, with I mean your focus again, I mean, well, with our with our interests, obviously, and obviously you represent, I mean, numerous groups, associations, companies, and so forth, but like I mean specifically for PAC and also just healthcare in general.
00:04:11.680 --> 00:04:25.439
I mean, what do you within this current political landscape uh as we're in the 2026 legislative session, I mean, what do you see as like some some big priorities uh that are being discussed here uh in Sacramento?
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Well, um I I would say the biggest issue right now, and and this is across all issue areas, but certainly impacts healthcare as well, and it's a challenging one, even for us, is affordability.
00:04:36.240 --> 00:04:45.519
So that is, you know, people are recognizing that all the costs associated with the cost of living have gone up significantly over the last several years.
00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:47.839
So there's a great attention in Sacramento to cost.
00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:59.839
Well, in the area of health care, that becomes also important because they want to make sure that insurance rates aren't rising or you know, personal out-of-pocket expenses for patients aren't rising.
00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:02.720
So affordability is probably the number one driver.
00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:04.720
It's probably the thing that's dominating the most.
00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:08.079
But at the same time, people want access and they want quality.
00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:17.199
So it's a little bit of a um um, it's an interesting debate dichotomy because while we're worried about costs, we're also worried about quality and access.
00:05:17.279 --> 00:05:20.399
And that, of course, for our association is the place that our doctors shine.
00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:22.800
They're in the community and they're providing care.
00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:31.199
But but we have to understand in the debate around healthcare, there's going to be this balance and this push-pull between issues of affordability and issues of access and quality.
00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:32.160
Right, totally.
00:05:32.319 --> 00:05:37.120
So, I mean, and and on that too, I mean, uh like all all great all great points there, too.
00:05:37.199 --> 00:05:41.199
Um, but also even more so, I mean, politically, what's it what's going on, right?
00:05:41.279 --> 00:05:46.720
I mean, we're in a you know, super duper majority uh of Democrats in both the Assembly and the Senate.
00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:50.160
And um, you know, not saying right or wrong with that, but that's just the pure facts, right?
00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:56.000
On the the sheer numbers you have in the Senate and Assembly, you also have a lot going on as well within the governor's race.
00:05:56.160 --> 00:06:02.399
You have various things going on with the shuffling, um, you know, what's gonna happen with Prop 50 and so forth.
00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:07.439
I mean, do you see that as, you know, opportunities or a challenge or kind of a mixture of both?
00:06:07.920 --> 00:06:08.959
Well, I think it's a challenge.
00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:20.720
I mean, um, you know, frankly, you know, I I've been around Democratic politics and politics in California for many years, but we haven't seen this much of a lopsided supermajority legislature in in one direction.
00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:27.839
Um, the the the challenge in that, if if you're a Democrat who likes everything that those Democrats are are calling for, then you feel good.
00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:38.480
But the reality is the tension of a two-party system historically has has has served to bring out the best and brightest ideas, regardless of party, regardless of ideology.
00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:46.879
I think we lose that a little bit in in in this current environment where we have such a progressive democratic um institution in Sacramento.
00:06:47.040 --> 00:06:52.560
Now, at the same time, the backdrop against that is uh is a very different administration in Washington, D.C., right?
00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:59.199
A bunch more obviously it's a Republican administration in Washington, D.C., and this incredible tension between the state and the federal government.
00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:01.040
We also haven't seen that before.
00:07:01.199 --> 00:07:05.199
So the the political dynamics in California are always challenging.
00:07:05.279 --> 00:07:09.199
They're challenging for interest groups when you deal with a Democratic supermajority.
00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:14.639
I do think, you know, governors have have created stability in in the midst of all of that.
00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:17.279
We've had Governor Newsom for eight, seven years.
00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:24.879
He's got eight years in his in his in the amount of time that he can spend in elective office, so he'll term out at the end of next year.
