"Most people will choose unhappiness over uncertainty. -Tim FerrisAnesthesia groups are facing great challenges in today's environment. I am sure you are aware of these various challenges so I won't belabor them.The question is: What do we do now?Some groups are throwing in the towel and selling out. It seems as though every few weeks another indep...

Summary We provide an overview of recently proposed legislation from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP) and the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee to address the opioid crisis in the United States, including a large number of bills related to Medicare and Medicaid payment and coverage ...

Vicki Myckowiak, Esq. Principal, Myckowiak Associates, PC, Detroit, MIAnesthesia groups currently find themselves in the uncomfortable position of being a target of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Health and Human Services, the largest inspector general's office in the federal government, with approximately 1,600 people d...

Summary Changes to the Recovery Audit Program could be coming in 2018 that would lead to a less punitive, less burdensome and more educational and preventive approach by the government to identifying and correcting improper Medicare payments. Nonetheless, anesthesia practices are advised to be prepared for an audit. We offer recommendations to...

Summary Changes to the rules regarding opioid prescriptions through Medicare Part D for 2019 include a "hard edit" for opioid prescriptions at or above a cumulative daily equivalent of 90 milligrams of morphine; no more than a seven-day supply of opioid medication for opioid naïve patients; and restrictions on concurrent prescribing of opioids...