From segregation to inspiration, James Griffin, M.D., is making history at Parkland and UT Southwestern

To call the connection James D. Griffin, M.D., has with UT Southwestern and Parkland Memorial Hospital lifelong is no exaggeration. Dr. Griffin was born at Parkland in 1958, when the labor and delivery ward was still segregated. More than six decades later, his colleagues at that hospital elected him President of the medical staff – the first Black physician to earn the honor.

American Society of Anesthesiologists Selects James P. Rathmell, M.D., MBA, as Editor in Chief of Anesthesiology Following Global Search

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is pleased to announce that James P. Rathmell, M.D., MBA, has been selected as editor in chief of Anesthesiology, ASA’s peer-reviewed medical journal. Dr. Rathmell has served as executive editor for Anesthesiology from 2012 to 2021, as creative and multimedia editor since 2021 and interim coeditor in chief with Deborah Culley, M.D., for the past seven months. Dr. Rathmell will start in his new position on January 1, 2024.

Opioid use disorder treatment associated with decreased risk of overdose after surgery, suggests first-of-its-kind study of over 4 million surgeries

Although people with opioid use disorder (OUD) are significantly more likely to overdose or have a complication after major surgery than those without the disorder, using medications for the treatment of OUD before surgery may eliminate that extra risk, suggests a large, first-of-its-kind study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2023 annual meeting.

More patients go home instead of to long-term-care facility when sedation for common procedures is administered or directed by anesthesiologist

Patients who had common procedures performed outside of the operating room (OR) were more likely to go home instead of to a long-term care facility when they were discharged from the hospital if their sedation was administered or directed by an anesthesiologist, rather than by a physician who is not a trained anesthesiologist, according to a first-of-its-kind study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2023 annual meeting.

American Society of Anesthesiologists and Pacira BioSciences, Inc. Announce New Grant to Advance Education and Enhance Patient Care

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and Pacira BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: PCRX), today announced a new grant of $2.5 million, by Pacira to the ASA Charitable Foundation, to advance the medical specialty of anesthesiology and pain medicine; facilitate best-in-class clinician education; and improve patient care.

Anesthesiology researcher pipeline lags behind other specialties

Anesthesiology researchers are responsible for some of medicine’s most significant advances, from the Apgar score that tests a newborn’s health to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). But the number of medical residents in the anesthesiology physician-scientist (researcher) pipeline trails other specialties, particularly among women, according to findings of the Anesthesia Research Council (ARC), published in the journal Anesthesia & Analgesia.

Anesthesiologist, Emergency Physician and Radiologist Groups Laud Court Decision, Urge HHS Action to Unfreeze Arbitration Process

In its fourth ruling regarding the flawed implementation of the No Surprises Act, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas agreed with the plaintiffs, the Texas Medical Association, that the government was incorrectly permitting insurers to use a faulty methodology when calculating their median in-network rate, also known as the qualifying payment amount (QPA). This TMA III ruling does not impact the patient protections included in the No Surprises Act that the American College of Radiology® (ACR®), (ACR), American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) advocated for and continue to fully support, nor does it raise patient out-of-pocket costs.

Medical associations commend Texas federal court Surprise Billing ruling—a win for patients and physicians

The American College of Radiology® (ACR®), American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) applaud the Aug. 3 U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas’ ruling that the government’s exorbitant 600% fee increase to access the independent dispute resolution (IDR) process and its overly-restrictive “batching” limitations violate federal law. The ruling does not impact the patient protections included in the No Surprises Act, which ACR, ACEP and ASA advocated for and continue to support, nor does it raise patient out-of-pocket costs.

Anesthesiologists Denounce Another Year of Medicare Payment Cuts, Urge Immediate Reforms

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) condemned yet another year of cuts to Medicare payments for critically important anesthesia and pain medicine services. The proposed cuts, announced in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) 2024 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), represent the fifth consecutive year of either a pay freeze or payment cut for the services anesthesiologists provide to their patients as shown in the table below. The CMS-proposed Medicare payment cuts will compound the financial strain anesthesia practices are already facing.

Expert alert: Anesthesiologist-led consortium seeks to improve pain care in overlooked patients with chronic pain, substance use disorder and opioid tolerance

Guidelines for managing surgical pain omit patients with a history of chronic pain, substance use disorder and/or opioid tolerance. To address this disparity, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) gathered 15 medical organizations representing more than 500,000 physicians to develop…

Appellate Court Affirms Dismissal of Pacira’s Lawsuit Against ASA and Authors

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is extremely pleased that the decision in the lawsuit filed against ASA, the editor-in-chief of Anesthesiology – the official peer-reviewed scientific journal of ASA – and 11 contributing authors by Pacira Biosciences Inc., which was originally dismissed by the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey in 2022, has been affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research Establishes Endowed NAM Fellowship

The Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER) announced it has established an endowed National Academy of Medicine (NAM) fellowship to provide early-career anesthesiology scholars with the opportunity to experience and participate in committee, workshop, and roundtable activities of NAM and the National Academy of Sciences (NAS).

Incorrectly recorded anesthesia start times cost medical centers and anesthesia practices significant revenue

Inaccurately recording the start of anesthesia care during a procedure is common and results in significant lost billing time for anesthesia practices and medical centers, suggests a study being presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ ADVANCE 2023, the Anesthesiology Business Event.

