The anesthesia provider shortage is a continuing obstacle in care provision, as reimbursements decline and physicians leave the workforce.
Here are five key numbers on the anesthesia provider shortage to know:
1. Nearly 30% of anesthesiologists are predicted to leave the practice by 2033, according to a 2023 white paper from Medicus Healthcare Solutions, leading to a shortage of 12,500 anesthesiologists.
2. More than 17% of anesthesiologists are nearing retirement, and 56% are older than 55, according to Medicus.
3. More than 2,872 anesthesiologists left the workforce from 2021 to 2022, according to a report from Definitive Healthcare.
4. The shortage is exacerbated by reimbursement declines. Medicare's average anesthesia rate for 2023 was $21.88, a 5.5% decline from 2019, according to an analysis by Coronis Health.
5. Medicare reimbursements for anesthesia services decreased from $22.2730 per unit in 2019 to $21.1249 in 2023, another analysis from VMG Health found.