Anesthesia Economics

This episode of the Anesthesia Economics Podcast was recorded live at the Anesthesia Economics Summit in Charleston.

Michael Besedick, Managing Director of Information Products at Medaxion shows how a dynamic, data-driven approach is transforming OR staffing by blending schedules, contracts, and historical performance into adaptive coverage plans that learn and improve daily.

Hear a real-world example showing how smarter shift design, staggered starts, and flexible relief roles can reduce error rates, cut premium pay, and unlock 8–10% productivity gains while aligning staff coverage with actual demand.

Explore the full episode page: https://www.medaxion.com/michael-besedick-precision-staffing-for-anesthesia-case-study

Read the complete case study that's available for a free download: https://www.medaxion.com/precision-staffing-in-anesthesia-moving-beyond-schedules-to-data-driven-coverage

Jeff McLaren introduces the speakers and panelists whose discussions were recorded live at the 2026 Anesthesia Economics Summit.

Watch on YouTube. Learn more about Medaxion's solutions.

This episode of the Anesthesia Economics Podcast was recorded live at the Anesthesia Economics Summit in Charleston.

This episode explores how innovative leadership is tackling the anesthesia workforce crisis through culture, flexibility, and new care models. 

Hear from Jeff Peters, Chief Growth Officer and Senior Vice President at Sullivan Consulting, on how Alaska Native Medical Center transformed from severe staffing shortages to a fully staffed team by prioritizing lifestyle, autonomy, and creative scheduling. The conversation also dives into payer mix, block utilization, and zone-based staffing models that reduce subsidies while boosting CRNA satisfaction and efficiency.

Explore the full episode page: https://www.medaxion.com/jeff-peters-characteristics-of-anesthesia-leaders

Jeff McLaren introduces the speakers and panelists whose discussions were recorded live at the 2026 Anesthesia Economics Summit.

Watch on YouTube. Learn more about Medaxion's solutions.

What does it take to recruit, retain, and grow a successful anesthesia practice in today’s market? Host Jeff McLaren talks with Chris Thu, M.D. about leadership, culture, provider shortages, hospital relationships, and the evolving economics of anesthesia care. The conversation explores why transparency, alignment, and operational flexibility matter more than ever for anesthesia organizations nationwide. 

Explore the full episode page: https://www.medaxion.com/dr.-chris-thu-building-a-high-performance-anesthesia-group

Watch on YouTube. Learn more about Medaxion's solutions.

Gary Keeling, Vice President of Anesthesia Services at Coronis Health, a veteran CPA, shares how perioperative medicine clinics can transform anesthesia finances by structuring them as separate entities with their own tax IDs, CPT/EM billing, and financial statements. Using real hospital examples, he shows how modest per-case EM revenue, reduced cancellations, and better OR utilization can generate hundreds of thousands in new revenue and significantly reduce anesthesia subsidies while using largely existing staff and resources.

Explore the full episode here: https://www.medaxion.com/gary-keeling-billing-for-a-perioperative-medicine-clinic

Jeff McLaren introduces the speakers and panelists whose discussions were recorded live at the 2026 Anesthesia Economics Summit.

Watch on YouTube. Learn more about Medaxion's solutions.

This episode of the Anesthesia Economics Podcast was recorded live at the Anesthesia Economics Summit in Charleston.

Jim Bobeck, a healthcare dispute resolution expert, breaks down the No Surprises Act and why it's no longer just a new law — it's a permanent fixture in American healthcare. He explains how providers can use arbitration as a powerful tool for reimbursement disputes, contracting strategy, and negotiations with health plans. With cases growing from 200,000 in 2022 to an estimated 2.7 million in 2026, the stakes are only getting higher. If your organization isn't paying attention to this yet, now is the time to start.

Explore the full episode here: https://www.medaxion.com/jim-bobeck-how-the-no-surprises-act-is-the-swiss-army-knife-of-healthcare-reimbursement

Jeff McLaren introduces the speakers and panelists whose discussions were recorded live at the 2026 Anesthesia Economics Summit.

Watch on YouTube. Learn more about Medaxion's solutions.

This episode of the Anesthesia Economics Podcast was recorded live at the Anesthesia Economics Summit in Charleston.

In this episode, Bellinger Moody explains the TEAM model. The Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) is a new mandatory CMS alternative payment model that holds hospitals financially accountable for surgical episodes from the operation through 30 days post-discharge, shifting care from fee-for-service to value-based care and tying bonuses or penalties to cost and quality performance over a five-year period starting in 2026.

