Episode 88: CRNA Anesthesia Policy Impacts Patient Access in Private Practices | Lisa Mathew | Steven Klein | Wilmington GI
Tue Jan 20 2026
Dr. Lisa Mathew interviews Dr. Steven Klein of Wilmington Gastroenterology about how UnitedHealthcare’s recent 15% reimbursement reduction for anesthesia services provided by certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) could affect the way independent gastroenterology practices structure anesthesia services and maintain patient access to procedures such as colonoscopy.
Dr. Klein explains how independent GI practices rely on CRNAs to provide anesthesia and how those services are structured within his practice, offering a practical view of how insurer policy decisions can reshape care delivery in outpatient endoscopy settings.
Join Dr. Mathew and Dr. Klein as they examine how this policy compounds existing pressures such as prior authorization requirements and site-of-service restrictions, the downstream effects on colorectal cancer screening and other procedures, and what insurers and policymakers need to understand about the real-world impact of these decisions on patient access.
Produced by Andrew Sousa and Hayden Margolis for Steadfast Collaborative, LLC
Mixed and mastered by Hayden Margolis
Gastro Broadcast, episode 88, presented by TissueCypher from Castle Biosciences
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Dr. Lisa Mathew interviews Dr. Steven Klein of Wilmington Gastroenterology about how UnitedHealthcare’s recent 15% reimbursement reduction for anesthesia services provided by certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) could affect the way independent gastroenterology practices structure anesthesia services and maintain patient access to procedures such as colonoscopy. Dr. Klein explains how independent GI practices rely on CRNAs to provide anesthesia and how those services are structured within his practice, offering a practical view of how insurer policy decisions can reshape care delivery in outpatient endoscopy settings. Join Dr. Mathew and Dr. Klein as they examine how this policy compounds existing pressures such as prior authorization requirements and site-of-service restrictions, the downstream effects on colorectal cancer screening and other procedures, and what insurers and policymakers need to understand about the real-world impact of these decisions on patient access. Produced by Andrew Sousa and Hayden Margolis for Steadfast Collaborative, LLC Mixed and mastered by Hayden Margolis Gastro Broadcast, episode 88, presented by TissueCypher from Castle Biosciences