A leading insurance company has reversed its “appalling” decision to deny life-saving anesthesia amid widespread backlash.
Health insurer Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield quietly announced in February that it would no longer cover the full amount of anesthesia if surgery took too long.
The announcement received renewed attention this week following the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City this week, which police believe was a “targeted” attack.
BCBS had said anesthesia coverage would be based on a timeline established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to “target the number of minutes reported for anesthesia services.”
The company said if a claim is made where the reported time for anesthesia services exceeds that number, it will be denied.
While patients could have challenged claim denials, “documentation supporting your request is required,” BCBS said.
However, those under the age of 22 and those receiving pregnancy-related care would not be affected, the company said.
On Thursday, BCBS announced it would scrap the policy, which was intended to be implemented in New York, Missouri and Connecticut. It should start in February 2025 in the affected states.
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield has reversed a controversial policy that would deny anesthesia coverage if a surgery exceeded a certain timeline. Pictured is a BCBS office in Michigan
News of the policy comes just days after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, pictured here, was killed in what police said was a targeted attack
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This is what a spokesperson for BCBS says NBC News: ‘There is significant and widespread misinformation regarding an update to our anesthesia policy.
‘That is why we have decided not to proceed with this policy change.
“To be clear, it has never been and will never be Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield’s policy not to pay for medically necessary anesthesia services.
‘The proposed update to the policy was intended solely to clarify the appropriateness of anesthesia, in accordance with established clinical guidelines.’
The cost of anesthesia depends on the type of procedure and its duration, but can range from $200 to $3,500 without insurance.
Experts estimate that half of surgeries in the US use general anesthesia, which leaves a patient completely unconscious, while the other half use local anesthesia to numb a specific area.
This is evident from research by National Institutes of Health (NIH), 60,000 Americans need general anesthesia every day.
Before the policy was rescinded, doctors and lawmakers called it “outrageous” and a “cash grab.”
The American Society of Anesthesiologists said in a news release that the “unprecedented” move is based on an “arbitrary cap” and that payment for anesthesia is based on several factors, “including the exact amount of time anesthesiologists need to provide preoperative care , during the operation and when transferring the patient to the recovery department afterwards.’
Dr. Donald E. Arnold, president of the ASE, said in a statement: “This is just the latest in a long line of abhorrent behavior by commercial health insurers seeking to boost their profits at the expense of patients and physicians who provide essential care.
“It’s a cynical cash grab by Anthem, designed to capitalize on the commitment that anesthesiologists make thousands of times every day to provide expert, complete and safe anesthesia care to their patients.
“This egregious policy violates the trust between Anthem and its policyholders, who expect their health insurers to pay physicians for the full care they need.”
New York Governor Kathy Hochul wrote on X: “Outrageous. I’m going to make sure New Yorkers are protected.”
Following news that the policy was being reversed, Hochul wrote on the platform: “Don’t mess with the health and well-being of New Yorkers – not on my watch.”
Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut also expressed concern.
He said on X: ‘This is terrible. Saddling patients with thousands of dollars in surprising additional medical debt. And for what? Just to increase corporate profits? Revoke this decision immediately.”
Social media users also joked about the policy.
One user posted on X: ‘BYOA: Bring your own anesthetic.’
Another wrote: ‘This is how it starts. America’s healthcare system is about to become a hunger game.”