The Medicare agency updated its 2022 anesthesia conversion factor for services provided in 2022 to $20.9343, down from $21.56 per unit from last year. Medicare calculates fee-for-service anesthesia payment according to the formula (base units plus time units) times (dollar value conversion factor).
This rate is effective as of Jan. 1, 2022. Anesthesia conversion factors vary by locality following agency analysis of local healthcare costs, from a low of $19.62 per unit in Nebraska to a high of $28.95 per unit in Alaska. The AANA as part of Patient Access to Responsible Care Alliance (PARCA) has asked Congress to fix payment cuts.