Ken Perry, MD, FACEP

I was asked by @NordicTrack to explain how I keep myself mentally healthy during this #COVID19 pandemic. For me it’s about the endorphin rush of #running. #medtwitter #Medicine #Doctor

@RepGregMurphy @nyulangone We are all trying to give better care to ever more patients. There are no ads needed for that process. Great question to ask!

@EPotterMD Keep it up!

If you feel the wind shifting, I feel it too. This entire situation has been a shock to navigate, but I’m solid—because I know who I am. No amount of noise or pressure changes the fact that I am a woman who works hard, tells the truth, and takes care of people. And when you stand firm in that, even when the wind is blowing hard, you don’t waver. Lately, I’ve been thinking about what keeps me going. My patients, this work, and doing the right thing. And I keep coming back to something my grandfather used to say when we needed rain in Georgia: 🌧️ “Rain down, Little David—big drops, close together.” And right now? That rain is falling exactly where we need it. The support has been overwhelming. My team has grown, I have an incredible legal team behind me, and @BillAckman has even generously stepped in to help cover legal expenses. I never could have imagined asking for this help—but here it is. So let’s take it and turn it into real change in healthcare. For now, I’m off to the operating room—because at the end of the day, I’m still here, doing what I love, taking care of my patients, and fighting for something bigger. Thanks for being here with me 💙

@BillAckman if you need any background on the relationship between physicians and certain insurers…we have plenty to tell.

@EPotterMD We all know this is true. Patients come to the ER in order to get necessary tests done that are not preapproved. All the physicians watching know this is true. Good luck!

On January 7th, 2025 I shared a video, after I was asked to call UnitedHealthcare from the operating room to answer administrative questions about the patient who was having surgery to treat breast cancer. Despite my efforts, they denied her stay. UnitedHealthcare didn’t stop at calling me during surgery. Now, they’ve sent me a legal threat—and even worse? They ended up denying my cancer patient’s hospital stay. Exactly what I was afraid would happen. Staying overnight after major surgery isn’t optional—it’s medically necessary. But UnitedHealthcare decided they know better than the doctors caring for the patient. When they called me while I was operating, I knew that if I didn’t step out and respond immediately, they might deny her stay—leaving her with a massive bill. So, with another surgeon in the OR, I scrubbed out and called them back. But after all of that? They denied her stay anyway. And instead of fixing their broken system, they sent me a legal threat for speaking out. I’m sharing their response in full, letting their words speak for themselves. Let me be clear: I stand by everything I said. I told the truth. I was honest about what’s happening in our healthcare system. And I will not be silenced by legal threats when it comes to advocating for my patients and my ability to care for them. Denying an overnight stay that a doctor orders is dangerous. The doctor caring for the patient should be able to make these decisions without delay, pressure, or harassment. If I don’t speak up, I lose—my integrity, my voice, and the opportunity to make a difference. And while it’s intimidating to receive a letter like this from a company as powerful as UnitedHealthcare, I know where I stand. I am a woman taking care of women affected by breast cancer. I do this work with all of my heart, and I will continue to speak up for my patients—because they deserve better. I ask you to follow along, share this story, and have these conversations in your own communities. I know I’m not the only one dealing with this, and real change will take all of us telling our stories and standing up for what’s right. I’m here for it. Are you?

🚨 REPORT: Elon Musk and DOGE gain access to FEMA - Washington Post

@ScottJenningsKY @CNN @elonmusk @DOGE Yet again you explain the logic so well. Well said.

Some @cnn comments on @elonmusk’s @DOGE efforts. Politicians promised for years to deliver a functional audit and trim the fat; TRUMP finally did it & Washington is freaked out (which makes the American people happy).

@noahkaufmanmd This is greater than party. Those who took advantage no matter of the party should pay the price.

@KennethJPerry I’ve been a lifelong liberal and democrat. Couldn’t vote for Harris. I think we are witnessing the death of the Democratic Party. Hopefully many Democrats and Republicans alike go to prison. Full disgorgement.

This really hurts. This is how it’s been. All of society has beena grift. And as doctors, we slave away often until July working for the government, for this total scam. For free we donate our time. I just can’t understand how anybody would even consider paying taxes this year.

