In my March 2017 Monitor editorial, I stated, “It is easy for me to admit that obstetric anesthesia is not my favorite realm of anesthesia practice.” It was neither my intention to disparage obstetrical anesthesia or anesthesiologists nor to discourage those who choose this area of anesthesiology specialization. It is certainly obvious to me that physician obstetric anesthesiologists provide wide-ranging care that is critical to the outcomes of both mothers and their children. Rather, that expression of my point of view was aimed at highlighting my own character flaw that doesn’t allow me to enjoy this field of anesthesiology. For those who were offended by my statement, please accept my apology.
Two years ago this past April, Congress passed the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). As many of you recall, ASA remained neutral on this legislation. Although MACRA contained some positive features of payment reform, the...
