Paula Muto is a vascular surgeon.

Give the health care dollar back to patients

Physician
November 9, 2025

Peace in the Middle East was once considered impossible until someone had the courage to take a stand and chart a new course. Mr. President, we need that same clarity and boldness now in health care.

The government shutdown over health care isn’t about medicine, it’s about money. Costs have exploded while premiums skyrocket. Paradoxically, doctors earn less, hospitals consolidate, and patients wait longer. The focus has shifted from healing to …

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Give the health care dollar back to patients

A physician’s perspective on the crisis in Massachusetts health care

Policy
November 9, 2024

I am a surgeon from a family of surgeons, all based in Massachusetts. Throughout my career, I have faced many challenges, both in and outside of the operating room. Like most doctors, I am saddened by the current collapse of our system in general and my own hospital in particular, which is facing closure due to mounting debt owed to private equity. For the record, I have been warning my …

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A physician’s perspective on the crisis in Massachusetts health care

Panic button: Escaping the broken health care escape room

Physician
March 10, 2024

Escape rooms have become very popular. Entering a room of seemingly unconnected clues with a group of family members or coworkers creates a sense of fear and excitement that ultimately leads, if successful, to a great sense of accomplishment and relief. The entire experience is designed to enhance trust among team members and inspire confidence in working together to solve difficult problems. When it comes to improving the health care …

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Panic button: Escaping the broken health care escape room

Building individual health equity

Policy
October 28, 2022

Buying health insurance is a lot like renting an apartment. Finding the perfect place is hard, and the price is always higher than you expect.  But if it is conveniently close to your employer and there are few other affordable options, you sign the lease and agree to all of the terms.  Only after a few monthly payments do you realize electricity, heat, water, and snow removal are not included. …

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Building individual health equity

Practicing great medicine got a lot simpler. It’s health care that’s getting in the way.

Policy
October 15, 2022

We pay more than any other nation for health care, yet we have suffered the single biggest decline in life expectancy since WWII. Something went wrong. At a time of record inflation and rising taxes, isn’t it time we stopped to ask where the money is going, what exactly we are paying for, and why?

Astonishingly, nearly half the federal budget goes to health care in one way or another. Either …

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Practicing great medicine got a lot simpler. It’s health care that’s getting in the way.