Anesthesia

Here are five numbers to know regarding anesthesiologists in the U.S., using data from Medscape's "Physician Compensation Report" for 2024, its "Anesthesiologist Compensation Report" for 2023 and the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics employment survey:

Illinois and Massachusetts pay certified registered nurse anesthetists the highest hourly wage, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Jonathan Mack, 55, an anesthesia technician at Philadelphia-based Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, was killed in a hit-and-run, according to an April 25 report from The Philadelphia Inquirer. 

Draeger has recalled 3,713 Perseus A500 anesthesia workstations following reports that the internal backup battery had failed spontaneously while the system was being operated off the main power supply. 

Medical coding is finicky in its own right, and when telehealth is added to the mix, the process becomes even more complex.

Here are five anesthesiologists making headlines in the last month:

The highest-paid anesthesiologist in Indianapolis earns $749,600 per year, according to Medscape's salary reporter tool, which is much higher than the mean annual wage of $339,470 anesthesiologists make according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In the San Diego-Carlsbad, Calif., area, anesthesiologists earn an average of $481,420 each year, making it the highest-paying metropolitan area for the profession in the U.S.

Anesthesiologist Ellis Richard Clark, MD, has filed a lawsuit against Optum-affiliated Salem (Ore.) Surgery Center, which operates under the name Northbank Surgical Center, for allegedly firing him in retaliation for complaining about unsafe anesthesia practices, according to an April 23…

Aetna will no longer provide additional payment for physical status modifier 3-5 on anesthesia claims, according to an April 19 post by medical revenue cycle management group Coronis Health.