Additional anesthesiology residency positions may help hospitals save costs, address projected workforce shortages of anesthesia care professionals

Expanding anesthesiology residency programs — even in the absence of federal funding — may help medical institutions save staffing costs and address projected shortages of anesthesia care professionals, suggests a first-of-its-kind study being presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ ADVANCE 2023, the Anesthesiology Business Event.

Reducing anesthetics during surgery decreases greenhouse gases without affecting patient care, study shows

Anesthesiologists can play a role in reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming by decreasing the amount of anesthetic gas provided during procedures without compromising patient care, suggests new research being presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ ADVANCE 2023, the Anesthesiology Business Event.

Anesthesiologists Oppose 700% Increase in Fee to Access No Surprises Act Independent Dispute Resolution Process and Call for IDR Reforms

Today, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) expressed its outrage with the 700% surge in the No Surprises Act (NSA) administrative fee that must be paid by anesthesiologists to access the Federal Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) system. ASA urges the government to block implementation of the massive fee increase and reform the IDR process.

Medicare Cuts to Physician Payments; Gravely Disappointing, says the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)

Today, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) expressed its grave disappointment with Congressional leaders’ decision to cut Medicare payments for physicians as part of a large final end-of-year legislative package. The cuts will be effective January 1, 2023. Additional cuts will be implemented in January of 2024.

Donald E. Arnold, M.D., FASA, elected First Vice President of the American Society of Anesthesiologists

Donald E. Arnold, M.D., FASA, was today elected as first vice president of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), the nation’s largest organization of physician anesthesiologists. Dr. Arnold was elected by the House of Delegates at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2022 annual meeting and will serve for one year.

American Society of Anesthesiologists honors James D. Grant, M.D., MBA, FASA, with its Distinguished Service Award

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) today presented James D. Grant, M.D., MBA, FASA, with its 2021 Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his highly distinguished career as a physician anesthesiologist, enduring contributions to ASA members and deep commitment to advocating for the specialty and protecting patient safety.

American Society of Anesthesiologists recognizes Vivianne Tawfik, M.D., Ph.D., with its 2022 James E. Cottrell Presidential Scholar Award

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) today presented Vivianne Tawfik, M.D., Ph.D., with its 2022 James E. Cottrell Presidential Scholar Award in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to the fundamental understanding of pain mechanisms to treat patients with chronic and post-surgical pain.

Organizations Stand with American Society of Anesthesiologists in Support of Scientific Discovery as Pacira Legal Battle Continues

The American Medical Association (AMA), Association of American Publishers (AAP), Counsel of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS), American Society for Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (ASCPT), and Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), filed amicus briefs in support of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) after Pacira Biosciences Inc., appealed its dismissed lawsuit filed against ASA, the editor-in-chief of Anesthesiology, ASA’s official peer-reviewed medical journal – and 11 contributing authors.

American Society of Anesthesiologists Hosts ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2022

Adults who use cannabis consume more opioids after surgery. Reducing noise in the operating room (OR) improves postoperative behavior in children, including decreased temper tantrums and fussiness about eating. Minorities are less likely to have patient-centered end-of-life care. These are among the important research findings being presented at ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2022, the annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), Oct. 21-25 in New Orleans.

Current Insurer Calculation of Qualified Payment Amount for Out-of-Network (OON) Care May Violate No Surprises Act

In possible violation of the No Surprises Act, health insurance company calculations of Qualified Payment Amounts (QPA) for anesthesiology, emergency medicine and radiology services (and possibly other specialty services) likely include rates from primary care provider (PCP) contracts. A new study conducted by Avalere Health and commissioned by three national physician organizations examined a subpopulation of PCPs and determined that contracting practices may directly impact the QPA.

Increased Precision and Safety in Spinal Tap with PASS – An Ultrasound-Guided Lumbar Puncture Procedure

PASS (Point-Assisted Spinal Sonography), an ultrasound-guided lumbar puncture device from Chula doctors and engineers, helps increase the precision and confidence in spinal tap procedures while reducing risks and pain for patients.

New Medicare Fee Schedule Rule Further Illustrates a Broken Payment System

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) announced its opposition to additional Medicare payment cuts included in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) 2023 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). Within the fee schedule, CMS proposed Medicare payment cuts to the Anesthesia Conversion Factor and in revised injection codes where imaging is now bundled – reductions that compound the financial strain anesthesia groups are already facing.

New Drugs with High Abuse Potential More Likely to Be Approved, Go to Market to Treat Pain

CHICAGO – “Despite the prevalence and societal costs of pain in the United States, investment in pain medication development is low, due in part to poor understanding of the probability of successful development of such medications,” said the authors of a study published Online First in Anesthesiology, the official peer-reviewed journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).

Women Anesthesiologists Less Likely to Be at High End of Salary Range; Gender Pay Gap Continues, Reflects Reduced Pay of $32,600 Yearly

A study published today in Anesthesia & Analgesia® shows that a significant pay gap is associated with gender in the compensation of physician anesthesiologists even after adjusting for potential factors, including age, hours worked, geographic practice region, practice type, position and job selection criteria. Women anesthesiologists are 56% less likely to be paid at the higher end of salary ranges compared to men anesthesiologists. The study was funded by the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

American Society of Anesthesiologists Welcomes Masimo as Industry Supporter

The American Society of Anesthesiologists today announced Masimo, a maker of innovative, noninvasive patient monitoring technologies, as an ASA Industry Supporter for the ninth year, supporting the work of the Society and physician anesthesiologists to improve patient safety and reduce reliance on opioids during or following surgical procedures.