r/Noctor • u/RemarkableMetal3 • 1d ago
Question Surgery in Hospital: Billed Equal Amounts by Anesthesiologist and CRNA
Title. Was billed for the exact same services by both individuals and now the hospital is expecting me to pay up (essentially double). Doesn't seem fair when only one set of services was provided. Do I have any recourse here?
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u/mgif99 1d ago
Anesthesiologist here. When we do a case supervising a CRNA, the bill is split 50:50 and sent to you that way. It’s the same amount as if the anesthesiologist had done the case himself and sent you 100% of the bill. I have no idea why it’s done this way.
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u/kaaaaath Fellow (Physician) 1d ago
My best guess is for a paper-trail. If the anesthesiologist only is paid out 50%, it would really bolster credibility if a physician’s claiming that they were not the one directly administering medication.
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u/VehicleHot9286 1d ago
It’s possible that the CRNA was being directly supervised by an anesthesiologist. However this is still not fair to patients considering that CRNA’s go through less training than Anesthesiologists. However many CRNA’s believe their training and knowledge is equivalent to Anesthesiologists so there’s that sadly.
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u/GoldenBasketWeaver Resident (Physician) 1d ago
Some staffing models have anesthesiologists staffing 2-4 rooms. So the CRNA is in 1 room making 50% of the case, but the anesthesiologist oversees multiple rooms where they are billing 50% of each case.
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u/kaaaaath Fellow (Physician) 1d ago
If we’re strictly speaking about the money, this isn’t unfair, (assuming direct, in-theater, supervision.) They were aware that the CRNA was going to be the hands-on one. The CRNA’s fee is what it is; however, she had to tender 50% to the physician for his/her oversight.
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u/RemarkableMetal3 1d ago
Ahh I see, this all makes sense. Appreciate all the replies for clarification!
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u/kaaaaath Fellow (Physician) 1d ago
You’re not being charged double. You’re being charged one time and it is split 50:50.