Category: reform

ROAD to happiness no more?

Any third year medical student can cite the ROAD mnemonic which guides the newbs to which fields will lead them to a career full of easy lifestyles and fast money. Radiology, Ophthalmology, Anesthesiology and Dermatology. With health care reform coming down the pike it may be time to change the mnemonic to the CNP to happiness. Crna, Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant…I was never good at mnemonics anyway.

Dr Steven Kron seems to agree with me in this months Anesthesiology News (login req). In his article he writes of what sounds like the end of days for physician-provided anesthesia services:
The obvious solution is substituting non-MD anesthesia providers for physician anesthesiologists. The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) has long maintained that its members, as well as other advance practice nurses (APRNs), can work independently of MDs.
The fact is they are right.
The fact is, Dr Kron…maybe they could do your job, but not mine.
Truth is the push to keep health care costs as low as possible will change things for anesthesiology as a whole. It remains to be seen how that will truly play out. My guess is less money for all of us (see my previous post). Will that mean the obsolescence of gas MD’s? Will it soon be the ROD to happiness instead? Hmmm, how hard could it be to read an MRI anyway?

Nov 28, 2009 | 0 comments View Post

Health Care Reform Updated Daily (well almost daily)

Calling all anesthesia providers…It’s crunch time people! As I write, behind closed doors lies the future of anesthesia practice as we know it…ok a bit dramatic but you get the point. It appears that the pendulum has indeed swung in favor of the public option tied to Medicare rates. The nightmare is real ladies and gents. In case you don’t already know Medicare rates as they apply to anesthesia are just plain criminal. Reimbursement stands to fall 60% or more. While I enjoy the passage of gassage and feel I really use my expertise in a positive way for my patients, I just can’t do it for nothing. Neither should you.

The ASA has sent an action alert detailing a proposed amendment to exempt anesthesia from the public option/Medicare rates fiasco here. It’s do or die time peoples so get on the horn. Check out the ASA alert and call today.

Oct 26, 2009 | 0 comments View Post

The public option and anesthesia.

The public option has been one of the most contentious issues regarding the health care debate. The results of the The Anesthesia Blog poll indicate a willing acceptance of it into our health care system just as long as the rates aren’t tied to the pitifully low Medicare rates.

Medicare rates in what may be the predominate payer over the next few years means the end of days for anesthesia. See ASA president Roger Moore’s farewell letter in which he summarizes the salient points here.
The next logical question is then, why are the Medicare rates for anesthesia so friggin bad, and why haven’t we been able to do anything about it? Get involved fellow anesthesia peoples! ASA-PAC.

Oct 08, 2009 | 0 comments View Post

Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.

Thought it fitting to give props to Dr Dworkin who has written an interesting opinion piece in the WSJ entitled: “An Anesthesiologist’s Take on Health-Care Reform“.

In summary; the right-leaning author in the right-leaning newspaper gives his opinion from the perspective of a right-leaning specialty. The funny part is I agree with 90% of what he says: I agree that many of us are looking for exit strategies if the public option comes into play. There WILL be a noticeable decrease in the quality of care once the government prices out all the private insurers.

Dr. Dworkin is an anesthesiologist and the author of “Artificial Happiness” (Basic Books, 2006).

Take a read, comments welcome as usual.

[Update 8/27/09] Read the ASA response to the above article here.

Aug 19, 2009 | 1 comment View Post