Summary We review some aspects of clinical documentation to which anesthesia practices should pay close attention. No other specialty has a clinical document like the anesthesia record. The anesthesia record must serve as superbill, clinical record, quality tool and medical-legal document. In addition, each anesthesia practice has its own cust...

The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) has joined the ranks of healthcare organizations that have come out in opposition to a clinical guideline issued in February by insurance company Anthem that directs ophthalmologists to assume responsibility for anesthesia administration and patient monitoring during routine cataract surgeries....

Summary Anesthesia decision aids are brochures that are specially designed to walk patients through the process of determining whether they would prefer a regional or general anesthetic technique for surgery. Designed for use only when there is no medically "best" option, these aids can help anesthesia providers engage patients in the shared d...

​How do you keep your team informed on the latest topics of interest to anesthesiologists, practice administrators, CRNAs and others in the anesthesia marketplace? The Advanced Institute for Anesthesia Practice Management (AIAPM) will focus on practice management issues with the goal of enlightening attendees on broader group strategy issues, ...

Summary Legislation introduced in Virginia would direct health plans to develop protocols for paying physicians for services performed when their credentialing applications are received. The legislation could help streamline a frequently lengthy process that impacts revenue and impedes access to care. We encourage ABC clients to contact their ...

​SUMMARY This eAlert offers news briefs of interest to anesthesia practices on: the Republicans' latest attempt to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act; the new Medicare ID number initiative and what practices should be doing now to prepare; a primer on additional documentation requests (ADRs) and why a timely response is essential; and ...

Summary Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced (BPCI Advanced), a new initiative from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, was among topics of discussion at the American Society of Anesthesiologists' practice management conference in New Orleans. We provide an overview of this program and links to resources. As in the past ...

SUMMARY Anesthesiology is in the midst of a 'Blockbuster-Netflix moment,' according to Daniel Cole, MD, immediate past president of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. By focusing on innovation and opportunities for system performance improvement, and with insight into their own leadership styles, anesthesiology leaders can help the pro...

Summary Managed healthcare organization Anthem has released a clinical guideline stating that monitored anesthesia care and general anesthesia are not medically necessary for the majority of patients undergoing cataract surgery. We summarize the healthcare community's response, including efforts by the American Academy of Ophthalmologists to r...

Frank Carsonie, JD Chair, Health Care & Life Sciences Practice Group Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP, Columbus, OH Nathan Sargent, JD Associate, Health Care & Life Sciences Practice Group Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP, Cleveland, OH Hospitals and hospital-based physician groups enter various types of service ...

Summary In ABC's experience, issues around proper documentation of medical necessity represent the leading cause of anesthesia claims denials. While medical necessity may be thoroughly shown in the anesthesia record, we encourage anesthesia practitioners to ensure that they share this information with their billing and coding partner. ABC clie...

Jody Locke, MA Vice President of Anesthesia and Pain Practice Management Services Anesthesia Business Consultants, LLC, Jackson, MI What is it that makes today's anesthesia providers so good at managing patients safely through the trauma and discomfort of surgery? While many will cite the value of experience, the most critical factor is the availab...

Summary Effective teams, including high-performing teams spanning departments, disciplines and services, are central to the development of a "culture of safety." Hallmarks of high-performing teams include an aligned vision, complementary skills, achievable goals and metrics, participative leadership, a culture of trust and a preoccupation with...

For Carmel Schacar and I. Glenn Cohen of Harvard Law School, writing in Health Affairs, "uncertainty" was 2017's word of the year for health law and bioethics.1 In many ways, that capsule summary suits a description of healthcare in general and anesthesia in particular during the past 12 months as the frenetic pace of change continued unabated and ...

Summary The benefits of surveying patient satisfaction with anesthesia care are becoming increasingly evident in a competitive environment of quality reporting in which anesthesia groups can use reports of outstanding service and communication to help demonstrate value to institutions and payers. We offer highlights of a presentation on measur...

Will Latham, MBA President, Latham Consulting Group, Inc., Chattanooga, TNOne would think (or hope) that by the time anesthesiologists complete their training and begin practicing, they have mastered not only their clinical field, but also the ability to work well with others and behave appropriately. If you've spent any time as a member of an anes...

Summary Drug shortages remain a serious problem, and anesthesia providers are particularly vulnerable, with anesthesia drugs often among those in short supply. We offer a glimpse of current trends, advocacy initiatives by the American Society of Anesthesiologists and others, research on causes and potential solutions, and programs at individual ins...

Mark F. Weiss, JD The Mark F. Weiss Law Firm, Dallas, TX, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, CASome inner desire stronger than my willpower beckoned me to stare at them through the glass. I was nine years old. It was both titillating and embarrassing.There were 10 photographs in gritty black and white, arrayed in order behind glass on the post office w...

Summary Though the low-volume threshold for the 2018 Quality Payment Program has been raised, loosening the requirement for participation by anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists, anesthesia groups that continue to report quality data through a Qualified Clinical Data Registry can reap some important benefits. We present the anesthesia qual...

Kathryn Hickner, Esq. Ulmer & Berne LLP, Cleveland, OH No one loves drafting, reading or negotiating HIPAA Business Associate Agreements (BAAs). Yet many of us need to do so, and some of us do so daily.They are often boring, dense and technical, but BAAs are important from both a legal and a business perspective, and they deserve our attention....