Compare 1129 nurse anesthetists in Pittsburgh, PA. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
1,129
Nurse Anesthetists
100%
Accepting patients
91%
Most common: CRNA
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Pittsburgh is a UPMC town, and there is no getting around it. UPMC is one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the country, and it functions as both a hospital operator and an insurance company. Allegheny Health Network (AHN), backed by Highmark Blue Cross, provides the main alternative. The rivalry between UPMC and Highmark shapes nearly every healthcare decision a Pittsburgh resident makes.
Pittsburgh has 1,129 nurse anesthetists. The most common credential is CRNA (91%). 100% are currently accepting new patients. Practitioners see patients in neighborhoods including Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Lawrenceville, and Strip District.
The Oakland neighborhood is Pittsburgh's medical hub, home to UPMC Presbyterian, UPMC Magee-Womens, and UPMC Children's. Allegheny General Hospital sits on the North Side. Pittsburgh's geography (rivers, bridges, hills) makes cross-city travel unpredictable, so most residents choose the hospital system closest to their neighborhood. The T light rail connects South Hills communities to downtown, but bus routes are the primary transit option for hospital access.
Nearby hospitals include UPMC Presbyterian, UPMC Shadyside, and Allegheny General Hospital. Local training programs run through University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Carnegie Mellon University. UPMC is one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the US, employing over 95,000 people.
The Pittsburgh insurance market is a two-player game: UPMC Health Plan and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. Employer plans typically align with one system. On the ACA marketplace, both plans compete on price and network breadth. Medicaid managed care is served by UPMC for You, Highmark Wholecare (formerly Gateway Health), and AmeriHealth Caritas. Choosing between the two plans is, effectively, choosing between the two hospital systems. 69% accept Medicare.
Before your procedure, the CRNA will review your medical history, medications, allergies, and previous anesthesia experiences. They will explain the anesthesia plan, answer questions, and start an IV. During the procedure, the CRNA monitors your vital signs continuously, adjusts anesthesia levels, manages your airway, and administers medications as needed. After the procedure, the CRNA manages your recovery from anesthesia, treating nausea and pain as needed. For labor epidurals, the CRNA places the epidural catheter and monitors its effectiveness throughout labor.
You see a CRNA when you need anesthesia for a surgical procedure, a diagnostic procedure requiring sedation (colonoscopy, endoscopy), labor and delivery pain management (epidural), or a pain management procedure (nerve block, epidural steroid injection). In most cases, you do not choose your anesthetist directly; they are assigned by the surgical facility. However, you can ask in advance whether a CRNA or anesthesiologist will be providing your anesthesia, and you will meet your anesthesia provider before the procedure for a pre-anesthesia assessment.
Anesthesia copay: determined by procedure complexity · Typical surgery anesthesia: $500-2,000 (billed to insurance) · Epidural for labor: $1,000-3,000 (covered as maternity) · Out-of-pocket with insurance: $0-200 copay/coinsurance
Pittsburgh, PA has 1,129 licensed nurse anesthetists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of nurse anesthetists in Pittsburgh, PA are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
The Pittsburgh insurance market is defined by the UPMC Health Plan and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield rivalry. Employer plans tend to offer one or the other, rarely both. On the ACA marketplace, UPMC Health Plan and Highmark compete directly. Medicaid is administered through UPMC for You, Highmark Wholecare (formerly Gateway Health), and AmeriHealth Caritas.
Anesthesia costs are determined by procedure complexity. Typical surgery anesthesia is $500 to $2,000 (billed to insurance). An epidural for labor costs $1,000 to $3,000 (covered as maternity). Out of pocket with insurance: $0 to $200 copay/coinsurance. Actual costs in Pittsburgh, PA depend on the provider and your insurance plan. The No Surprises Act protects you from surprise out-of-network anesthesia bills at in-network facilities. Still, verify before elective procedures that your anesthesia provider is in-network. Anesthesia involves a separate bill from the surgeon and facility.
Pittsburgh healthcare revolves around the UPMC vs. AHN/Highmark divide. UPMC Health Plan members can use UPMC facilities at in-network rates. Highmark members have full access to AHN facilities and limited (though expanding) access to UPMC. Before choosing a primary care doctor, verify that your insurance covers their hospital system.
69% of nurse anesthetists in Pittsburgh, PA accept Medicare. Medicare covers CRNA services at the same rate as anesthesiologist services. Anesthesia is billed based on procedure complexity and duration (base units + time units). Standard Part B cost-sharing applies. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
Some nurse anesthetists in Pittsburgh, PA accept Pennsylvania Medicaid (MA), the state's Medicaid program. Medicaid covers CRNA services in all states. Anesthesia coverage is the same regardless of whether a CRNA or anesthesiologist provides the care. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm Pennsylvania Medicaid (MA) participation before scheduling.
UPMC and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield have been in a long-running business dispute because UPMC operates its own competing insurance plan. As a result, UPMC hospitals and many UPMC physicians are not fully in-network for Highmark insurance members, and vice versa. A consent decree required some continued access, but the terms have evolved. Always verify your coverage before scheduling appointments.
It depends. Under various agreements, some UPMC facilities and physicians remain accessible to Highmark members, particularly for emergency care and certain community hospitals. However, flagship UPMC hospitals like Presbyterian and Shadyside may be out-of-network for Highmark plans. Check with both your insurer and the provider before booking.
Top accepted carriers in Pittsburgh, PA include unitedhealthcare, medicare, qhp-54192, qhp-17091, and cigna.
Anesthesia services from CRNAs are covered by all insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare reimburses CRNA services at the same rate as anesthesiologist services. The most common billing issue is out-of-network anesthesia providers at in-network facilities (surprise billing). The No Surprises Act (effective 2022) protects you from out-of-network anesthesia bills at in-network facilities for most plan types. You should still verify coverage before elective procedures. Anesthesia for labor and delivery is covered as a maternity benefit.