Ep 79: The Path to Direct Reimbursement with Dick & Sandy Ouellette, CRNA.

You can argue that the passage of direct reimbursement in 1986 was one of the most significant lobbying achievements in healthcare. This process took much of the decade and spanned seven AANA presidents, including Dick and Sandy Ouellette, CRNA. We revisit those momentous years and learn more about all the hard work that went into getting direct reimbursement.   Read more and get additional resources here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/ep-79-the-path-to-direct-reimbursement-with-dick-sandy-ouellette-crna/2523/    Download the CE Credit form here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf    Today's show schedule:  1:44 – We have a couple of our favorites with us today. 3:20 – Let’s get some background on this great lobbying achievement. 5:30 – What happened when the regulators tried to fix this reimbursement problem? 9:10 – The unintended consequences of TEFRA Seven Steps 11:22 – Healthcare costs over $3 trillion today. 11:50 – PPS and DRGs 15:25 – What we brought to legislatures when we first started pushing direct reimbursement. 17:27 – Things can change quickly. 19:38 – Difficulty understanding the numbers. 20:55 – What was the plan for economic survival? 24:25 – Direct Reimbursement created some conflict.    26:17 – Let’s talk the actual road to reimbursement from 1983-89. 31:53 – The passage finally happens and the announcement that followed. 32:45 – It took the effort of all the members to make this happen. 34:03 – What did they do back then without a DC office? 35:42 – It was just as difficult in the years following direct reimbursement. 40:55 – Did you think we’d still be dealing with issues three decades later? 43:25 – A big victory for nursing as a whole. 44:36 – Closing thoughts on how great of a time this is for CRNAs.