An efficient anesthesia program is a key driver of operational and financial success in an ASC, according to Sullivan Healthcare Consulting.

Transfer, Pa.-based Edgewood Surgical Hospital partnered with Pain Management Group to open a pain management center in its hospital, The Herald reports.

Anesthesiologist Terry Ramnanan, MD, is suing New Jersey for $100 million, claiming the nearly two years he spent defending himself against "fabricated charges" of illegal kickbacks caused irreparable damage to his reputation and 40-year career, according to New Jersey 101.5.

Alberta, Canada-based University of Calgary researchers developed a clinical prediction scale to determine which patients were likely to experience inadequate pain control after spine surgery, according to a study in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine.  

The FDA sent warning letters to 17 website operators about the illegal sale of unapproved and misbranded opioids.

An anesthesiologist and the family of a patient reached a $9.38 million settlement Aug. 18, over claims the anesthesiologist failed to provide proper care, which caused the patient to suffer cardiac arrest, the New Jersey Law Journal reports.

CMS' proposed fee schedule for 2021 would reduce anesthesiology specialists' Medicare payment rates to near what they were in 1991, according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

Tifton, Ga.-based Tift Regional Anesthesiology welcomed Ravi Grandhi, MD, to its ranks Aug. 31, according to Monica Morris, director of physician recruitment and retention at Tifton-based Southwell.

UPMC is hiring at its newly built surgery center in Monroeville, Pa.

Anesthesia Business Consultants advised anesthesiologists to issue an advanced beneficiary notice of noncoverage to patients if there is "serious doubt" about whether the insurance provider will cover the requested service.

CMS' proposed 2021 fee schedule could spell trouble for anesthesia, according to a report from Anesthesia Business Consultants.

Shutdown-related gaps in care could exacerbate the opioid epidemic, according to the Illinois Pain Institute, an independent pain practice with seven locations in the Chicagoland area.

Alpharetta, Ga.-based Premier Anesthesia appointed Preston Smith as president.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey's March 23 executive order, which allows nurse anesthetists to perform anesthesia procedures without physician supervision, is being met with opposition, according to local NBC affiliate KVOA.

Irving, Texas-based NorthStar Anesthesia signed on to provide services for Southfield, Mich.-based Beaumont Health's facilities in Dearborn, Taylor, Trenton and Wayne, Crain's Detroit Business reports.

Dallas-based U.S. Anesthesia Partners signed a long-term agreement with Molina Healthcare of Texas.

Seven anesthesia groups have signed a contract to provide services or went through a merger or acquisition in 2020 so far:

An anesthesiologist was sentenced to more than five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to involvement in a $200 million fraud scheme at Dallas-based Forest Park Medical Center, a now-defunct physician-owned hospital for bariatric and spinal patients, according to the Department of Justice.

The Tennessee Society of Anesthesiologists joined calls for a statewide mask mandate to slow COVID-19 transmission, according to News Channel 5 Tennessee.

Spindletop Pain Management Holdings and Tricity Pain Associates acquired San Antonio-based Hill Country Pain Associates.