The changing anesthesia economic landscape: emergence of large multispecialty practices and Accountable Care Organizations

In this review, we evaluate the current US employment models for healthcare in general and anesthesiologists in particular and the emergence of large, multispecialty physician groups and the forces behind this change to the current anesthesia practice model. We will also examine the present payment method for anesthesiologists and determine how Accountable Care Organizations will affect the future payment models.

Very few anesthesiologists are aware of the changing economic landscape in the specialty, and this review will provide an up-to-date examination of the changes that anesthesiologists may face in the ensuing years. Accountable Care Organizations will have a drastic impact on the ways in which anesthesiologists are reimbursed and will require anesthesiologists to become more involved in perioperative patient care and outcomes.

This is the most critical time in the specialty of anesthesiology from an economic viewpoint, and significant threats and opportunities will arise for anesthesiologists in how they are reimbursed, and how they demonstrate the delivery of quality care to patients.