The purpose of this guide is to acquaint anesthesiologists who are beginning practice with a host of business and legal issues that are not studied in medical school or residency.  These issues include professional liability, including liability insurance and the National Practitioner Data Bank; credentialing; business, tax and retirement planning; strategies for negotiating contracts with employers, hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers, managed care organizations and outside billing services; substance abuse; calculating professional fees and Medicare reimbursement; and billing compliance.