Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield reverses decision to limit anesthesia duration
One of the nation’s largest health insurers reversed a policy change Thursday after widespread outcry, saying it would not tie payments in some states to the length of time a patient is under anesthesia.
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield said in a statement that its decision to reverse course was the result of “widespread misinformation” about the policy.
“To be clear, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield has never had and will never have a policy of not paying for medically necessary anesthesia services,” the statement said. “The proposed policy update was intended solely to clarify the appropriateness of anesthesia in accordance with well-established clinical guidelines. »
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield allegedly used “physician time values,” published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as a measure of anesthesia limits; maternity patients and patients under 22 were exempt. But Dr. Jonathan Gal, chair of the American Society for Anesthesiologists’ economic committee, said it’s unclear how CMS derives these values.
In mid-November, the American Society of Anesthesiologists called on Anthem to “immediately rescind the proposal,” saying in a press release that the policy would take effect in February in New York, Connecticut and Missouri. It’s unclear how many states in total would have been affected, as advisories were also issued. posted in Virginia And Colorado.
Across the country, citizens voiced their concerns and complaints on social media and encouraged people in affected states to call their lawmakers. Some people have pointed out that this policy could prevent patients from being overcharged.
Gal said the policy change would have been unprecedented, ignored the “nuanced and unpredictable human element” of surgery and was clearly a “cash grab”.
“It is incomprehensible that a health insurance company can so blatantly continue to prioritize profits over the safety of patient care,” he said. “If Anthem does indeed reverse this policy, we’re glad they’ve come to their senses.”
Before Anthem’s announcement Thursday, Connecticut Comptroller Sean Scanlon said the “concerning” policy would not affect the state after conversations with the insurance company. And New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in an emailed statement Thursday that her office also successfully intervened.
The insurance giant’s policy change came a day after the CEO of UnitedHealthcareanother major insurance company, was shot and killed in New York.
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