00:07:25.040 --> 00:07:29.439
And that is bringing forth, you know, a debate about who the next governor is gonna be.
00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:36.319
We have multiple candidates on the Democratic side running for governor, a couple of of high-level candidates on the Republican side.
00:07:36.480 --> 00:07:45.199
I do think the future election for governor is probably going to be um as important, if not more important, than whether we have a Democratic supermajority in California.
00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:46.959
And we're gonna we're gonna see.
00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:59.920
Uh it is less than six months from uh the time that we're gonna be voting for governor, less than five months from the time people are gonna be getting ballots in the mail for the next governor, and most people aren't really aware who's running.
00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:10.160
This is a late developing, slow-moving gubernatorial election, and yet it's gonna have huge consequences for all issue areas, but certainly healthcare in California.
00:08:10.240 --> 00:08:10.399
Trevor Burrus, Jr.
00:08:10.560 --> 00:08:11.120
And how so?
00:08:11.279 --> 00:08:17.040
What would a more progressive governor look like in terms of health care policy versus a more moderate governor?
00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:28.319
So, you know, w right away, you get back to these issues of that we talked about a few minutes ago about affordability and access quality, the sort of two balancing acts that we're dealing with in healthcare.
00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:39.519
Um, we had some recent forums for governor where one of the leading questions that was asked goes directly to the heart of healthcare, and it was which govern gubernatorial candidates will support single payer?
00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:45.919
And so that issue is still being pushed in advance by obviously more progressive elements of the Democratic Party.
00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:52.720
Um, who we have as governor, if they're more progressive, they're much more likely to learn, lean towards a system like single payer.
00:08:52.799 --> 00:08:58.480
If we have somebody who's more conservative or moderate, let's say, on the Democratic side, we're just describing the Democratic side.
00:08:58.559 --> 00:09:02.159
The Republicans will not be for single payer and they'll be for more of a market-based.
00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:09.360
If we have a more moderate or conservative Democratic candidate, we're likely to see someone who supports more of the traditional insurance system.
00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:11.200
So it's gonna be a balancing act.
00:09:11.360 --> 00:09:21.919
The more progressive we likely lean closer towards some kind of a single payer, the more moderate we're likely to see more of how do we reform within the current system rather than change our system.
00:09:22.559 --> 00:09:34.080
So I got to, you know, uh something else to follow up on, John, is I mean, one one of the key things uh in California, and not just not just in healthcare, but this is also specific to healthcare itself, is affordability.
00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:40.559
Um I mean, people's premiums in uh on what they're paying, like for their family or the business owners as far as what they're paying employees.
00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:42.639
And that also, you know, cuts with obviously our members.
00:09:42.960 --> 00:09:48.320
Um, you know, they're small business owners, um, you know, they have to pay their employees and so forth and their insurance.
00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:59.200
But affordability as a whole, I mean, there's been a lot of talk to, like, with the Office of Healthcare affordability, like certain caps and so forth, but also you now have what's going on, what we're realizing here in California, this massive budget uh deficit we have.
00:09:59.360 --> 00:10:06.879
In fact, there was a recent uh LAO report as far as what is projected for this uh uh this year, and then also for the years out.
00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:13.200
How much of that is gonna be steering the discussion on policy, like whatever it may be, right?
00:10:13.360 --> 00:10:20.639
Whether it's you know prior authorization, reimbursement rates, you name it, how much is that, you know, our fiscal stability in California gonna be steering that?
00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:27.200
Yeah, it it it our our budget situation is bleak, which is really fascinating.
00:10:27.279 --> 00:10:41.279
If you think about there were some recent pronouncements by this governor and other elected um officials in California who took great pride in uh in trumpeting the fact that California is now, by various metrics, the fourth largest economy in the world.
00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:42.080
We are that.
00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:53.840
We are bigger than virtually every other nation in the world relative to our economy, and yet being as big and powerful, growing from the fifth spot to the fourth spot, we still are faced with massive budget deficits.
