Independent anesthesia clinicians choose 1099 work for flexibility, autonomy, and (often) higher earning potential. But that independence can come with a significant tradeoff: benefits that are typically built into W-2 employment, especially income protection if a clinician gets sick or injured.

At Harmony Anesthesia, the organization aims to close this gap by partnering with Hollowtree and the Clinicians Care Association (CCA) to give 1099 clinicians access to a group disability insurance plan designed specifically for independent clinicians who want straightforward, specialty-relevant coverage without the typical friction of traditional underwriting.

Harmony is a clinician-owned anesthesia staffing agency built by practicing clinicians staffing other clinicians. Its approach to provider experience is rooted in the day-to-day realities of anesthesia work.

Hollowtree specializes in disability income solutions and enrollment support for organizations, including healthcare groups, helping make benefits access easier to understand and simpler to implement at scale.

Together, the goal is to create a cleaner path for independent clinicians to access income protection without having to navigate the process alone.

The Core Benefit

Most disability plans are structured around W-2 employment. Many individual policies can be expensive, slow to secure, or difficult to obtain, depending on specialty and underwriting requirements.

• Through this relationship with Hollowtree, Harmony clinicians can access coverage that features:
• Guaranteed approval during the enrollment period
• Up to $10,000/month in tax-free benefit (plan tiers shown as Bronze/Silver/Gold up to $5,000 / $7,500 / $10,000)
• Benefits paid up to age 67 and beyond
• Own-occupation protection (including a 24-month “Return to Work” feature)
• Short & long-term coverage options with specified waiting periods (including maternity benefits in the short & long-term options)

Most importantly, this coverage can be designed to complement existing individual disability insurance, helping clinicians protect more of their income with no offset.

Why This Matters

For 1099 clinicians, income is the most valuable asset. An unexpected injury or illness doesn’t just affect a schedule; it shuts down income. Disability income protection is designed to replace a portion of that income if a clinician can’t perform their job due to injury or illness, which is exactly how Harmony frames the purpose of this benefit for its 1099 clinicians.

For 1099 clinicians, the stakes are higher:

• They are often responsible for their own safety net.
• Finding coverage independently can be time-consuming.
• Traditional underwriting can create delays or barriers.

This is where the partnership changes the experience: it turns a complicated individual problem into a more accessible, clinician-friendly pathway, supported by Hollowtree’s enrollment expertise and made available through a CCA membership.

The Added Layer: Clinicians Care Association (CCA)

The relationship with Hollowtree isn’t only about access to disability insurance. It is also connected to CCA, an association founded in 2025 to support medical professionals with practical resources that fit independent work.

CCA offers benefits that directly ease common 1099 pain points, including:

• Entity formation & tax support
• Burnout prevention and work-life balance tools
• EAP benefits, including mental health access
• 40+ hours of on-demand accredited CMEs
• Clinician insurance options and 1099 mortgage support

This relationship can be positioned as something bigger than simply selecting a new plan. It is a clinician support system that helps 1099 clinicians build financial, professional, and personal stability.

What Clinicians Can Expect

The 1099 clinician journey is simple:

• Explore
• Book a meeting
• Enroll

Hollowtree’s team will reach out to support the details and Q&A, so clinicians aren’t left to decode policy language on their own.

Benefits that match the way 1099 clinicians actually work

Harmony’s partnership with Hollowtree is ultimately about reinforcing a simple idea: independent clinicians deserve modern benefits access that doesn’t require giving up independence. Together, Harmony’s clinician-first provider model, Hollowtree’s disability enrollment and coverage expertise, and CCA’s broader support resources for independents create something rare in 1099 healthcare: a support system built for the real world.

Independent anesthesia clinicians who work with Harmony and want to protect their income can visit the enrollment hub to learn more, schedule a quick call, and see whether the coverage is a fit for them.

Credentialing is often the least glamorous part of starting a new assignment: endless forms, confusing systems, and too many emails asking for “just one more document.” For healthcare providers, it can feel like a full-time job before the real work begins.

At Harmony, we decided the process deserved a major upgrade. Our approach to credentialing isn’t just about checking boxes; it’s about building relationships, preventing delays, and giving every provider a clear, confident start.

Here are five ways Harmony simplifies the credentialing experience from day one.

1. A Warm, Personalized Welcome

Most staffing companies start credentialing with an impersonal checklist. Harmony starts with a welcome.

“They do a welcome e-mail that introduces everybody on the team, who they’ll be in contact with at each different part of the process.” Savannah Page, Credentialing Coordinator

As soon as a provider accepts an assignment, they receive a personalized email introducing their entire Harmony team: recruiter, credentialing coordinator, scheduler, and payroll contact. This simple touch does two things: it immediately builds a connection and provides clarity about who to contact for what.

That welcome email also acts as the official “green light” for credentialing to begin, so there’s no lag between acceptance and action. It’s fast, friendly, and efficient, just the way it should be.

2. One-Stop Document Management

Lost attachments and endless email threads are a thing of the past. Every Harmony provider receives a credentialing checklist and a single, secure place to upload everything.

Currently, we use shared Google Drive folders to keep things simple, a streamlined platform that centralizes the entire process.

“We have a document attached to the welcome e-mail that lists the necessary items… they can just go and drop all of those items into it!” Savannah Page

This one-stop approach keeps everyone aligned and eliminates one of the biggest sources of credentialing frustration: disorganization.

3. Proactive Sponsoring-Physician Coordination

For Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants (CAAs), credentialing comes with an extra hurdle: securing a sponsoring physician. This step can add weeks or even months if not handled early.

