Author: Dr. Rob Clemens
Many anesthesia groups keep billing in-house because it feels familiar and controllable. On paper, paying staff salaries instead of a percentage can look cheaper. In reality, in-house billing often costs more — and exposes the group to risks that can threaten cash flow overnight.
Anesthesia billing is a specialized function. When it depends on one or two key people, the entire revenue cycle becomes fragile.
The hidden risk of in-house billing
Most anesthesia groups rely on a small internal team — sometimes just one billing manager or coder — who knows the system, the payers, and the anesthesia rules. That expertise is difficult to replace.
When that person resigns, takes extended leave, gets sick, or is unexpectedly unavailable, billing slows or stops. Claims don’t go out. Follow-ups stall. Denials age. Cash flow tightens quickly.
Recruiting a replacement with anesthesia expertise can take months. Training takes longer. Meanwhile, revenue that should have been collected on time is either delayed or lost permanently.
Groups also carry additional hidden costs:
• Recruiting and onboarding expenses
• Rising wages due to workforce shortages
• Overtime and burnout
• Single-point-of-failure risk
• Compliance exposure if institutional knowledge leaves
These risks rarely show up in a simple cost comparison — until something goes wrong.
What a fixed 6% actually provides
At 6%, Anesthesia Experts is not just handling claims. We provide continuity, redundancy, and predictability.
Billing does not depend on one person. It does not pause when someone quits, is out sick, or takes vacation. Revenue keeps moving because it is supported by a dedicated anesthesia billing infrastructure.
Think of it as revenue protection. Not just cost management.
Why this matters for anesthesia groups today
Margins are tighter. Contract pressure is increasing. Staffing shortages affect every part of anesthesia — including billing.
Anesthesia groups should not be exposed to financial disruption because a key billing employee leaves. That is not efficiency — it is vulnerability.
Outsourcing at a predictable percentage converts variable staffing risk into a stable, scalable model.
If your group currently handles billing internally, ask yourself:
If your lead biller or manager stopped working tomorrow, how long would collections continue without disruption?
If that answer raises concern, Anesthesia Experts can help you compare your current model to a fixed 6% solution — so you can decide whether protecting cash flow is worth the tradeoff.
Sometimes the smartest move is not saving a little on paper — it is ensuring that revenue never stops.