Medicare's 2026 to 2030 Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM): Implications for Anesthesiologists

The authors examine the implications of Medicare's Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) for anesthesiologists, focusing on how this shift from fee-for-service to bundled payments will impact their practice and reimbursement. They explore the expanded roles of anesthesiologists in perioperative care and the necessity for them to define and measure outcomes that reflect their contributions to patient recovery within this new accountability framework. Ultimately, the paper highlights the importance of aligning anesthesiology practices with episode-level metrics to demonstrate their value in surgical care.