Surgical Assistants Win Up to 25 Times Surgeons' Pay Through Surprise-Billing Arbitration
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 29
Surgical Assistants Win Up to 25 Times Surgeons' Pay Through Surprise-Billing Arbitration
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 29
Summary
$50,456 went to a surgical assistant for a March prostate removal in Dallas, while the surgeon who accepted the patient's insurance was paid $1,843.
The gap stems from a surprise-billing law that lets out-of-network assistants seek arbitration and argue for payments far above standard insurer rates.
Most insurers typically pay assistants about 16% of a surgeon's fee, but New York Times-reviewed data showed some assistants collecting far more—including $196,566 for a scoliosis surgery in New York.
The payouts highlight how a patient-protection measure has created a lucrative loophole for some bedside assistants, who handle tasks such as positioning robotic arms, suctioning fluids and changing instruments.