TeamHealth Expands Into Anesthesia Market With Acquisition of Anesthetix

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — TeamHealth (NYSE: TMH) announced today the acquisition of Anesthetix Management LLC (“Anesthetix”), a nationally recognized provider of comprehensive anesthesiology and pain management service solutions to hospitals and surgery centers throughout the United States. Headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Anesthetix currently serves clients in 10 states. For the twelve months ending September 30, 2009, Anesthetix reported net revenue of approximately $53 million.

Read the entire story of Anesthesia Management aquisitions here.

Medicare Releases Temporary Conversion Factors

As a result of legislative action temporarily delaying the 21.2 percent payment cut, CMS announced in an educational article that the Medicare conversion factor is frozen at $36.0846 until the end of February. In addition, the national anesthesia conversion factor for this same time period is $20.925. This legislation addresses only the conversion factor; all other 2010 policy changes to the Medicare program, including the elimination of consultation codes, became effective on Jan. 1.

As previously noted, CMS will hold all Part B claims until Jan. 15, and the Physician Annual Participation Enrollment Program was extended from Jan. 31 to March 17.