Author: Rebecca Pifer Healthcare Dive The Part B premium hike could have been worse, the Trump administration said. Still, it’s likely to pressure the pocketbooks of millions of seniors, and could drive more into Medicare Advantage plans. Dive Brief: Medicare beneficiaries will see their premiums increase 10% next year as the massive federal insurance program […]
Read MoreAuthors: Omoto M et al. Anesthesia & Analgesia 141(5):998–1006, November 2025.DOI: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000007409 SummaryThis nationwide retrospective study analyzed all unplanned ICU admissions occurring directly from the operating room after elective surgery using Japan’s ICU database (JIPAD) from 2015–2022. Among nearly 142,000 elective surgical patients, 2666 (1.9%) required an unexpected postoperative ICU transfer. These patients were very […]
Read MoreAuthor: Sophie Eydis Becker’s ASC Review Anesthesia groups are facing mounting pressure to demonstrate measurable value as reimbursement declines, staffing shortages intensify and hospitals reevaluate contract structures. Once viewed primarily as clinical support services, anesthesia practices are reshaping their models to show direct contributions to quality, efficiency and cost containment. Here are five key ways […]
Read MoreAuthor: Sophie Eydis Becker’s ASC Review As anesthesia groups prepare for 2026, pressures from reimbursement cuts, workforce shortages and rising operational costs are intensifying. Here are five data points fueling concern about the year ahead: 1. Anesthesia compensation is declining in real terms: CMS’ 2025 anesthesia conversion factor decreased by 2.20%, continuing a multiyear erosion of reimbursement that […]
Read MoreBecker’s Hospital Review Sufentanil injections: Pfizer, the sole supplier of the opioid agonist, has Sufentanil 50 micrograms per 1 milliliter vials on back order and expects a release date in November. The therapy is indicated as an analgesic in the maintenance of balanced general anesthesia and with bupivacaine.
Read MoreHardin Medical Center (122 beds) is offering a rare CRNA-only practice where you can enjoy full autonomy and an exceptional lifestyle. • Schedule: 2 weeks on / 1 week off (17 weeks off each year)• Model: Independent CRNA practice – no anesthesiologist supervision• Case Mix: General surgery, orthopedics, endoscopy, OB/GYN (including epidurals & C-sections)• No […]
Read MoreAuthors: Vadgama J et al. Source: Cureus 17(11): e96504, DOI: 10.7759/cureus.96504 SummaryThis case report describes the use of an anterior quadratus lumborum block (AQLB) as a rescue regional anesthetic technique for severe, refractory acute lower back pain in the emergency department. A 49-year-old man presented with debilitating bilateral flank and lumbar pain radiating to the […]
Read MoreAuthors: Hsu T et al. Cureus 17(11): e96683, 2025. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.96683 This case describes a 64-year-old man with an extremely rare and diagnostically difficult presentation of CRPS Type I affecting both the left upper and lower extremities. His clinical picture was complicated by concurrent cervical and lumbar radiculopathy, a history of lung cancer treated with […]
Read MoreAuthors: Correia P et al. Cureus 17(11): e96826 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.96826 SummaryThis case report describes a term parturient with obesity and scoliosis who experienced a spinal needle fracture during attempted spinal anesthesia for a cesarean section. After failed labor epidural analgesia and inadequate block quality from the epidural catheter, spinal anesthesia was attempted using a 27G […]
Read MoreAuthors: Kalava A et al. Source: Cureus 17(11): e96975, November 16, 2025. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.96975. Summary:This case series reviews seven patients with intractable hiccups—symptoms lasting over 30 days—treated with ultrasound-guided phrenic nerve blocks (PhNB). The goal was to interrupt the diaphragmatic efferent pathway and “reset” the reflex arc responsible for persistent hiccups. All patients had already […]
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