Anesthesiology Economics: Current Trends and Future Directions

ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025, Desiree Chappell and Sol Aronson discuss the evolving economics of anesthesiology with guests Jonathan Gal, MD, Professor of Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, System Medical Director- Facility Revenue Integrity & Optimization; System Medical Director- Offsite ASC Anesthesia; ASA Director from New York for the Board of Directors and Chair of the Committee on Economics and Gordon Morewood, MD, Anesthesiologist-in-Chief of Temple University Health System, Chair and Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology at Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and Chief of Anesthesia at Piedmont Health (Piedmont Healthcare System, Georgia). The conversation spans various models of payment, including CPT codes, fee-for-service, and alternative payment models. They delve into the nuances of navigating different payer systems like Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers, highlighting recent trends and challenges. Specific topics include the erosion of physician payments, the impact of the No Surprises Act, and the ASA's ongoing advocacy efforts. The episode underscores the importance of proper economic strategies to ensure the sustainability and optimization of anesthesiology practices.