"The deal killer for anesthesiologists is the linking of payments by the "Public Plan" option to Medicare rates. As all realize Medicare payments for anesthesiologists are completely inadequate. A recent Government Accountability Office report stated that the "Average Medicare Payments for Anesthesia Services Provided by Anesthesiologists Alone Ranged from 51 Percent to 77 Percent Lower than Average Private Payments". Most other specialties are reimbursed at 80% of average private payments by Medicare.
Further, although the private plans are allowed under the Bill, new plans are prohibited. In order to be competitive, private plans will need to match the public plan rates or go out of business.
A Public Plan linked to Medicare rates may reduce your income by as much as 70% with most groups experiencing at least a 50% cut in income. Don't expect the hospitals to bail us out of this one. The only reason they are subsidizing some groups now is to attract anesthesiologists. There will be no where for us go outside the system. The Public Plan will set the rates. High reimbursement hospitals and locations will not exist; every hospital and location will be the same."
This is from the ASA... 50 to 70% reduction in every anesthesiologists income!!!!! What do you think that will equate for assistants?
CRNA's will be cutting deals like crazy with hospitals and surgeons leaving MDA's and assistants out in the cold.
