Opinion Calls for Equal Pay for CRNAs in Anesthesia Care
An opinion piece argues that certified registered nurse anesthetists should receive the same reimbursement as physician anesthesiologists for equivalent anesthesia services. It says some insurers pay CRNAs at 85% of the physician fee schedule, which the author contends threatens access, especially in rural and underserved areas. The article cites policies from Anthem, UnitedHealthcare, and Kaiser Permanente and calls for equal pay for equal work.
The opinion, published in MedPage Today’s Perspectives section, was written by Mary Scott-Herring, a doctorally prepared CRNA. It contends that insurers sometimes pay CRNAs 85% of what physician anesthesiologists receive for equivalent anesthesia care, citing Anthem, UnitedHealthcare, and Kaiser Permanente policies. Kaiser Permanente in Washington reportedly reversed its reduction after opposition.
The author notes CRNAs often serve as the only anesthesia professionals in rural and underserved areas and in military care. She calls for federal legislation requiring payment parity when CRNAs work within state scope of practice and deliver the same service, arguing this would support access and competition.
If lower payments continue, CRNAs and rural hospitals may face financial strain, potentially reducing availability of surgical, obstetric, trauma, and pain services. Patients in underserved communities could see longer waits or travel farther for anesthesia care. Payers might view such policies as cost control, while providers say parity could stabilize staffing. The debate may influence how insurers value nonphysician clinicians and how policymakers approach reimbursement rules.