What Does Vertical Integration Mean? In healthcare, vertical integration occurs when one corporation owns and controls multiple layers of the healthcare system — insurance, pharmacy benefit management, retail pharmacies, and even direct clinical care. While it’s often marketed as “coordinated care” or “cost efficiency,” in practice, it allows a single company to set its own prices, direct its own referrals, and profit at every stage. And in this new, closed system, the patien

The Pennsylvania State Senate has officially recognized September 12th as “The Day of the Bible” in Pennsylvania, beginning in 2025 . Senate Resolution 131, passed in June 2025 by a narrow 26–24 vote, honors the enduring historical and cultural influence of the Bible in the Commonwealth. Why September 12th? The date was chosen to commemorate a significant moment in American history. On September 12, 1782, while meeting in Philadelphia, the U.S. Congress authorized the printin

On July 31, 2025, healthcare policy expert Chris (Christin) Deacon testified before the U.S. Senate about why healthcare costs are so high and how transparency can change everything. Chris has led one of the nation’s largest public health plans and now works with unions, governments, and large employers to cut waste and demand accountability, representing tens of millions of people. Her message was clear: patients deserve to know the real cost of their care. For too long, pr

First, be HSA-eligible You must be enrolled in a High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) that qualifies for HSA contributions. You cannot be covered under a non‐HDHP plan, Medicare, Medicaid, or be claimed as someone else's tax dependent. How to Open an HSA (2025 Edition) Choose a Qualified HSA Custodian You don’t need your health plan provider for this—any IRS-approved trustee (such as a bank, credit union, insurance company, or HSA provider) can host your account. IRS Publicatio

Dear CCC Health Family, At CCC Health, we believe real healthcare security doesn’t come from more bureaucracy; it comes from trust that is rooted in a real relationship between patient and physician. That’s why we’re taking a closer look at the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) - a sweeping, 1,100-page law that touches nearly every area of American life: healthcare, taxes, education, immigration, defense, and more.  At its heart, OBBB shifts power away from insurance companie

The Core Truth: Transforming healthcare is simple—restore the physician-patient relationship. When physicians are empowered to care for their patients without interference, everything else falls into place: better outcomes, lower costs, and higher satisfaction. Every healthcare policy should be evaluated through one question: Does it strengthen the doctor-patient relationship? If yes—support it. If not—it must be rethought. ✅ What Is Direct Primary Care (DPC)? DPC is a memb

HSA Expansion Becomes Law – A Win for Patients, But the Fight Reveals What’s Broken Dear CCC Health Family, We hope this newsletter finds you well. We are grateful for your continued support and prayers as we pursue our shared mission: to restore healthcare with trust, transparency, and a renewed commitment to the doctor-patient relationship. At CCC Health, we don’t just practice medicine; we advocate for transformation. That’s why Dr. Chaminie Wheeler traveled to Washington,

🚨 Exciting Updates to Transform Healthcare🚨 Discover Why Direct Primary Care Is the Answer Dear CCC Health Members, Our May 28th event, Direct Primary Care Explained: Value for You and Your Business , was a tremendous success! We were thrilled to welcome many local small businesses (close to 50 attendees) eager to explore how Direct Primary Care (DPC) can enhance care for their teams while reducing costs. 📊 Dr. Chaminie Wheeler’s presentation slides and some pictures of t

🩺 Transparency Matters: New Senate Report and FDA Booster Policy Signal a Shift Toward Evidence-Based, Patient-Centered Care As physicians who stood firm during the pandemic—advocating for open dialogue, scientific integrity, and truth over fear—I want to share two important developments that underscore why questioning the narrative is not only reasonable, but essential to science and public trust. 🧬 1. Senate Report: Myocarditis Risks Downplayed A newly released Senate in

Direct Primary Care Explained: Value for You and Your Business The Barristers Club 1114 Walnut Street, Allentown PA 18102 Wednesday, May 28, 2025 4 pm - Registration & Networking 4:30 pm - Presentation Hosted by: Lehigh Valley Consortium of Professional Organizations CLICK HERE TO RSVP Exciting Updates to Transform Healthcare Discover Why Direct Primary Care Is the Answer Join us on Wednesday, May 28th in Allentown for a powerful and historic event— the first-ever Direct Pri

Expanding Health Savings Accounts: A Path to Greater Patient Choice and Lower Healthcare Costs Written By: Dr. Chaminie Wheeler, DO Pediatrics, Direct Primary Care In recent years, the U.S. Congress has introduced multiple bills aimed at expanding and modernizing Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). These legislative efforts are rooted in the recognition that HSAs empower individuals to take control of their healthcare spending, foster a competitive free market, and ultimately red

Lehigh County Medical Society  hosted a "State of Medicine" conference in an effort to regain physician autonomy in medicine and reestablish doctors as true advocates for their patients. Dr. Chaminie Wheeler serves as president and Dr. Greg Wheeler serves as a Board Trustee of Lehigh County Medical Society. This conference showcased 3 specific areas in the healthcare landscape in Pennsylvania where profits come before patients: Restrictive Covenants Restrictive covenants in m

One of the things that has been troubling to us personally as small business owners is the amount of paperwork that is required to open and maintain a business. We are certain that other small businesses share the same frustration. Much of this is redundant and frequently asked items which depending on the institution or bureaucracy requesting the information can sometimes consume much of our limited man power and time. This is especially frustrating in an era of information

Our Physician Leadership & Patient Advocacy Party  on Saturday, February 8 was a resounding success! A heartfelt thank you to Lois, Maria, Pam, Rebecca, and Gene—your dedication and support made this event possible, and we are truly grateful.   By the grace of God, physicians from across our great Commonwealth—independent and employed, primary care and specialists alike—came together for a shared purpose: to restore the Doctor-Patient Covenant of Trust. We were honored to wel

In February Drs. Greg & Chaminie Wheeler hosted a Physician's Advocate Party. In addition to wonderful presentations, networking, and fellowship, the doctors played a Healthcare Trivia Game. Read the questions and answers below and see how informed you really are! I n 2023, the US federal budget was $6.2 trillion in spending and $4.5 trillion in revenue resulting in a deficit of $1.7 trillion. Of that federal budget, i n 2023, how much did the US spend on healthcare?   A. 4.9

PCCJR Update: December 10, 2024 "Grassroots Group Calls for “No” on Judicial Retention." Pennsylvania’s notorious legal climate has once again led to the Commonwealth being ranked as the nation’s worst judicial hellhole. The American Tort Reform Foundation today released its 2024–2025 “Judicial Hellholes®” report, which identifies the nation’s most problematic courts. In this year’s report, the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court are in the t

Read the Article: UnitedHealth Group stock falls more than 8% following Q3 earnings report, 2025 forecast What does this mean? The drop in UnitedHealth Group's (UHG) stock after their Q3 earnings report and 2025 forecast highlights growing challenges in the healthcare industry, especially for vertically integrated giants like UHG. The company's structure, which controls insurance, pharmacy benefits, healthcare services, and data analytics, reveals a system where patients are

Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Transparency Act of 2023 Prohibits unfair or deceptive pricing practices. Incentivizes fair and transparent PBM practices. Mandates transparency. This bill forces the negotiators of medications to be transparent with pricing which will expose the legalized kickbacks that have been happening for years. This bill passed in the House on June 28 and the Senate on July 10 with major bipartisan support. Signed into law by Josh Shapiro on July 17, 2024