The ASC industry has been expanding on several fronts: more procedures are moving out of the hospital and into ASCs, patients increasingly desire outpatient treatments, and the demand for surgical services — and therefore anesthesia — continues to rise. Some…
Anesthesia
Eight states have no anesthesia residency program, which means ASCs operating in those markets have no local pipeline and no structural fix on the horizon. Here are 10 more things to know about the geographical discrepancies in the anesthesia provider…
As a shortage of physician anesthesiologists persists across the country and the demand for outpatient surgical services continues to rise, many ASCs have shifted increasingly towards anesthesia models that depend on certified-registered nurse anesthetists. “Most of the ASCs in my…
New York has the highest concentration of anesthesiologists relative to its population, with roughly 37 anesthesiologists per 100,000 residents, according to a analysis of May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data and 2024 U.S. Census population estimates. The figures…
The American Society of Anesthesiologists is calling on policymakers to tighten oversight of at-home ketamine prescribing and delivery, warning that patient safety standards have not kept pace with a surging market. The U.S. ketamine market has surpassed $5 billion, driven…
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When ASC leaders blame inefficiencies on a workforce shortage they are dodging the root cause of the problem. In the majority of cases, facilities are dealing with a failure in workplace utilization, not a lack of providers. ASCs have to…
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Nova Southeastern University is opening a regional campus in Henderson, Nev., to expand its anesthesiologist assistant program. The university is the first to offer an anesthesiologist assistant program in Nevada, according to a June 17 news release…
The success of the ASC model relies heavily on patient selection, from both a safety and operational efficiency perspective. But a convergence of factors — from CMS policy to technological advancements and an aging population — has resulted in ASCs…
Certified anesthesiologist assistants are increasingly sought after as health systems and ASCs navigate a structural anesthesia shortage. As of April 2026, the average annual salary for anesthesiologist assistants is $247,000, according to Marit Health’s compilation of 170 salaries. Most earn…
Optum has clarified its payment policy for anesthesia services provided during electroconvulsive therapy, confirming that such services are eligible for separate reimbursement under certain conditions, according to a June 10 news release from the American Society of Anesthesiologists. Optum acknowledged…