Anthem Reverses Anesthesia Decision Following Outcry, Opposition

By Joe O’Leary

December 11 @ 5:00 am

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield reversed a decision last week regarding coverage of procedures using anesthesia following outcry and negotiation by Connecticut lawmakers after the major insurance provider moved to limit its coverage.

Anthem announced last month that it would impose a new policy in Connecticut, New York and Missouri that anesthesiology coverage would be rejected starting in February if it went over certain time limits, with the cost of anesthesia passed on to patients. In the event of surgical complications or delays, outside of a patient’s control, they would be forced to pay.

Only patients under the age of 22 and receiving maternity care would be exempt from the policy.

Anthem’s announcement was immediately met with derision and scorn from physicians, anesthesiologists and members of the public, among others.

“This is just the latest in a long line of appalling behavior by commercial health insurers looking to drive their profits up at the expense of patients and physicians providing essential care,” said Dr. Donald E. Arnold, President of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. “It’s a cynical money grab by Anthem, designed to take advantage of the commitment anesthesiologists make thousands of times each day to provide their patients with expert, complete and safe anesthesia care. This egregious policy breaks the trust between Anthem and its policyholders who expect their health insurer to pay physicians for the entirety of the care they need.”

Public officials in Connecticut had similar objections

“This is appalling,” said U.S. Senator Chris Murphy. “Saddling patients with thousands of dollars in surprise additional medical debt. And for what? Just to boost corporate profits? Reverse this decision immediately.”

State Senator Saud Anwar, Senate Chair of the Public Health Committee, said he was outraged by the cap, which he called “directly dangerous to patients’ well-being.”

“Anthem should reverse this cruel, ineffective, heavy-handedly abusive policy before it impacts patient care, throws people into medical debt or places timers hovering over the heads of surgeons in operating rooms,” Anwar said.

A reversal came quickly in Connecticut. State Comptroller Sean Scanlon, who expressed dismay at the initial policy, said last week that his office reached out to Anthem upon learning of the change.

“After hearing from people across the state about this concerning policy, my office reached out to Anthem, and I’m pleased to share this policy will no longer be going into effect here in Connecticut,” Scanlon said.

Anthem announced shortly after that it was reversing the planned policy in New York and Missouri in addition to Connecticut, citing “widespread misinformation” in making that decision.

The announcement came just one day after the high-profile murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City, a shocking event that drew renewed focus on health insurance companies’ policies, including their claim rejection rates, and the impact those decisions have on public health.

“Data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services shows Anthem cancels as many as one in five in-network claims,” Anwar said in an updated statement after Anthem announced its reversal in Connecticut but before it was rescinded in New York and Missouri, calling for its blanket removal. “If this policy goes into place, I expect that rate may increase.”