Anesthesia faces a whirlwind of potential policy changes that could shift the industry, from practice authority for certified registered nurse anesthetists to anesthesia time limits.
1. Six months after a major insurance company withdrew plans for a policy that would have allowed health insurers to place time limits on anesthesia care, a New York State Assembly bill and a New York Senate bill may resurrect the policy. A clause has been added to the two bills that would allow health insurers in New York to predetermine the time allowed for anesthesia care during surgery or a procedure.
2. As of 2023, 75% of CRNAs reported practicing independently without collaboration from physicians, according to a white paper from Medicus Healthcare Solutions published May 21.
3. By 2036, the U.S. is expected to be facing a shortage of 6,300 anesthesiologists nationwide, according to the white paper. The workforce management company’s report predicts that the U.S. will also face a shortage of 450,000 nurses by the end of 2025.
4. By the end of 2025, all newly graduating CRNAs in the U.S. will be required to obtain doctorate degrees, a move that was first announced in 2009.
5. The Federal Trade Commission resolved an antitrust case against Welsh Carson, which was tied up in a lawsuit alongside its portfolio company, U.S. Anesthesia Partners. In January, the FTC reached a settlement with Welsh Carson, requiring the company to limit its involvement with USAP and notify the FTC of specified future acquisitions and investments in anesthesia and other hospital-based physician practices. The FTC has finalized that consent order, according to a May 20 news release. The FTC’s case against USAP continues to proceed in federal court.
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