A Dallas anesthesiologist has been sentenced to 190 years in prison for injecting a nerve-blocking agent and other drugs into bags of IV fluid at Baylor Scott & White Surgicare North Dallas, WDRB reported Nov. 20.

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield has made two significant moves this year that anesthesia leaders say will further diminish reimbursements, compounding existing challenges.

Certified registered nurses anesthetists earn an average base salary of $211,000 in 2024, according to Medscape's 2024 "Ramping Up Take-Home Pay: Medscape APRN Compensation Report 2024," published Nov. 14. 

Here are six anesthesiologists who have made headlines in the last month:

Anesthesia providers have a significant impact on the patient experience, and their skills and business acumen must evolve to adapt to growing demand, new techniques and rising patient expectations.

CMS is making key changes to the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) that will affect everything from devices to diagnostic radiopharmaceutical cost and application.

CMS recently finalized a 2.83% physician pay cut in its 2025 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System. 

ASCs have been under pressure as the anesthesia shortage persists and anesthesia providers become spread increasingly thin, sometimes resulting in tensions between providers and ASC leaders.

On Nov. 1, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans representing Connecticut, New York and Missouri announced changes to their evaluation process for claims for anesthesia services. 

The American Society of Anesthesiologists has provided new recommendations to eradicate harassment, incivility and disrespect toward healthcare professionals in the workplace. 

ASC and anesthesia leaders are turning to creative solutions amid the growing anesthesia provider shortage. 

Here are 9 updates and moves on anesthesia groups, policies and providers since Oct. 10, as reported by Becker's: 

The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology is calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs to allow CRNAs to practice autonomously.

Brent Dunworth, DNP, CRNA, has been named the director of the new nurse anesthesia program at Nashville, Tenn.-based Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. 

Here are five recent controversies involving anesthesia providers:

A Honolulu, Hawaii-based pain management physician is facing a lawsuit for allegedly misdiagnosing a patient to prescribe him unnecessary amounts of oxycodone, Hawaii News Now reported Nov. 2.

The highest-paid anesthesiologist in Fort Worth, Texas, earns $716,600 per year, according to Medscape's salary reporter tool, which is much higher than the mean annual wage of $339,470 anesthesiologists make according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

A 2024 Medicus white paper forecasts a shortage of 6,300 anesthesiologists by 2036, and anesthesia provider organizations are speaking out on the impact on the physicians and practitioners they represent. 

Springfield (Mass.) Anesthesia Service will shutter Dec. 31, laying off 91 employees, according to a WARN notice filed with the state. 

Freestanding ASC claims accounted for almost half of all anesthesia-related malpractice cases, according to a recent study published in the International Anesthesia Research Society journal that analyzed anesthesia malpractice claims.