Anesthesia leaders are navigating a challenging period in modern medicine. Between declining reimbursements, workforce shortages and evolving care models, anesthesia groups are under pressure to deliver safe, efficient care with fewer resources.
Here are five trends keeping anesthesia leaders up:
- Shrinking reimbursements and rising cost burden: Between 2019 and 2024, CMS anesthesia reimbursements dropped by about 8.2% — from $22.27 per unit to $20.44 — while labor and supply costs continue to climb. Private payers are also tightening rates and contracts, leaving many groups squeezed.
“Anesthesia reimbursements continue to be misunderstood by CMS, insurers and even our own colleagues,” Thomas Durick, MD, of Columbus-based Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, told Becker’s. “We do the same (or more) work each year for less reimbursement and more challenges to get paid.”
- Workforce shortages and provider burnout: The anesthesia workforce is shrinking as procedural demand rises.
“The number of practicing anesthesiologists, anesthesiologist assistants and nurse anesthetists is not sufficient to meet current demands, let alone anticipated future needs,” Patrick Giam, MD, president-elect of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, told Becker’s.
These shortages have driven wage inflation, higher turnover and heavier caseloads — compounding burnout across care teams.
- Shift to outpatient settings and non-OR anesthesia: As more procedures migrate to ASCs and non-operating-room suites, anesthesia teams are being stretched across more sites. Covering these expanded venues requires flexible staffing models and greater operational coordination — often without matching reimbursement or resources.
- Operational and partnership model pressures: As ASCs expand and evolve, some anesthesiologists are reexamining their role and shifting from third-party vendors to strategic partners responsible for efficiency, outcomes and safety.
“Outpatient facilities need to mature in their way of thinking in order to be successful,” Yusuf Ahmad, MD, an anesthesiologist in Berkeley, Calif., told Becker’s. “ASCs need to think differently … they must be seen and treated as essential, productive partners that contribute value.”
This redefined partnership model reflects broader economic pressure: declining reimbursement, staffing shortages and mounting case complexity are forcing anesthesia groups and ASCs to collaborate to stay efficient and financially viable.
- Technology’s promise — and growing pressure: AI and data-driven tools are reshaping anesthesia faster than some organizations can adapt.
Leaders told Becker’s they expect AI-assisted systems to personalize risk assessment and guide intraoperative decision-making, but they also warned that adoption brings new challenges — from regulatory oversight to clinician mistrust and workflow disruption.
The 2025 NOPAIN Act adds another layer of pressure as anesthesia groups race to integrate non-opioid pain management into already strained budgets and staffing models.
