The policy, which will cover Anthem’s projects in Connecticut, New York and Missouri, was revealed in recent weeks, the company’s New York unit said. Notes On December 1. The policy will exclude people below 22 years of age and maternity care.
According to the original policy statement, Anthem said it would only pay for anesthesia care up to the time estimated for a procedure or surgery based on Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services physician work time values. is on The insurer noted that anesthesia claims “will be denied beyond the prescribed minutes.”
In an email to CBS News on Thursday, Anthem said he was backing away from the policy, adding that “there is widespread misinformation about updating our anesthesia policy.”
“As a result, we have decided not to move forward with this policy change,” an Anthem spokesperson wrote in an email. “To be clear, it has never been and never will be Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield’s policy not to pay for medically necessary anesthesia services. Guidelines.”
Before the anthem reversal was announced, the plan was criticized by medical professionals as well as Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, a Democrat, who wrote on social media Wednesday that the plan was “terrible.”
“Putting patients into staggering additional medical debt of thousands of dollars. And for what? Just to increase corporate profits?” Murphy wrote. “Retract this decision immediately.”
Connecticut Comptroller Sean Scanlon told The Hartford Courant said Thursday that the policy would not take place after discussions with an insurer in their state.
“After hearing about this policy from people across the state, my office reached out to Anthem, and I’m happy to announce that this policy will no longer be in effect here in Connecticut,” Scanlon told the newspaper.
“Horrible Behavior of Commercial Health Insurers”
In a statement last month, the American Society of Anesthesiologists also called for a policy change from the anthem.
“With this new policy, Anthem will predetermine the time allowed for anesthesia care during a surgery or procedure,” the group said. “If an anesthesiologist submits a bill where the actual time of care is over Anthem’s limit, Anthem will deny payment for the anesthesiologist’s care.”
The group added that the new policy could result in insurers denying coverage to patients who may need more anesthesia because their surgery is difficult or unusual, or if a complication develops.
“This is a long line of appalling behavior by commercial health insurers seeking to maximize their profits at the expense of patients and physicians providing essential care,” said Donald E. Arnold, an anesthesiologist and president of the American Society of Anesthesiologist. “This outrageous policy breaks the trust between Anthem and its policyholders who expect their health insurer to pay doctors for all the care they need.”