The license of anesthesiologist Jeffrey Christensen, MD, who has been affiliated with Casper-based Wyoming Surgical Center, has been suspended after an investigation involving missing fentanyl, K2 Radio reported Dec. 12.
Anesthesia
The highest paid anesthesiologist in Atlanta earns $741,000 per year, according to Medscape's salary reporter tool, which is much higher than the mean annual wage of $302,970 anesthesiologists make according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Certified nurse anesthetists make an average of $205,770 annually.
Florida employs the most certified nurse anesthetists of any state.
The anesthesia provider shortage has been a plague on ASCs and health systems alike.
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Government officials from Florida, Colorado, Delaware, Missouri and California have all made efforts to topple supervision requirements for certified registered nurse anesthetists.
While demand for anesthesia services has skyrocketed, Medicare reimbursements have shrunk, according to VMG Health's 2023 "Physician Alignment: Tips & Trends" report.
ASCs were overwhelmed by anesthesiologist shortages and anesthesia price hikes in 2023.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut are calling for U.S. Anesthesia Partners and its private equity partner Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe to answer for what a federal agency called an "anticompetitive scheme."
Florida lawmakers Rep. Mike Giallombardo and Sen. Blaise Ingoglia are proposing legislation that would eliminate the current requirement for certified registered nurse anesthetists to have a written supervisory agreement with a physician, The Capitolist reported Dec. 4.