The episode-based bundled payments, composite quality scores, and escalating upside/downside risk make perioperative medicine clinics critical for pre-op optimization, standardizing pathways, reducing cancellations, preventing post-acute cost overruns, and serving as a data backbone so hospitals can control episodes instead of absorbing CMS paybacks.

Explore the full episode here: https://www.medaxion.com/bellinger-moody-cms-team-alternative-payment-transforming-episode-accountability-model

Jeff McLaren introduces the speakers and panelists whose discussions were recorded live at the 2026 Anesthesia Economics Summit.

Watch on YouTube. Learn more about Medaxion's solutions.

This episode of the Anesthesia Economics Podcast was recorded live at the Anesthesia Economics Summit in Charleston.

In this episode, Dr. Chris Steel explores how perioperative medicine and pre-op clinic models can reduce cancellations, improve optimization, and support patient-centered care while remaining financially sustainable. 

Dr. Steel walks through four models from day-of-surgery assessments to fully integrated perioperative health clinics, highlighting the role of AI, nurses, APNs, and physicians in screening and optimization. 

He also explains how proper setup and billing for EM, advanced care planning, and related services can transform pre-op clinics from “money pits” into self-sustaining programs.

Explore the full episode page here: https://www.medaxion.com/dr-chris-steel-reframing-the-perioperative-visit

Jeff McLaren introduces the speakers and panelists whose discussions were recorded live at the 2026 Anesthesia Economics Summit.

Watch on YouTube. Learn more about Medaxion's solutions.

This episode of the Anesthesia Economics Podcast was recorded live at the Anesthesia Economics Summit in Charleston.

David Donnelly breaks down what health systems need to consider when moving anesthesia services in-house. Drawing on experience across 50+ transitions, he shares practical lessons on financial modeling, workforce retention, revenue cycle challenges, and operational readiness. The conversation also highlights common pitfalls, including hidden payer rate issues, staffing gaps, and unexpected cost increases. With real-world examples and audience insights, this episode offers a grounded look at what it actually takes to make insourcing work and where organizations often get it wrong.

Explore the full episode here: https://www.medaxion.com/david-donnelly-trinity-healthcare-providers-anesthesia-structure-staffing-considerations

Jeff McLaren introduces the speakers and panelists whose discussions were recorded live at the 2026 Anesthesia Economics Summit.

Watch on YouTube. Learn more about Medaxion's solutions.

In this episode, special guest host Mike Wirth (Chief Growth Officer at Medaxion) sits down with Joe Rodrigo, DO, FAOCA of ProMedical to break down one of the biggest questions facing healthcare leaders today: should hospitals employ anesthesiologists or outsource? Dr. Rodrigo shares why the answer isn’t as simple as it seems, explaining the hidden costs, operational challenges, and long-term risks of employment models. They also discuss private equity’s role in rising costs and why many systems regret rushing into major staffing decisions. This conversation offers a practical look at how healthcare leaders can avoid costly missteps and make more informed decisions.

Explore the full episode page: https://www.medaxion.com/dr-joseph-rodrigo-promedical-anesthesia-staffing

Jeff McLaren introduces the speakers and panelists whose discussions were recorded live at the 2026 Anesthesia Economics Summit.

Watch on YouTube. Learn more about Medaxion's solutions.

This episode of the Anesthesia Economics Podcast was recorded live at the Anesthesia Economics Summit in Charleston.

In this conversation, Jeff talks with Aaron Stewart, CFO of Symmetry Anesthesia, who  breaks down how anesthesia coverage models are evolving and why there’s no one-size-fits-all approach for hospitals. 

Aaron explains how financial modeling helps facilities understand cost drivers, structure care teams, and make more informed decisions. The discussion highlights the shift toward physician-CRNA models, the realities of provider shortages, and why controlling costs matters more than simply reducing them. Stewart also shares how scale, staffing flexibility, and market dynamics shape where and how anesthesia groups can succeed.

Explore our full episode page to watch a video or read a transcript of the full interview: https://www.medaxion.com/aaron-stewart-symmetry-anesthesia-cfo-on-changing-the-math-on-the-anesthesia-stipend

Jeff McLaren introduces the speakers and panelists whose discussions were recorded live at the 2026 Anesthesia Economics Summit.

Watch on YouTube. Learn more about Medaxion's solutions.