If it's as bad as you say...

[cchoukal]

---

Members don't see this ad.

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/moneymag/0910/gallery.bestjobs_highestpaid.moneymag/index.html.

Then why are we still the top-paying job?

I think these things are ridiculous, and I actually think publicizing this ends up hurting the profession. People will look at this number and continue to think we're greedy pigs, and, worse, congress will look at these numbers and continue to believe it's okay to take more of our money away.

But it begs the question: are salaries REALLY down? I thought I read in one of the ASA rags that average reimbursement was higher in 2008 than 2007 (wish I could remember where).

Interestingly, CRNA was number 4.

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/moneymag/0910/gallery.bestjobs_highestpaid.moneymag/4.html

 

[militarymd]

it's all relative

 

[pgg]

Then why are we still the top-paying job?

You'll note that they didn't have ortho spine surgeons, cardiologists, interventional radiologists, etc on that list. It's a CNN fluff piece. It's "fark" to use a technical term. 🙂

 

[foxtrot]

What is funny is that they mentioned Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners in the segment as "hot jobs" with high demand and high pay. I though it was funny that CRNA's were not listed since they are the highest paid midlevels for their education level.

 

[pmichaelmd]

What is funny is that they mentioned Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners in the segment as "hot jobs" with high demand and high pay. I though it was funny that CRNA's were not listed since they are the highest paid midlevels for their education level.

I saw CRNAs listed as # 19 out of 50 or something.

 

[MDInvestor]

FE08/07 Year

....

Baylor College of Medicine


Joseph Coselli Professor, Cardio/Thoracic Surgery $2,001,000
Charles Fraser Jr. Professor, Congenital Heart Surgery $1,445,451
Lonnie Paulos Professor, Orthopedic Surgery $1,278,611

.....
Mount Sinai School of Medicine



Samin Sharma Director of Interventional Cardiology $2,842,816
Kalmon Post Chairman, Department of Neurosurgery $2,347,188
Jess Ting Assistant Professor- Surgery $2,081,575



i could go on.. but just a quick scrub of public records.. feel free to search your own

 

[Tuohy]

This crappy list was recirculated from a few months ago. I agree-any reputable spine surgeon is clearing at least 750K (even in academics). We are evil I guess-

 

[BLADEMDA]

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/moneymag/0910/gallery.bestjobs_highestpaid.moneymag/index.html.

Then why are we still the top-paying job?

I think these things are ridiculous, and I actually think publicizing this ends up hurting the profession. People will look at this number and continue to think we're greedy pigs, and, worse, congress will look at these numbers and continue to believe it's okay to take more of our money away.

But it begs the question: are salaries REALLY down? I thought I read in one of the ASA rags that average reimbursement was higher in 2008 than 2007 (wish I could remember where).

Interestingly, CRNA was number 4.

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/moneymag/0910/gallery.bestjobs_highestpaid.moneymag/4.html

The option liberals prefer would create a public plan that pays doctors and other providers on a schedule linked to Medicare rates. That idea, which Senate liberals also support, would hold down costs for the government, according to the CBO, but it would create a problem for providers in rural areas where Medicare rates tend to run much lower than the national average. Conservative Democrats would prefer a public plan that negotiates rates directly with providers, as private companies do. But that idea would save less money and put too little pressure on private insurance companies to cut costs, liberals counter.

Video

​

Big baby denied health coverage
Oct. 12: A health insurance company came under fire Monday for its decision to deny coverage to a healthy four-month-old who is large for his age. NBC's Lee Cowan reports.
Nightly News


Rep. John B. Larson (Conn.), a member of the Democratic leadership, said that Democrats are making progress on the issue. "I think there's wide support for a robust public option in the caucus, and that's been growing since we got back" to Washington after the August recess, he said. "I suspect by the end of [this] week, we're going to be in great shape."

 

[nellinola]

I think it was about the best jobs in america....not just about salaries.

i.e. they're point it while some spine surgeon making 750k a year does not necessarily have the best job. its more about the big picture.

 

[BLADEMDA]

As most of you know, the primary issue for anesthesiologists is Medicare's flawed formula for payment of anesthesiology services. Nationwide, Medicare pays 33% of what the average negotiated insurance contract pays. Any bill that does not address this issue cannot be supported by us or the ASA. Most other specialties fare much better. Needless to say, the ASA and most specialty organizations were very disappointed when the AMA came out in support of the tri-committee house Bill HR 3200. This is a public plan option based on expansion of Medicare and its fee schedule as well as Medicaid.. ArMA and many other state societies have not supported this bill. The expansion of Medicare's present fee schedule will destroy the practice of anesthesiology, which is critical to so many people. Passage of the bill will lead to decreased access to anesthesia services now and in the future. We need to keep the pressure on all congressional leaders, both Democrat and Republican.

We must keep in mind that this is not a Republican versus Democrat issue. It is not a liberal, moderate, or conservative issue. IT IS AN ANESTHESIOLOGY ISSUE! It is an issue regarding the future of our specialty. It is a patient access issue! The citizens of this country should have access to safe quality anesthesia services provided by well-trained anesthesiologists.