00:10:54.000 --> 00:11:05.759
To me, that's a little bit unnerving that we could have such a strong economy to be as big as that, but at the same time have projected$18 to$20 plus billion dollar budget deficits for the foreseeable future, the next three to five years.
00:11:05.919 --> 00:11:11.120
That will dominate many areas of our debate in Sacramento, but certainly healthcare.
00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:22.320
It's probably going to dominate health care more than anything else because in California we we spend about 40% of our budget dollars go towards health care in one form or another.
00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:28.080
A lot of that is our Medicaid program, but that obviously affects some of our docs who are providing those services.
00:11:28.159 --> 00:11:36.159
But other monies go attached to the healthcare system that is broadly accessed and utilized by by folks who aren't on Medicaid.
00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:46.080
And that can include price supports at um Covered California to help people be able to buy and purchase insurance and then access insurance through the private market.
00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:53.679
The fact that we're gonna have to have massive cuts to our budget system means we're gonna have massive cuts into our healthcare system.
00:11:53.840 --> 00:12:00.960
And that is gonna drive this debate about people wanting things to be cheaper, but at the same time, they want access and they want quality.
00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:06.879
And I think unfortunately, it's gonna make for a um a lot of friction between those two different camps.
00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:08.399
How do we make things a little bit cheaper?
00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:10.000
How do we save some money in the budget?
00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:17.279
But how do we continue to provide access, whether that's for people on Medi-Cal or people in the private insurance market in areas like Cover, California?
00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:22.399
Aaron Powell And how is PAC gonna be positioning itself with all these factors?
00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:29.840
What can you tell our viewers about where this is going and where they see their advocacy group moving forward?
00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:33.919
Yeah, I I think it's gonna be important to continue to tell our story.
00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:44.960
The reality and the significant benefit we have as uh physicians and communities, uh independent practice physicians that are attempting to be partners, not only provide care, but be partners in their community.
00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:53.440
They're gonna have to tell their story both as a practitioner and a provider, but also as a small business person because they're gonna need some help and some support and some recognition in that way.
00:12:53.679 --> 00:13:00.799
I do think at the same time, uh we always want to talk about affordability in healthcare, but it's a very broad term.
00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:02.399
It's used in so many areas.
00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:06.080
At the same time, people also want quality and they want access.
00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:14.320
And one of the things that our, I think our members really represent is access because we're there in the community and we're providing care, we're providing service in our communities.
00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:19.200
So I think it's going to be incumbent upon our members to continue to tell the story.
00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:38.000
Go back to what we talked about in the beginning about how do we get beyond the big interests, be they farmer or whomever, is we have to get involved in a more grassroots sort of uh frame of mind where we go and tell our story at the local level to our local elected officials, to our state assembly members, that they know that that that Dr.
00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:39.279
X, Dr.
00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:47.679
Jones is in their community and providing care and how they're providing care because as much as we want things to be affordable, we also want access and good quality.
00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:49.840
Our people are access and good quality.
00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:54.559
We're also affordable because we're part of the system, but we're also an emphasis on access and quality.
00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:58.559
I'm curious about the need for that storytelling.
00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:04.320
How are independent physicians perceived in the Capitol and the policy-making community?
00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:09.519
And what are some of the biases that you need to recognize and and uh raise awareness against?
00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:13.840
You know, it it it's a really good question, and this has come up in the past.
00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:21.919
I think increasingly the public's connection, and this is bears out from a number standpoint, more people interact.
00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:23.519
I speak for myself.
00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:26.879
Um I have I'm a member of Kaiser Permanente.
00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:28.240
I see a Kaiser doctor.
00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:32.639
There's so many people who have their experience with healthcare through systems.
00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:38.320
I think in many respects, the the independent private practice physician is what we remember growing up.
00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:41.120
For those of us who are my age anyway, it's what we remember growing up.
00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:45.120
And it's what we frankly, that's really where we made our identification to healthcare.
