Budget Reconciliation Law contains single anesthesia fee cuts.
While OBRA93 will result in payment reductions for CRNAs and anesthesiologists involved in the anesthesia care team, the law also contained AANA victories. First, the anesthesia care team reductions will be phased in over several years rather than occurring immediately in 1994. Second, RAP DRGs were defeated. Third, the use of actual anesthesia time for purposes of Medicare billing was retained. Fourth, parity in payments for new physicians/new CRNAs was restored. Fifth, teaching anesthesiologists will receive the same payment for supervising two anesthesiologist residents as they do for working with two nurse anesthesia students beginning in 1994. The AANA concerns that were not addressed on OBRA93, such as the TEFRA conditions and access to clinical privileges, are not dead. They will be lobbied for again in future legislative vehicles, such as President Clinton's healthcare reform plan.
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D000758:Anesthesia / Q000191:economics; D005249:Fees and Charges / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D009719:Nurse Anesthetists / Q000191:economics*; D014481:United States