Congress is on recess but we have work to do. Please take the time to join the ASA grassroots network. Please take the time to write your representatives as requested by the ASA. Use the ASA website to make this easy. (see the note and links below) Follow the ASA plan outlined below. This may be an opportunity to not only prevent the destruction of our specialty, but to finally improve our unfair and undervalued fee schedule from Medicare.

 

[BLADEMDA]

FE08/07 Year

....

Baylor College of Medicine


Joseph Coselli Professor, Cardio/Thoracic Surgery $2,001,000
Charles Fraser Jr. Professor, Congenital Heart Surgery $1,445,451
Lonnie Paulos Professor, Orthopedic Surgery $1,278,611

.....
Mount Sinai School of Medicine



Samin Sharma Director of Interventional Cardiology $2,842,816
Kalmon Post Chairman, Department of Neurosurgery $2,347,188
Jess Ting Assistant Professor- Surgery $2,081,575



i could go on.. but just a quick scrub of public records.. feel free to search your own

MDA=CRNA under the Public option which means $185,000 per year (if you are lucky).

 

[BLADEMDA]

We continue educating Congress and the Administration that the current physician Medicare payment structure is a house of cards that is close to collapsing as the Medicare trustees have just warned us yet again. Right now, we are facing a 21% payment reduction scheduled for 2010 because of the SGR formula. Building upon that house of cards with a Medicare buy-in or public plan based upon Medicare is simply not sustainable and could ultimately harm patient access to medical care, as well as anesthesiologists and their ability to provide care to patients. There are many potential threats to our specialty under discussion by lawmakers. However, I believe the Medicare public plan option remains the gravest for our specialty at this time. Accordingly, while we wait for additional details on health care reform proposals, this should remain our consistent message: should Congress decide to pursue a public plan option, it must not be built upon the unsound foundation of the Medicare program. Undoubtedly, health care reform will encompass dozens of issues, and will likely grow more complicated with each passing day. ASA will continue its engagement with key lawmakers and members of the Administration to ensure the continued strength and vitality of=2 0our specialty. Throughout these discussions, please stay informed and involved. This email is the latest update, and I expect to send you many more in the coming weeks and months. Also, our Washington Office staff will provide ASA members with additional information through the ASA website at www.ASAhq.org/Washington/healthcarereform.htm. Sincerely, Roger A. Moore, M.D. President

 

[Jeff05]

I think it was about the best jobs in america....not just about salaries.

i.e. they're point it while some spine surgeon making 750k a year does not necessarily have the best job. its more about the big picture.

article was titled "top paying jobs" - it was about the money. period. unfortunately, the article uses wildly inaccurate numbers.

 

[BLADEMDA]

As we have consistently related, ASA remains open to a range of options for health reform, but​

[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]we implore Congress not to pursue any new insurance programs—public plan, co-op, or triggered public plan—that would represent an expansion or imitation of Medicare and its unacceptably low anesthesia payment rates.. Medicare has long underfunded payments for anesthesia services and discounted payments for pain services. An expansion of such a flawed funding and payment mechanism to a larger segment of the population would be unsustainable for the medical specialty of anesthesiology.
In a 2007 report (GAO-07-463), the Government Accountability Office (GAO) confirmed this payment disparity between Medicare and commercial payments for anesthesia services. [FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]The GAO concluded that Medicare paid an average of 33 percent of what private insurers pay for anesthesia services. .Recent ASA surveys confirm that this problem persists at present. Meanwhile, for most other medical specialties, Medicare has paid an average of 80 percent of what is paid by private insurers, according to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) in its March 2009 report to Congress. ​

In the same report, GAO warned that, "the difference between Medicare and private payments for anesthesia services is larger than the difference in payments for other physician services, [FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]raising the concern that Medicare payment levels could affect where anesthesia practitioners locate and more generally whether interest in anesthesiology as a profession is also affected .[emphasis added]."

 

[Narcotized]

Anesthesiology is far from the "best job," anyway. In anesthesiology, you'll get a daily dose of high stress and most likely will always be someone's b*tch.

Good point Dream. A ranking of "best jobs" would have us ranked behind rock stars, ballers, and pimps. Come to think of it, we should be listed behind them in a salary ranking too.

 

[cchoukal]

I obviously agree, and think that these ratings are a bunch of BS. It's curious to me that so many medical specialties make the tops spots at a time when congress is trying to rally support around paying us less. Where are the investment bankers and CEOs that make FAR more than what we do? Could it be that "Money" magazine has a vested interest in not reminding the public how rich those guys are at a time when public sentiment is already against them?

 

[Coastie]

article was titled "top paying jobs" - it was about the money. period. unfortunately, the article uses wildly inaccurate numbers.

Wildly low numbers. The median is not 296k.

 

[vök]

Looks like they just plucked a few jobs out their ass made an article about it.