Legal & Ethical Issues Episodes

Six days before a federal rule was set to take effect, the courts stepped in. The Department of Education tried to redefine who counts as a professional, a move that would have capped student loans for nurse anesthetists and the advanced-practice clinicians training behind them. The courts said the challenge is likely to succeed and hit pause. This week I sat down with Tracy Young, twenty-six years in the field, and Randy Moore, who runs anesthesia at enterprise scale, to work through what the ruling actually means and what it does not. It is a win in a battle, not the war. We get into the argument a federal regulator made that landed harder than we wanted to admit, why a rule written to require supervision is now being used against us, and where the line sits between what government should decide and what the people doing the work should. Plus the student-loan fight both parties get half-right, and why credentials stopped predicting who can lead. Good information first. Then…

Joe Rodriguez (co-founder, Guide Anesthesia) sits down with Randy Moore (EVP and National Chief CRNA, NorthStar Anesthesia) and Gary Keeling (VP of Anesthesia Services, Coronis RCM). Three seats, three vantage points on the same business. Let the spicy takes flow. First docket: the Arizona reimbursement fight. Gary calls the QZ cut a pure money grab. Randy steelmans the insurer's lobbyist before dismantling him, and explains why the hospitals least prepared to absorb the hit will be the ones paying it. Joe walks through why reimbursement parity doesn't raise costs when subsidies fill the gap, and tells the story of the insurer that paid patients directly for eight years. Second docket: the Texas non-compete case. Gary argues exits should hurt but not kill. Randy says hospitals deserve the right to fire bad vendors, but a $30 million buyout is anti-competitive. Joe draws the line between covenants that trap clinicians and the non-solicit rule that just says don't be shady. Plu…

The FTC just notched its second win against the biggest roll-up in anesthesia history. Welsh Carson settled first. Now USAP. So who actually won, and who pays next? Joe Rodriguez sits down with Randy Moore and Gary Keeling for the kind of conversation that usually happens at the bar after the conference, not on the record. No "where did you go to school" warm-ups. Just three operators reading the headlines everyone else is misreading. Gary drops the frame that defines the episode: this is two Goliaths at war. Private equity built 70 percent market share with borrowed money. Insurers answered with the No Surprises Act and rate cuts. Now IDR is swinging back, hospitals are eating the shortfall through subsidies, and the FTC just stepped into the ring. Anesthesia providers are standing in the middle of all of it. Then the gloves come off on the anesthesiologist assistant fight. Sixty bills in thirty years. Gary says there's enough work for everybody and braces for the hate mail.…

What REALLY happens when you’re named in a malpractice lawsuit? In this eye-opening episode, Joe Rodriguez sits down with Paul Lefebvre, lead claims professional and risk advisor, and Andrew Clark, head of business development at Physicians Preferred Medical — an anesthesia-specific malpractice carrier — to pull back the curtain on malpractice litigation. From the first call after an adverse event to depositions, defense strategies, and courtroom realities, this conversation is packed with mu...

SEASON 7 BEGINS! Keywords for this Episode anesthesia, non-compete agreements, legal challenges, FTC, healthcare law, CRNA, anesthesia practice, employment contracts, state laws, anesthesia updates Summary In this episode of Anesthesia Deconstructed, host Joe Rodriguez first discusses the latest updates in the field of anesthesia, including legal challenges faced by CRNAs and anesthesiologists, the AANA's bold lawsuit against the federal government, and updates on his personal practice at G...

Summary The conversation discusses the topic of out-of-hospital cesarean sections and the potential risks and implications. Dr. Matt Mazurek, a physician anesthesiologist and assistant professor of anesthesiology at Yale School of Medicine, provides insights and raises concerns about the definition of low-risk cesarean deliveries, the dangers of complications during and after the procedure, and the lack of resources and training in outpatient settings. The conversation also touches on the f...

Episode Summary: In this episode, Joe Rodriguez welcomes back Simon Willman, Esq., former in-house counsel for one of the largest orthopedic groups in the country. They discuss the Federal Trade Commission's recent vote to ban non-compete agreements and its implications for healthcare professionals and practice owners. Key Topics Covered: Pre-Session: State-Level Updates from Louisiana, Maryland, and Pennsylvania Introduction: Welcome and introduction of Simon Willman, Esq. Background on Sim...