00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:53.440
And I think there's a great story and a desire to get back to that place where the relationship with practitioner and patient is that personal connectivity.
00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:59.039
Um, it's not the sense of being in a mill or being, you know, you're in an assembly line.
00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:15.759
So there's a great value in that, but I do think it's a story that has to be telled, told because increasingly through employer groups, through government contracting, etc., more and more people are making their connectivity for the delivery of healthcare or seem to understand the delivery of healthcare through systems.
00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:17.600
So we have a great story to tell.
00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:25.360
It's a unique story, it's a different story, and I think for a lot of people, certainly again, my age group, it harkens back to how we understood healthcare from the beginning.
00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:31.840
And I think there's a great story to tell there, and there's a great way to continue to build our brand and awareness through that story.
00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:43.120
Well, and I mean, John, I mean, you and your and your firm has obviously just been unbelievably just like instrumental with uh you know us helping tell our story um as far as PAC, right?
00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:45.360
I mean, you've been around quite some time.
00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:49.440
I mean, it's very rare, uh, it doesn't happen much with a new trade association happening.
00:15:49.679 --> 00:16:02.399
We're now entering into a field where there's many other trade associations, you know, some of which have been around for over 150 years, a lot of other medical societies, you name it, but right, we have that unique perspective on like what we're offering.
00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:08.240
Not, you know, not necessarily like, hey, we're different, therefore you must pay attention to it, but it's that unique, you know, storytelling.
00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:15.039
And you know, one of the things you know we did, we, you know, it was um it was a push for us, you know, is um, you know, it's kind of a stretch goal, right?
00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:18.559
We're like, hey, we're gonna introduce sponsored legislation uh this last year.
00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:23.919
Uh we heard from our members, heard from the board.
00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:34.320
Uh you we need to start fixing this provider credentialment process, meaning that those patients throughout the state, rural area, um, cities, you name it, they can start seeing their doctors faster.
00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:43.200
Um, and there's a lot, obviously, that goes into um you know getting a bill even introduced and getting it through like to the finish line and ultimately sign.
00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:54.000
You mind talking to our audience a little bit since you've done this for many years with many clients, like what it takes now, especially like in today's political climate, uh, to get a bill uh across the finish line.
00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:58.080
Yeah, it was it was uh what we would otherwise call a really heavy lift.
00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:03.279
And uh it was it was a bold undertaking uh for a new association.
00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:10.720
And and I our firms had the had the great pleasure to represent a number of different associations, but we've never been there at the beginning.
00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:26.319
And it's been pretty exciting with PAC to be here at the beginning when you guys have gotten launched, gotten started, and getting going, created, you know, your brand, your awareness, your mission, and then ultimately taking that into the public policy arena and trying to drive change on behalf of the members that you represent.
00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:33.680
So it's been a, you know, first and foremost, it's been a fantastic process for us, and we we really are loving every bit of it.
00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:36.799
Um, it it is hard for a new entity.
00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:41.519
Um, we're fortunate, PAC is fortunate, our firm is known, you are also a known quantity, Matt.
00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:43.279
And that made it a little bit easier together.
00:17:43.519 --> 00:18:02.720
We could approach um a legislator who we know and respect, um and staff that we know and respect, and talk about a problem that had frankly been languishing for a number of years in Sacramento, that being the issue of credentialing and not making progress on making that process easier because we were delaying the ability for doctors to provide care in communities.
00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:08.880
And so, you know, through a lot of hard work, we got an author degree to author that piece of legislation.
00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:12.640
But, you know, there are good ideas that come from groups like ours.
00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:15.759
And then this is the thing I always want to caution people.
00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:21.519
They get their good idea and they think, great, I'm gonna tell people about my good idea, and then it's gonna go straight to the finish line.
00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:23.599
Well, that's not the way the legislative process works.
00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:29.279
There's that old adage of it's you know, it's wason's sausage being made, and you don't want to really watch it too closely.
