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Payment Progress

ASA initiatives to secure your economic future

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Protecting the Value of Anesthesiology Care

Why This Matters

Anesthesiologists deserve payment models that reflect their expertise, responsibility, and impact on patient safety. ASA leads advocacy efforts to correct outdated policies, shape equitable payment frameworks, and safeguard the financial future of the specialty.

Discover the payment challenges that matter most — and how ASA is taking action.

 

Key Economic Issues Impacting You

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Medicare Payment Reform

Medicare payment rates for anesthesia services are 33% of commercial insurance payment rates, far lower than other specialties’ payment rates. Learn how ASA is working to resolve this disparity.

 Read more >
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Surprise Medical Billing

Surprise medical bills can cause financial harm to patients and providers. See how ASA is working to ensure anesthesiologists maintain the ability to negotiate fair payment rates and resolve disputes.

Member-exclusive Member exclusive content login required

Resources and FAQs >
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Value-based Care Arrangements: Alternative Payment Models (APMs)

Tools to help anesthesiologists prepare for and participate in Medicare’s Alternative Payment Models.

 See Tools >
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Private Payer Policies

Aggressive insurer practices are cutting anesthesia payments, undermining contracts, and threatening patient access to care nationwide.

 Understand the impact >

 

Explore these resources to see how anesthesiologists are addressing challenges and driving progress across the specialty.

  • Wondering How Your Payment Fluency Stacks Up?
    Test your understanding of anesthesia payments with a quick, interactive quiz and identify areas to sharpen your knowledge.
    Get started >

  • Anesthesiology Finance 101 Surprise Medical Billing
    Learn how surprise billing policies impact patients and physician anesthesiologists — and what protections are in place to prevent financial harm.
    View the PDF >

  • Anesthesiology Finance 101 Medicare Payment Reform
    Understand how Medicare payment policies impact anesthesiology and why fair payment is critical to sustaining patient access to care.
    Download the PDF >

  • Anesthesiology Finance 101 The Public Option
    Explore how public option proposals could affect access to care and payment rates for physician anesthesiologists.
    Read the PDF >

  • Toolkit & Member Valuation for Office-Based Anesthesia Practice Expenses
    Estimate office-based anesthesia practice costs, including equipment, supplies, and clinical labor.
    Member-exclusive Member exclusive content login required
    Download now >

  • Publications
    Explore articles focused on protecting anesthesia payments and supporting the long-term economic health of your practice.
    Member-exclusive Member exclusive content login required
    Read the articles >

  • Coding and Billing for Pain Medicine
    From post-op pain billing to the latest CPT codes and clinical standards, find trusted pain medicine insights in one place.
    View Resources >

Reviewing these trusted resources ensures you are equipped to navigate payment reforms.


 

TopMedTalk Podcast

TopMedTalk’s Desiree Chappell and Sol Aronson are joined by Jonathan Gal and Gordon Morewood for a deep dive into the evolving economics of anesthesiology. From payment models and payer dynamics to the impact of the No Surprises Act and declining physician reimbursement, the conversation unpacks the financial forces shaping practice sustainability and ASA advocacy efforts.

 

What is ASA Doing

Find out how ASA is fighting for fair payment and other impactful issues anesthesiologists face in DC >

What You Can Do Now

Take Action at ASA Grassroots Network >

Date of last update: January 28, 2026.

 

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