Author: Francesca Mathewes

On Oct. 1, a new UnitedHealthcare policy went into effect, cutting reimbursements to certified registered nurse anesthetists by 15%.  The policy update was issued on July 1 and applies to claims for anesthesia services rendered by CRNAs practicing independently. For…

Here are 11 ASCs that were announced, constructed or opened in September, as reported by Becker’s: 1. Albany (N.Y.) Med Health System broke ground on an expansion at Greene Medical Arts in Catskill, N.Y., that will include a same-day surgery…

As the U.S. population ages, increasing the need for healthcare services, salaries are rising in a number of specialties. According to data gathered by AMN Healthcare and published Sept. 29 by the American Medical Association, five specialties ranked at the…

As surgical volumes increase amid an aging population and higher demand for outpatient services, anesthesia providers have found themselves in a sellers market as ASCs and other facilities vie for a limited supply of providers.  This has shifted the ways…

In September 2024, Hurricane Helene damaged a Baxter International plant in Marion, N.C., that produces 60% of the U.S.’s IV fluid products, disrupting ASCs and other healthcare facilities across the country.  In a Sept. 29 report, the anesthesia department at…

Here are eight hospitals and health systems that have announced new outpatient or ambulatory developments in the last 30 days, as reported by Becker’s: 1. Albany (N.Y.) Med Health System broke ground on an expansion at Greene Medical Arts in…

As the ASC industry continues to grow and expand, the anesthesia staffing crisis persists as a top concern for ASC leaders. Aaron Kalin, DO, medical director and chair of anesthesiology at Adventist Health and Rideout in Marysville, Calif., recently joined…

As ASCs face heightened pressure from rising labor costs and staffing shortages, retaining top talent has become paramount to practice sustainability and success. Four ASC leaders recently joined Becker’s to discuss the things that are most important in creating a…

Anesthesia has become increasingly consolidated in recent years as private-equity backed anesthesia groups have solidified their place in the industry — often leading to higher costs for ASCs facing other significant market pressures.  According to an April 2022 study published…

When private insurers began cutting QZ reimbursements to 85%, they framed it as “alignment” and “standardization.” Strip away the euphemisms and you find an old story: a margin-play that offloads risk and cost onto hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and the…