Anesthesia is fighting policy battles on multiple fronts — against CMS over proposed pay cuts and against payers over billing rules.
For ASCs, how these fights play out will shape what anesthesia coverage costs and who provides it.
Here are five policy fights facing the specialty, as reported by Becker’s since July 22:
- Washington, D.C., opted out of the federal physician supervision requirement for certified registered nurse anesthetists, becoming the 28th U.S. jurisdiction to do so.
- The American Society of Anesthesiologists submitted formal comments to CMS opposing key provisions of its proposed 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule, including a 50% payment cut for services reported with Modifier 25.
- The No Surprises Act’s arbitration process is once again embroiled in controversy as physician groups speak out on what they say are inflated IDR costs being reported out through recent research.
- More than a year after Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield’s anesthesia time limit policy set off an industrywide backlash, the fight over how anesthesia care gets reimbursed is still unresolved.
- The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology said that a U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruling wrongly declined to force HHS to enforce a provider nondiscrimination provision that protects certified registered nurse anesthetists from reduced insurance reimbursement.
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.
