A major insurance company has backtracked on its “appalling” decision to deny life-saving anesthesia amid widespread backlash.
Health insurance giant Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield quietly announced in February that it would no longer cover the full amount of anesthesia if a surgery went on too long.
The ad regained attention this week after the shooting death 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 schedule determined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to “target the number of minutes reported for anesthesia services.”
The company said that if a claim is filed where the reported time for anesthesia services exceeds that number, it would be denied.
Although patients would have been able to challenge claim denials, “documentation supporting their request will be required,” according to BCBS.
However, those under 22 and those receiving maternity-related care will not be affected, the company said.
On Thursday, BCBS announced it was eliminating the policy, which was to be implemented in New York, Missouri and Connecticut. It was supposed to begin in the affected states in February 2025.
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield has backed away from a controversial policy that would deny anesthesia coverage if a surgery exceeds a certain deadline. Pictured is a BCBS office in Michigan.
News of the policy comes just days after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, pictured, was killed in what police believe was a targeted attack.
A BCBS spokesperson said NBC News: ‘There has been significant widespread misinformation about an update to our anesthesia policy.
‘As a result, we have decided not to proceed with this policy change.
‘To be clear, it was never and will never be Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield’s policy not to pay for medically necessary anesthesia services.
“The proposed policy update was only designed to clarify the appropriateness of anesthesia in accordance with well-established clinical guidelines.”
The cost of anesthesia depends on the type of procedure and duration, but can range from $200 to $3,500 without insurance.
Experts estimate that half of operations in the U.S. use general anesthesia, which leaves the patient completely unconscious, while the other half uses local anesthesia to numb a specific area.
According to an investigation by National Institutes of Health (NIH), 60,000 Americans need general anesthesia every day.
Before the policy was canceled, doctors and lawmakers called it “scandalous” and a “money grab.”
The American Society of Anesthesiologists said in a news release that the “unprecedented” measure is based on an “arbitrary limit” and that payment for anesthesia is based on several factors, “including the exact amount of time anesthesiologists must spend provide pre-operative care, during the operation and when the patient is transferred to the recovery unit afterwards.’
Dr Donald E Arnold, president of the ASE, said in a statement: “This is just the latest in a long line of egregious behavior by commercial health insurers seeking to increase their profits at the expense of patients and doctors. who provide essential care.
‘It is a cynical money grab by Anthem, designed to take advantage of the commitment that anesthesiologists make thousands of times a day to provide their patients with expert, comprehensive and safe anesthesia care.
“This egregious policy breaks the trust between Anthem and its policyholders, who expect their health insurer to pay doctors for all of the care they need.”
New York Governor Kathy Hochul wrote on X: ‘Scandalous. “I’m going to make sure New Yorkers are protected.”
Following news of the policy delay, 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 in X: ‘This is awful. Burden patients with thousands of dollars in additional surprise medical debt. And for what? Just to increase corporate profits? Revoke this decision immediately.”
Social media users also joked about politics.
One user posted on X: ‘BYOA: bring your own anesthesia.’
Another wrote: ‘This is how it begins. American healthcare is about to become the hunger games.