The Medical Board of California has put anesthesiologist Anna Bowling, MD, on probation for seven years for practicing medicine while under the influence, ABC affiliate KXTV reported May 2. 

Nurse anesthetists make an average of $281,240 in Illinois, the highest-earning state, compared to the state's average household income of $106,728.

The anesthesia market has had a challenging last several years, as systems struggle to find qualified professionals in a competitive market. 

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 report from the Lund Report.

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.

Here are three major concerns plaguing the anesthesia industry. 

The average annual salary for anesthesiologists has increased from $261,730 in 2019 to $339,470 in 2023, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Anesthesiologists have the highest annual mean wage in offices of physicians, according to updated data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Here are five statistics highlighting private equity's influence in anesthesia:

Raynaldo Ortiz Jr., MD, a former anesthesiologist at Baylor Scott & White Surgicare North Dallas, has been found guilty on 10 counts of tampering with IV bags and the adulteration of drugs, NBC affiliate KXAS reported April 12. 

The highest-paid anesthesiologist in New Orleans earns $781,900 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.

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