In this episode: The CRNA Intro Market: We're going to explore this issue more deeply - we want to hear from you! How You Can Contribute: We want to hear from you! Share your experiences, questions, or advice about starting out as a CRNA. Your insights could be featured in upcoming episodes! Send Your Contributions: Reach out via email at Joe@GuideAnesthesia.com and write us or send us a voice memo (2 mins or shorter please). Join the conversation and help shape the future of our show! Subsc...

In an attempt to control the freedom of what other professions call themselves and limit titles in Wisconsin, the medical society introduced SB 143. On May 24, Wisconsin Association of Nurse Anesthetists President Jenna Palzkill—as well as Dr. Joe Rodriguez, who was representing the AANA—helped inform and educate the Wisconsin Senate Committee on Health on why proposed SB 143 does NOT help Wisconsinites. If passed, this bill would preclude the use of the title Nurse Anesthesiologist in the sta...

Meet Julie Nycum, CPCU, RPLU, ARM, the current director of AANA Insurance Services, providing medical malpractice to CRNAs across the country through Medical Protective (med pro). Julie worked for Medical Protective (med pro), a Berkshire Hathaway Company writing 2 billion in policies a year for 24 years as Vice President of Underwriting. In 2006 she met with AANA insurance services on behalf of med pro to develop the medical malpractice services AANA uses today. On this podcast we talk about: ...

Simon Willman, JD, former in-house counsel for CORE Orthopedics and Current owner of McDowell Mountain Law, speaks about non-competes and their impact on Anesthesiology Professionals, which touches every practicing provider, 1099 or W2. The bad information out there on this topic is rampant – Simon lends his expertise as a healthcare business and contract lawyer to give us a brief introduction. Send us your questions so we can discuss them with Simon again in the future! Send us Fan Mail Follow...

Meet Mr. Silberman JD from the BENESCH law firm! We talk about the New Hampshire ruling and Nurse Anesthesiologist, Qui Tam lawsuits and anti-trust, The risk of medicare fraud with medical direction and TEFRA, if Extubation is part of emergence as it related to TEFRA based on the Donegan v. Anesthesia Associates of Kansas City, PC, Liability of surgeons with CRNAs in the ACT or independently and MUCH more! A little about Mark: Mark is an experienced trial lawyer, health care attorney and litig...

Everyone wonders what a lobbyist is, what they do, and do you NEED one? There is always a lot of demonizing lobbyists and their role in the media but what is the truth? On this episode, we interview Kelsey Lundy, Managing Partner at Compass Strategies in Arizona, and talk about lobbyists, grassroots involvement, Political Action Committees, how politics work, and how a good lobbyist can be critical to your legislative goals. We also discuss how to find and interview a firm as well as how to asse...

Meet Daniel Gilman Phd JD an Attorney Advisor in the FTC’s Office of Policy Planning, where he works on competition issues in health care and technology, and on the impact of regulation. He has received the He co-authored the FTC staff policy paper, Competition and the Regulation of Advanced Practice Nurses, helped draft the FTC Staff Report, Broadband Connectivity Competition Policy, and has published in journals such as the Georgetown Law Journal, Health Matrix, Oregon Law Review, American Jou...

Have you ever had a complaint filed to the board of medicine or board of nursing against your license? It is a process that providers are unprepared to navigate and unaware of the risks and pitfalls which could permanently impact their license and ability to work. What may appear as a frivolous complaint you feel you do not need legal help with could easily become a year(s) long process which consumes you. Do not underestimate being targeted by a weaponized complaint! Meet lawyer Teresa M. San...

Dr Matthew Mazurek talks about his article on CRNA history, his views on why friction between the CRNA and MD professions originated, a possible solution, why CRNAs should be working to the top of their license, why surgeon supervision is antiquated and how titles do not matter! An amazing discussion with a true advocate for the best patient care and our shared profession of Anesthesiology! Article Found Here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/crnas-short-history-nurse-anesthesia-future-care-matth...

The entire medical industry has seen significant controversy when it comes to recertification and certification and the CRNA world has been no different. This episode I talk to Dr Terry Wicks the incoming President of the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) about the new CPC program and recertification in general. Send us Fan Mail Follow us at: Instagram Facebook Twitter/X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices