Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield reverses its decision to reduce anesthesia time

One of the biggest health insurers in the nation reversed a policy change Thursday, stating that it would no longer connect payments in certain areas to the length of time a patient was under anesthesia, following considerable criticism.

In a statement, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield noted that substantial and pervasive misunderstanding about the policy was the reason behind their decision to revoke it.

According to the company’s statement, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield has never had and will never have a policy of refusing to provide medically necessary anesthetic treatments. The proposed policy update was created solely to make clear if anesthesia is acceptable in compliance with existing clinical standards.

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield would have established anesthesia restrictions based on physician work time values published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; patients under the age of 22 and pregnant patients were exempt.

It’s unclear how CMS determines these figures, though, according to Dr. Jonathan Gal, chair of the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ economics committee.

The policy would have taken effect in New York, Connecticut, and Missouri in February, according to a news release from the American Society of Anesthesiologists in mid-November, pushing Anthem to immediately revoke the proposal.

Anthem also posted alerts in Virginia and Colorado, though it is unknown how many states are affected.

Social media users nationwide voiced their grievances and concerns, and residents of impacted states were urged to get in touch with their lawmakers. Some suggested that the measure could protect patients from being overcharged.

Gal asserted that the policy change was a blatant attempt to extract money, would have been unprecedented, and disregarded the complex and unpredictable human element of surgery.

“How a health insurance company could so obviously continue to put profits ahead of safe patient care is incomprehensible,” Mr. Cohen added. We are happy that Anthem realized their mistake if they are indeed withdrawing the policy.

After speaking with the insurance provider, Connecticut Comptroller Sean Scanlon said the policy in question would not impact the state prior to Anthem’s disclosure on Thursday.

In an emailed statement on Thursday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul also attested to the success of her office’s intervention.

Only a day after the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, a significant insurer, was shot and died in New York City, the insurance firm modified its policy.

___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. All content is the exclusive responsibility of the AP.

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