The Week in Review and Understanding the Medicaid Data Dump with Samir Unni

The Week in Review and Understanding the Medicaid Data Dump with Samir Unni

Author: The Doctor's Lounge February 21, 2026 Duration: 1:11:23

Episode Title: The Medicaid Data Dump: $1.7 Billion in Billing From Shell Companies and Why Nobody Stopped It

Guest: Samir Unni | Biomedical Engineer, former Palantir healthcare data lead, currently working on federal data modernization efforts

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Technical Difficulties

02:47 Reflections on Jay Bhattacharya's Insights

06:04 Navigating Polarization in Science

08:50 Moderna's Flu Vaccine Controversy

11:56 Understanding the FDA's Refusal to File

14:58 The Medicaid Data Dump and Its Implications

17:50 Duplicate Payments in Medicaid

20:59 The Role of Transparency in Healthcare

24:01 Home Health Services and Fraud Risks

42:57 Understanding Fraud in Government Billing

46:51 Political Ramifications of Home Health Agencies

50:53 Analyzing Data for Fraud Detection

56:30 Incentives and Accountability in Healthcare

01:01:52 The Role of Technology in Fraud Prevention

01:12:32 Legislative Solutions to Healthcare Fraud

Resources Mentioned:

About Samir Unni:

Samir Unni is a biomedical engineer who has spent over a decade working at the intersection of healthcare and data analytics. He previously served as a lead at Palantir working with government and healthcare organizations, and is now focused on modernizing how the federal government leverages AI and data tools to identify waste and fraud in public health programs.

Subscribe to The Doctor's Lounge: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | RSS

Follow the Show: X: @drsloungepod

Co-hosts: @anish_koka | @drdanchoi | @dutchrojas | @sdixitmd | @DrDiGiorgio


In The Doctor's Lounge, the white coat comes off for a conversation that moves freely from the exam room to the boardroom. This isn't a lecture hall; it's the back table where practicing physicians gather to unpack the complex systems that define modern medicine. Hosted by Dutch Rojas and Anthony DiGiorgio, DO, with regular voices like Anish Koka, MD, Dan Choi, MD, and Sanat Dixit, MD, the discussions are built on frontline experience. You'll hear unfiltered perspectives on the policy debates that shape care, the realities of navigating business and entrepreneurship within a medical practice, and the constant push for meaningful reform. The dialogue is grounded in a shared commitment to physician autonomy and, ultimately, better patient outcomes. Each episode in this podcast connects the dots between clinical fitness and the health of the medical profession itself, offering a rare look at the challenges and opportunities that exist where patient care meets the mechanics of the healthcare industry. It's a space for the nuanced, often contentious, and always real conversations happening behind the scenes.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 49

The Doctor's Lounge
Podcast Episodes
Office Surgeries, Insurance Games, and Giving Thanks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:47
Send us a textSummaryIn this episode of the Doctors' Lounge, the hosts discuss a range of topics centered around healthcare, including personal experiences with medical procedures, the importance of trust in healthcare p…
The Hidden Costs of Coverage: Why Subsidies Can’t Fix Healthcare [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:52
Send us a text📌 Episode Overview:In this episode, the co-hosts dive into the complexities of healthcare policy, discussing the impact of ACA subsidies, the role of insurance companies, and the potential for HSAs to empow…
The Healthcare Fallacy: How Big Systems Broke the Market [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:40
Send us a textShow Link: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/0003-4819-153-8-201010190-00274Why Listen 👥In this episode, the hosts delve into the complexities of the healthcare system, discussing the impact of large…
Behind the Bill: What’s Really Driving Healthcare Costs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:48
Send us a textWhy Listen 👥In this episode, the hosts delve into the complexities of healthcare costs, the impact of policy decisions, and the role of market forces in shaping the healthcare landscape. They discuss the co…
Side Table: The 340B Dilemma: Who Really Benefits? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:56
Send us a text📌 Why ListenExplore the complexities of the 340B program, its impact on healthcare systems, and the implications for both hospitals and independent clinicians. Understand the need for transparency and poten…
Admit Defeat: How Hospitals Stripped Doctors of Control [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:25
Send us a text🎯 Why ListenThis episode is a no-holds-barred takedown of how hospitals manipulate billing codes, exploit DRG loopholes, and increase patient risk—all while squeezing out independent physicians. Whether you…
The ACA Bubble: How Insurance Giants Hijacked American Healthcare [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:19
Send us a text🎯 Why ListenThis episode of The Doctor’s Lounge cuts straight into one of the most polarizing questions in U.S. healthcare: Did the Affordable Care Act (ACA) fix the system—or hand it to corporate interests…