Using Medicare multiples results in disproportionate reimbursement for anesthesiologists compared to other physicians.
Multispecialty groups and insurer fee schedules computed as a multiple of the Medicare reimbursement rate have resulted in a severely low reimbursement rate for anesthesia compared to other specialties. The authors suggest that anesthesiologists negotiate for a discount from the usual and customary fee equal to what the other specialties have been asked to bear.
Lubarsky
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DA
Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.david.lubarsky@duke.edu
Reves
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JG
D000776:Anesthesiology; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations; D006801:Humans; D006278:Medicare; D020444:Reimbursement, Disproportionate Share; D014481:United States