A moderated discussion of compensation strategies at last week’s MGMA-ACMPE AAA meeting showed a good deal of flexibility in allowing anesthesiologists to job-share or otherwise to reduce their hours. The groups represented at the discussion were also creative in compensating members for business development and administrative activities. If case loads decline substantially, layoffs may occur, although they are the least favorite option.Along with more than 300 other MGMA-ACMPE Anesthesia Administration Assembly (AAA) members and exhibitors, we participated in the annual AAA meeting in Scottsdale last week.  One breakout session discussion group in particular was so informative that we obtained permission to bring a summary to our readers.About 60 individuals attended the discussion of compensation strategies moderated by Stephen E. Comess, Executive Director, United Anesthesia Services, P.C.  Mr. Comess got the ball rolling on responses to twelve prepared compensation management scenario questions by giving each member of the audience a playing...

 Last week we discussed the growing trend toward including performance measures in contracts between hospitals and anesthesia groups.  We identified clinical quality, efficiency and patient satisfaction measures developed by the Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP), the Medicare Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), the Anesthesia Quality Institute (AQI), Press-Ganey and the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS).  All of these measures can be the basis of hospital or ambulatory surgery center contracts for performance-based payment.Many contracts set forth the quality, efficiency and customer satisfaction activities that are part of the anesthesia group’s quid pro quo for their hospital compensation package without explicitly linking performance rates to payment.  Increasingly, though, the anesthesiologists must meet or exceed agreed-upon benchmarks to earn their payment.Choosing BenchmarksThe benchmarks can be external or internal.  External benchmarks allow for comparison to similar institutions or providers – or to national or...