00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:31.920
But there are a lot of different people who play into that.
00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:34.319
We had to, Matt, you were part of many of these.
00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:38.400
We had negotiating sessions with lots of different interest groups throughout this process.
00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:46.640
Had to get secure, you know, four different committee votes to affirmatively move the bill along, different floor votes, obviously had to get a signature by the governor.
00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:48.000
That takes time.
00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:57.839
We had a great benefit, excuse me, in this process that we could lean on one of our doctors from up Northern California who is intimately familiar with this process.
00:18:58.079 --> 00:19:00.079
He could be, if you will, our expert.
00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:01.440
He could come and testify.
00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:19.440
And frankly, excuse me, that kind of engagement from a doctor who was willing to get in a car and come all the way down from Humboldt County and have these conversations in front of the legislature, um, that made us um all the stronger and our and our information all the more credible and frankly easier to accept.
00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:23.119
So there's uh there's a lot of hard work that goes into that process.
00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:29.200
It's a lot of time, it's a long, it takes about nine months to introduce a piece of legislation and negotiate it all the way through.
00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:38.400
People don't realize this, but far and away of every year, far more bills don't get passed than do get passed.
00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:56.480
For for this being a new association to be able to get a bill passed all the way on an important subject within one year, um, you know, frankly, is to our credit, and uh, and and I share that credit where our firm does with you, but it's uh it's a great feather in the cap for PAC getting started in the public policy arena.
00:19:57.200 --> 00:20:00.400
And and and again, I I I can't thank you guys enough.
00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:05.440
I mean, for I mean, you guys' expertise, capital advocacy, uh just I mean, absolutely incredible.
00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:12.480
And it was a it was a fun, also, also unique process for me uh doing this as well, um, especially within this capacity.
00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:15.759
Um, you know, you talked about, you know, I referencing Dr.
00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:22.559
Lou who came in uh uh from Humboldt, which was pretty impressive, him testifying in the first policy committee there in Assembly Health.
00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:27.599
And, you know, our our members, you know them, uh you know our board members obviously very, very well.
00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:30.480
Um they're still small business owners, right?
00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:35.200
And which is you know different than a lot of uh those physicians within large systems, right?
00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:38.160
They don't have they don't have dedicated vacation time.
00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:39.920
I don't get two weeks off a year, right?
00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:42.799
Um I don't get a pension uh after five years.
00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:45.920
Um I don't get my dues paid um by my group.
00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:48.640
I don't get my medical malpractice liability insurance paid.
00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:54.559
So everything that they do on their own time is literally on their own dime as well.
00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:55.839
They're having to pay for it.
00:20:55.920 --> 00:20:59.039
So that means I'm not seeing patients, I'm not getting reimbursed.
00:20:59.119 --> 00:21:02.559
Also, I may upset my patients who I've built all this trust with the community.
00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:21.519
So, with that said, right, there's obviously, you know, you can get involved in Sacramento, but you know, if you have any advice, right, to our audience, like if it's if it's and this is no fault to them, whether you're in San Diego, San Francisco, hey, I want to be involved, but I just don't have the time to come to Sacramento, which obviously isn't always necessary.
00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:28.480
Any advice to them, like, hey, I want to start helping you out pack, I want to get involved, I want to build relationships, what can I do?
00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:29.519
Any advice to them?
00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:30.240
Absolutely.
00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:43.200
Well, first of all, um the fact that that it is a sacrifice to engage in a in a political meeting, in a political conversation, in a policy conversation, um, let the legislature will see that, know that, and appreciate that.
00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:49.119
And so the the value of people's time is appreciated, and they should know that when they're spending their time.
00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:50.160
It is appreciated.
00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:55.680
What I would say for for folks out there, we would love more engagement from our docs.
00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:57.519
We would really love more engagement.
00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:59.759
And I would love it to be, frankly, in their community.