At Harmony, we don’t wait. Our credentialing team initiates the sponsorship process immediately after assignment acceptance, guiding the provider through each state board requirement. We help set up sponsor connections, manage approvals, and make sure each facility’s authorization is secured on time.

“We ask the facility right away who their sponsoring physician is so we can get that initiated. It’s the number one thing that can delay a start date.” Savannah Page

By tackling this critical step up front, we eliminate one of the most common causes of start-date delays. It’s a proactive move that makes all the difference.

4. High-Touch, Hands-On Support

Credentialing isn’t one-size-fits-all, and Harmony doesn’t treat it that way.

Our credentialing coordinators don’t just send blank forms; they pre-fill as much information as possible, handle facility communications, and keep providers informed at every stage. Whether it’s an overlooked signature or a last-minute facility request, our team stays on top of the details, so providers don’t have to.

Because we maintain a smaller roster, every provider receives more personal attention. That means faster responses, fewer mistakes, and a smoother overall experience.

“We’re able to be a little more personable because we’re still growing, and we try to keep it that way; that’s what differentiates us.” Savannah Page

5. Seamless Handoff to Scheduling and Payroll

Once credentials are cleared, providers are ready to work, and Harmony ensures a seamless handoff.

Our scheduling team coordinates start dates, training sessions, and facility availability.

Recruiters manage first-day logistics, while Nicole, our payroll specialist, ensures timesheets and payments are set up from the start.

“Once they’re approved on our end, our scheduler connects with the provider and the facility to confirm start dates and training. It’s a smooth handoff.” Savannah Page

The result is a fully connected process from “you’re hired” to “you’re working.” No gaps, no confusion, just seamless support all the way through.

Simplifying Credentialing and Strengthening Trust

At Harmony, we believe credentialing should feel like a partnership, not paperwork. By combining technology, proactive communication, and genuine care, we’ve transformed one of the most stressful steps in healthcare onboarding into a clear, supportive experience.

From that first welcome email to the first day on assignment, Harmony makes sure providers never feel like they’re navigating the process alone.

As the anesthesia community shifts, more providers are moving from traditional W-2 employment to locum tenens work. After nearly three decades in a traditional anesthesia role, Wendy Kennon, CAA, decided it was time for her to make that very change. “After 28 years of W2 employment, I made the leap into the locum tenens world of anesthesia,” she recalls. “I only wish I had done it sooner.” Her story is echoed by countless others across the profession, including David Angotti, CAA, who sought a similar sense of balance and control over his schedule. Both found what so many anesthesia providers are searching for: the freedom of scheduling autonomy.

Anesthesia providers everywhere are making the switch to Locum work after years of missing out on moments due to demanding schedules. For years, Wendy’s schedule revolved around hospital demands, call, weekends, and holidays, with little room for flexibility. After missing far too many precious moments, Wendy can now cherish the freedom to show up for the things that matter most. “Over the years, I have missed many of my children’s activities and accomplishments. It was a reality I accepted as part of my career choice,” she says. A reality that many anesthesia professionals face every day. With her switch to locums, she recently experienced one of her proudest moments as a parent without needing to ask for permission. “I was able to swap workdays to attend my son’s graduation from law school and his swearing-in into the District Attorney’s Office.” It’s essential to distinguish between the significance of your career and the importance of living your life fully. You should be able to confidently do both, no matter what. Locum work has allowed Wendy, and so many others, to craft a schedule that meets a critical hospital need while keeping her personal life front and center.

One of the greatest benefits of locum work is scheduling autonomy, the ability to say yes to what matters most to you while continuing to diligently serve others in the community. David’s motivation for change was deeply personal. As a father of two, his priority was being present for his children’s activities and milestones. “I wanted to make most of, if not all, of my kids’ activities,” he says. For David and countless other providers, being able to control your schedule allows you to do just that. Those moments, being present after school and helping with homework, lay the foundation for a happy, healthy home life that extends into your professional one. Having that flexibility also means having the ability to pursue passions that once seemed out of reach. “I love coaching youth sports.” That’s a passion, and with the flexibility of my schedule, I’m allowed to do it,” he says. For the first time in decades, both Wendy and David can now fully integrate their careers with their personal lives rather than forcing one to fit around the other. For both providers, locum work wasn’t only a professional shift but a life shift.

As anesthesia care provider shortages continue across the country, locum tenens opportunities are expanding rapidly. Wendy sees this as an ideal moment for CAAs to consider self-employment: “I believe the locum opportunities will become increasingly available due to the anesthesia care provider shortage. It is a wonderful time to enter the self-employed market.” The work-life balance, tax benefits, and hospital needs are all good reasons to explore the possibility of change. David agrees that the demand for skilled CAAs makes this model sustainable, whether you choose to work at multiple facilities or find the perfect long-term fit. “If I choose, I can work at multiple facilities.” However, I chose to work at just one, Kennestone Hospital. The staff is amazing, everyone helps and looks out for each other, and the culture is ideal.” Transitioning from traditional employment to locum work can feel daunting, but with the right support, it doesn’t have to be. “Harmony has made the transition easy and provided support when I needed guidance,” Wendy says. From credentialing and onboarding to placement and long-term relationship building, Harmony Anesthesia makes every step seamless so CAAs can focus on what matters most: their patients, their families, and their peace of mind.

For Wendy and David, locum work has been more than a career change; it’s been a life transformation. It’s about being present for family milestones, pursuing passions, and rediscovering balance in a demanding profession. If you’re a CAA considering your next step, now is the perfect time to explore the freedom and fulfillment that locum work can bring. With Harmony Anesthesia, you don’t have to navigate the journey alone. We’re here to help you take control of your career and your life.