Anesthesia

An anesthesia provider and its malpractice insurer have paid $4.2 million in a settlement with the family of a patient who died undergoing a procedure at an ASC, Law.com reported Aug. 8. 

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield's health plans in Ohio, Missouri, Connecticut, New York, Nevada, and Maine will reduce QZ services performed by certified registered nurse anesthetists to 85% of the physician fee schedule beginning Nov. 1. 

Kansas City (Mo.) University is launching a Master of Health Science in Anesthesiology program at its Joplin, Mo., campus, according to an Aug. 8 report from KZRG.

As the shortage of anesthesia providers continues to weigh on healthcare, ASCs are finding new ways to combat the shortage. 

Average anesthesiologist pay jumped $10,000 in the last year, according to AMN Healthcare's 2024, "Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives." How anesthesiologist salary has changed in 6 years  

The ongoing shortage of anesthesiologists has been top of mind for many ASC leaders, with some facilities canceling or delaying procedures due to shortages of providers.

There are 33,470 actively practicing anesthesiologists in the U.S., according to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics employment survey. However, some cities are better populated with providers than others.

California has 5,380 anesthesiologists, the most of any state, according to May 2023 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Nearly 1,000 surgeries have been allegedly canceled after Modesto, Calif.-based Doctors Medical Center was cited in June for immediate jeopardy by CMS, according to a July 26 letter from California Assemblymen Heath Flora and Juan Alanis obtained by Becker's. 

The global market for anesthesia machines is expected to hit $14.1 billion in 2024, according to a July 29 report from FactMR.