00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:00.640
First.
00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:07.119
So what I would encourage them is to reach out to PAC, connect with us at PAC, let us help you figure out.
00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:11.680
If you don't know, we can help you figure out who your local state assembly member or state senate, right?
00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:18.000
A lot of people forget we have a state assembly that's 80 members, districts across the state, and then we have a state senate, 40 members.
00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:22.079
We can help in each and everybody has both an assembly member and a senator.
00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:24.000
And we can help you figure out who those people are.
00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:25.519
We can help you set up meetings.
00:22:25.599 --> 00:22:26.319
We'll encourage you.
00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:27.759
We can give you talking points.
00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:31.440
We want that level of engagement from people in their community.
00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:38.720
And frankly, that will make us as an association and organization stronger if we can get more of that engagement at the local level.
00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:42.799
Then, yes, at times we may call people out and say, hey, we're going to have a lobby day.
00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:44.720
Can we get people to come up to Sacramento?
00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:49.759
And for those who are farther away, that's harder to do, but maybe we'll pull some people in from the region.
00:22:50.240 --> 00:23:06.240
But that it is incredibly valuable that an assembly member from San Diego meets some independent practice doctors in San Diego, that a state senator from Riverside County meets some independent practice physicians from Riverside County in each of our communities throughout the state.
00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:08.480
We're blessed with our membership.
00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:10.559
We have people in every one of these districts.
00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:14.960
It'd be great if we could get to a place where we're connecting more of them with their local electeds.
00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:15.759
Great, great.
00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:20.160
Well, I got one more thing for you, and this is you know just for our our audience's benefit.
00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:27.279
And uh as I'm staring at our our putting green over there, that we had to move uh for this nice table uh for our podcast.
00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:29.119
But uh since you're a golfer, I'm a golfer.
00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:30.000
It's okay, Alan.
00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:31.519
I know it's getting there.
00:23:31.599 --> 00:23:32.079
We'll work on it.
00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:33.759
Um kids will get older, don't worry.
00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:36.880
But this will help relate with the audience for those that are golfers, okay?
00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:38.799
So just like a little quick lighting round here.
00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:39.039
Okay.
00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:39.440
Okay.
00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:40.880
Blade or mallet?
00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:42.319
Uh blade.
00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:44.480
Walk or ride?
00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:47.920
Walk, preferably, although I've got a little planner fasciitis.
00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:48.880
I need some doctor help.
00:23:49.279 --> 00:23:50.079
That's nasty.
00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:51.759
Um that that lingers.
00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:52.319
That lingers.
00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:53.200
All right, all right.
00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:54.400
Music or no music?
00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:55.279
Music.
00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:56.799
I didn't think so.
00:23:57.119 --> 00:23:59.599
Matt Robinson turned onto the music and the golf course.
00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:01.279
I understand he's more of a hip-hop guy.
00:24:01.359 --> 00:24:04.720
If you could choose the tunes, what genre would you be doing?
00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:07.119
You know, I'm I'm I'm up for anything.
00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:08.079
I'm up for anything.
00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:12.240
What it does, honestly, I think, is it takes you out of your head a little bit, and that's good.
00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:12.799
Right?
00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:15.200
Golf is if it's played in the mind, it's a bad thing.
00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:15.759
All right.
00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:18.559
And last one, where's the next golf trip planned?
00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:20.079
I want to go back to Ireland.
00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:25.359
I was blessed enough to go to Ireland in uh this summer, and I I am anxious to get back.
00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:26.799
Amazing place, great people.
00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:27.839
Absolutely, absolutely.
00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:30.400
Well, again, thank you so much for your time and uh being on.
00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:31.200
Happy to do it.
00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:31.680
Have me again.
00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:32.079
It was great.
00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:32.480
A lot of fun.
00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:33.119
Thanks, Alan.
00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:33.599
Thanks, Matt.
00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:34.960
All right, thanks, Sean.
