Trends in CRNA Compensations in Future

Specialties CRNA

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Specializes in ICU.

With the changes in the financial aspects of healthcare that Obama is instigating, what will the trends be in CRNA salaries? Will hospitals and anesthesia groups seek to employ more CRNA's vs MD's as the cost is less?

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I sure hope so, in theory it makes sense...but the AMA and ASA are a strong group- so I don't think its clear whats going to happen at this point- stay tuned

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It is my understanding that CRNA's currently have a starting salary that was recently reported as being greater than starting salary for a General Practitioner (MD). With that being said, I don't believe a GP qualifies to administer anesthesia any more than a CRNA qualifies to practice as a GP.

Perhaps you're referring to a Nurse Practitioner (NP) instead?

In my readings of the changes, all is geared at insurance and coverage related issues related to patients themselves. Nothing is mentioned related to Health Care Provider Salaries... Perhaps this is something that will be addressed later.

I do seem to remember a big fake stink being made by Right-Wingers over something like excessive litigation of Physicians. But I could be wrong.

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It is my understanding that CRNA's currently have a starting salary that was recently reported as being greater than starting salary for a General Practitioner (MD). With that being said, I don't believe a GP qualifies to administer anesthesia any more than a CRNA qualifies to practice as a GP.

Perhaps you're referring to a Nurse Practitioner (NP) instead?

In my readings of the changes, all is geared at insurance and coverage related issues related to patients themselves. Nothing is mentioned related to Health Care Provider Salaries... Perhaps this is something that will be addressed later.

I do seem to remember a big fake stink being made by Right-Wingers over something like excessive litigation of Physicians. But I could be wrong.

Pretty sure they're referring to CRNA vs anesthesiologists, if it helps.

I've also been curious about whether or not various nursing salaries will change. I don't know if anyone really knows for sure how things will be affected just yet though.

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Specializes in Emergency, Med/Surg, Vascular Access.

Bluewaterz--I think he was referring to CRNAs vs. Anesthesiologists--not GPs.

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I haven't been able to find anything in the final version of the bill (because I can't find the final version of the bill yet), but here is an article from last year:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204683204574358281875211014.html

"Incredibly, Congress's proposed health-care reform plan risks skimping on anesthesia. According to one of the health-care bills in Congress, H.R. 3200, the public option would reduce reimbursement for anesthesia by over 50%." - Ronald Dworkin, Anesthesiologist

If someone can find this in the bill, please let me know. If it's there, it is phrased in a way that avoids common word searches.

Regards,

Ken

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"I do seem to remember a big fake stink being made by Right-Wingers..."

Sounds like a liberal who's still in school. Right?

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

CMS (medicare and medicaid) has cut CRNA reimbursements by about 40%. Either the hospital will eat the cost or the nurses will get paid less, unless someone changes the law.

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CMS (medicare and medicaid) has cut CRNA reimbursements by about 40%. Either the hospital will eat the cost or the nurses will get paid less, unless someone changes the law.

makes sense, no reason for a nurse with a master degree (what most crna's are) to start at $125,000 (that's the avg starting salary).

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So you actually WANT your current/future income to be reduced because there just isn't a reason to have to make that much money?! :eek:

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
makes sense, no reason for a nurse with a master degree (what most crna's are) to start at $125,000 (that's the avg starting salary).

1) Yes, most CRNAs graduate with Master's degree. What you seem to fail to realize is that CRNAs in general do about the double the course of other Master degree programs. That includes NPs and CNS or about triple for a Master's in Liberal Arts.

2) Market dictates salaries. Every professional organization is predicting with increased insurance coverage there is going to be increased demand for anesthesia/medical services.

3) Most nurses can't/don't want to (of all the people that say they want to be CRNAs very few of them have the motivation to stick it out for the 10yrs on average it takes to become a CRNA) do what CRNAs do, so for the foreseeable future there are always going to be more of need for CRNAs than there are CRNAs.

4) Next time your anesthesia provider does yours or your family members anesthesia and keeps them alive while the surgeon does things that would otherwise kill them why don't you tell them, I think you make too much.

5) Instead knocking the potential salary that CRNAs can make why don't you just be happy there is niche that RNs can train into that pays extremely well.

6) CRNA salaries are barely a drop in the bucket. You could cut every CRNA salary in half in the entire country and it still wouldn't change anything except the hospitals bottom line.

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Specializes in CRNA.
With the changes in the financial aspects of healthcare that Obama is instigating, what will the trends be in CRNA salaries? Will hospitals and anesthesia groups seek to employ more CRNA's vs MD's as the cost is less?

There are many forces at work in health professional reimbursement, some of which having nothing to do with health care reform. I just read a very interesting article about the number of physicians that have left private practice to become employeed by a health care system over the past 2 years. It is shocking how fast that has changed and it has changed prior to health care reform. Now large numbers of physicians are choosing to be emplyed rather than go into private practice, something close to 50% of cardiologists now work for a health system. There are other reports of large anesthesia groups loosing contracts with a hospital and another 'out of town' group being brought in to cover the anesthesia services. Often CRNAs are utilized to a greater extent by the new group. There are some regions of the US that don't utilize CRNAs to any significant degree, if CRNAs begin to be utilized in these areas the demand for CRNAs can change quickly.

I think financial pressures that are already playing a role, and the increase in patient demand that will be created by health care reform will increase demand for CRNAs. More CRNAs are graduating so there will be people able to meet the demand so the profession will grow. I don't think salaries will grow much, but will stay steady. It will be interesting to see how it all unfolds.

CRNAs need to be informed and realize they need to do more than go to the OR every day. Stay or become involved in your local, state, and national organizations. It takes extra time but is absolutely essential.

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