Medical French Revolution

[BigHornRam]

How much does an Anesthesiologist make?​

As of December 01, 2024, the average annual pay of Anesthesiologist in the United States is $438,200. While Salary.com is seeing that Anesthesiologist salary in the US can go up to $550,152 or down to $326,439, but most earn between $379,700 and $496,800. Salary.com shows the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Anesthesiologist in the United States.

You can buy a lot of tents with that kind of salary!

 

[Forkyfinder]

I can only speak for the operating room, and in there, the surgeons are paid by the case so they do try and be efficient. And despite the cynicism of many, NOT because they are greedy. But for the rest of the staff, we have no control over that. In a similar vein, if a loved one gets admitted for a heart attack or pneumonia and the average length of stay is say two days, but they arent responding well to treatment, I suppose the floor staff and doctors just absorb that too? Apart from a few bad apples, I dont see how providers are all that complicit in this. Per the anesthesia article I linked, "In June 2024, Elevance Health, the corporate name for Anthem, reported a 24.12% increase in its year-over-year net income to $2.3 billion and a 24.29% increase in its year-over-year net profit margin."

Somehow many Americans have this odd idea that because medicine is a "calling", at the end of the day, its ok if providers get shafted a bit. Ive volunteered multiple times and am happy to do so, but in a country as wealthy as ours, saddling the provider with this is unacceptable. My thread title again is not an endorsement, but if you read the comments related to this story, clearly the system has touched a nerve with the public.

It's worth nothing too - the net profit margin of this company is 2.25% and is typical of health insurance profit margins.

 

[Treeshark]

Part of the problem is most definelty the salaries.

I don’t agree with this considering the sacrifice required to become an anesthesiologist, surgeon etc. Not to mention the difficulty and stress of the job once they begin practicing.

If there is a problem with their comp, it is that downward pressures are going to lead to attrition and severe provider shortages in the future.

 

[WyoCoalMiner]

MSN

Crisis averted! All is good in US healthcare

 

[Schaaf]

 

[TN2shot07]

It's worth nothing too - the net profit margin of this company is 2.25% and is typical of health insurance profit margins.

That’s also net of 7-8 figure salaries and bonuses paid to the executives of those companies, way more than the life saving providers are being compensated. Plus who know what to lobby in DC

 

[Forkyfinder]

That’s also net of 7-8 figure salaries and bonuses paid to the executives of those companies, way more than the life saving providers are being compensated. Plus who know what to lobby in DC

Can easily say the same about the hospitals management staff and salaries.

Edit: In fact - a "non profit" hospital in Montana pays its ceo 1.5 million +. The insurance company (overseeing a lot more revenue and operations) CEO made 10 million.

 

[SaskHunter]

Hear me out, socialized healthcare is not that bad, guys.

 

[TN2shot07]

Can easily say the same about the hospitals management staff and salaries.

Edit: In fact - a "non profit" hospital in Montana pays its ceo 1.5 million +. The insurance company (overseeing a lot more revenue and operations) CEO made 10 million.

I’m not arguing that either, I was just pointing out to the people complaining about physician salaries…

I will say that having sat in board rooms with hospital ceos and cfos that patient care and the community is generally a pretty high priority. I would not say the same for the folks at the insurance company

 

[Treeshark]

Hear me out, socialized healthcare is not that bad, guys.

As long as you’re not in any sort of hurry for an elective procedure, I can’t say I disagree with you here.

 

[Forkyfinder]

I’m not arguing that either, I was just pointing out to the people complaining about physician salaries…

I will say that having sat in board rooms with hospital ceos and cfos that patient care and the community is generally a pretty high priority. I would not say the same for the folks at the insurance company

All of that seems lost whenever the topic of $ comes up with a hospital so I guess I've not felt much "care" for the community either.

As far as physicians making less - that analogy works well nearly everywhere. There's always hard working people at the bottom too.

I don't like "corporate level execs" much myself but I can tell you it's not all bon bons and fun times at the golf course either. Most of the executives I've been around work 70+ hours a week, stress for their employees everyday, and don't ever feel away from work especially in an instant and connected world.

 

[SaskHunter]

As long as you’re not in any sort of hurry for an elective procedure, I can’t say I disagree with you here.

Depending on where you live, it's not that bad. I went from referal to specialist appointment for my wrists, within two months. I ended up pushing the appointment with the specialist until after hunting season and now I'm getting the first surgery in January and the next six weeks later.

It's not perfect, but everyone who needs emergency care gets it right away and free of charge. The biggest bill for a trip to the ER usually is the Ambo ride, around $600, the rest is free. Air Ambulance is also free in this Province.

Both of our kids cost my wife and I roughly 300$ and that was for 4 nights stay post-delivery.

The Provinces that do suck usually are due to mismanagement. Quebec is a prime example of that. Saskatchewan on the other hand is pretty facking good!

 

[SAJ-99]

You want costs to go down? Two words
Medical. Malpractice.

The hospitals I have experience with are generally poorly managed organizations from a business standpoint. A lot is hidden due to the fact they are private/nonprofit. The only time you get financials is when they have to do a debt issuance. Insurance companies were a lot simpler. At least until ACA and the political football it became.

 

[Treeshark]

It's not perfect, but everyone who needs emergency care gets it right away and free of charge. The biggest bill for a trip to the ER usually is the Ambo ride, around $600, the rest is free. Air Ambulance is also free in this Province.

This is a big part of why I agreed with you- there are many parts of the Canadian system that I do absolutely feel are likely better than what we have here.

 

[SaskHunter]

Have you tried just not getting hurt or sick?

/s

 

[westbranch]

The memes:

 

[westbranch]

Have you tried just not getting hurt or sick?

/s

Part of the American innovation and work ethic comes from us being scared of going bankrupt from medical expenses. What better way to motivate people than have health insurance tied to employment?

 

[David58]

I was randomly thinking about healthcare and insurance companies while putting in my mileage on the treadmill this morning. I vote that all insurance companies must be non-profit.

All non-profit means is that the company cannot make a profit. Too much money over expenses? Build a new parking lot, or better yet, put it in the pockets of the administrators.

People become stinking rich operating nonprofits.

David
NM

 

[David58]

Part of the problem is most definelty the salaries. Insurance is also part of the problem. If you think insurance coverage is not correlated to provider compensation you are dreaming.

Got any idea how much the knock-out doc spends on malpractice insurance? Appreciate the fact that those folks take you to as close to being dead as you can be without being dead, and wake you back up? Teeny little mistakes turn out your lights for good. The salary is worth it for those providing care. The ones administrating? Not even....

David
NM

 

[SaskHunter]

Part of the American innovation and work ethic comes from us being scared of going bankrupt from medical expenses. What better way to motivate people than have health insurance tied to employment?

I remember a thread on HT a few years ago where some members made fun of Canadians and our Federal holidays and minimum paid time off legislations.

Paid time off and universal healthcare! Oh, the humanity!