@noahkaufmanmd I think it is going to completely undermine the public trust in many of our govt agencies and those who work there.

@KennethJPerry I think we are about to enter an extremely destabilizing period. The depth of the grift is mind-boggling.

@BillAckman @EPotterMD @UHC

I just spoke at length to @EPotterMD and I have asked her for all of the supporting documents, emails, call records, etc which she has agreed to provide. I found her and her story totally credible. @UHC has publically called her a liar, and UHC’s general counsel has told my CLO that Dr. Potter is not telling the truth. We have asked UHC to explain with particularity what Dr. Potter has said and/or written that is false. They have yet to respond to this request. I took down my original post on this matter because UHC’s outside counsel told my CLO that I was wrong and that Dr. Potter was not telling the truth. Based on what I have heard so far, I believe that Dr. Potter is telling the truth and that UHC appears to have denied coverage for a necessary post-surgical overnight stay and interfered with a surgeon mid-operation without good reason. They have also threatened the doctor with defamation and significant financial liabilities. And they have complained to the @SECGov about me. I await UHC’s side of the story and supporting facts before I can conclusively form a view on what has happened here. In the meantime, I have told Dr. Potter that I will cover her legal expenses to defend her from UHC’s claims, and to make sure that she has proper representation so that this is a fair fight. Stay tuned. This should be interesting. And there is a possibility that good will come from this. Healthcare and our insurance system is in trouble and needs a reboot.

All these politicians angered at #DOGE...but not angry at the government waste it is uncovering. Interesting position to take...

@DavidAsmanfox Completely agree! This is abuse.

There really needs to be a law to protect children and their parents from enablers like this.

@noahkaufmanmd Can you imagine how many improvements we could make to healthcare with just a percentage of the money that was wasted?!

WTAF!!! You are not pissed enough, this cannot be ignored. Your taxes have been stolen from you and redirected to other people through scams and grift. As physicians, our decades of hard work just stolen by criminals. Is this not infuriating you?

Now that #CES2025 is over, I can only say that it was a whirlwind. From early morning workouts (@thanks @burnbootcamp) to late night dinners it was all very busy. Thanks to @Delta and the gate agents working the ATL to SAV flight on Friday.

Finally getting settled after a week at CES. So many thoughts. Excitement at new things, frustrations with my normal environment. May post a thread of life as a physician at CES.

Watching all these people get sworn in as members of government leaves us political types green with envy. I hope they serve their constituents well.

@RepSpeier You were in Guyana. You should know what true danger is.

4 years ago I was in the house gallery holding a gas mask in my hands, crawling under brass railings and lying on the floor as a gunshot rang through the air. I feared I would die in our temple of democracy. We can never forget what happened on 1/6 was an attempted coup.

@DutchRojas A ten point, simple straightforward plan. Nahhh. Don’t think that is going to work…

I’m focused on lowering healthcare benefits expenses. 1. Remove the moratorium on physician owned hospitals. 2. Get rid of Certificate of Need aka CON laws in Massachusetts. 3. Rescind antikick back and stark. No reason to allow university and not for profit health systems to pay for referrals but independent physicians go to jail for the same. 4. Site neutral payments. 5. Increase professional fees. 6. Restrict facility fees to actual facilities. 7. Remove the caps on residency budget. 8. Get rid of NSA. 9. Enforce transparency rules. 10. Stop lawmakers from accepting PAC donations by pharma, device, and health systems. #healthcare

@BuckSexton So disappointing that this is what NYC has become.

Breaks my heart that this is now reality in the city that was my home for over 30 years. The problem is easy to fix: lock up criminals. Enforce zero tolerance for degenerates. The end.

@RepJasonCrow @RepEscobar @RepDarrenSoto @jahimes @RepSaraJacobs @RepJimmyGomez @RepJayapal @RepFletcher Why do you still look like your stuffed animal was stolen?

Four years ago today, we were *right here* in the House gallery when an angry mob stormed the Capitol. That day is etched on my memory. I remember telling my fellow members to take off their pins so we couldn’t be identified. I remember taking out a pen to use as a weapon if necessary. I remember being the last in the gallery as we fled to safety. We can never forget the horror of that day. January 6th must always be a reminder of the importance of standing up for democracy and the peaceful transfer of power.