Anthem Blue Pass Blue Barricade said Thursday the state insurance provider is reversing a policy it had intended to take effect in February that would have limited anesthesia coverage during surgeries and elective procedures, an overhaul that had caused an uproar. Some doctors and lawyers.
The coverage, which included Anthem’s plans in Connecticut, New York and Missouri, was disclosed in recent weeks, with the company’s New York unit posting a. Information On 1 December. Coverage will not include disabled persons under the age of 22 and maternity assistance.
According to the latest policy comment, Anthem said it will only pay for anesthesia treatment for the date area it is anticipated to require a procedure or surgical operation according to Medicare facilities and the Medicaid provider’s doctor action date values. . The well-known insurer says that for anesthesia “minutes exceeding the established minutes will be refused.”
In an email to CBS News on Thursday, Anthem said it was supporting the coverage, and said there was “widespread misinformation regarding the update to our anesthesia policy.”
“As a result, we have decided not to move forward with this policy change,” an Anthem spokesperson wrote in an e-mail. “To be clear, it has never been and will not be the policy of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield not to pay for medically necessary anesthesia services. The proposed update of the policy is only consistent with well-established clinical The guidelines were designed to clarify suitability.”
Before Anthem announced its reversal, the plan drew complaints from clinical professionals as well as Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat, who wrote on social media on Wednesday that the plan was “terrible.”
“Patients are being burdened with staggering amounts of thousands of dollars in additional medical debt. And for what? Just to boost corporate profits?” murphy wrote“Reverse this decision immediately.”
Connecticut Comptroller Shawn Scanlon told The Hartford Courant said Thursday that the coverage would no longer speed up negotiations with the insurer to level the playing field.
Scanlon advised the newspaper, “After hearing from people across the state about this concerning policy, my office reached out to Anthem, and I am pleased to inform you that this policy will no longer be in effect in Connecticut.”
“The appalling behavior of commercial health insurers”
In a comment on Deadline, the American Society of Anesthesiologists also called out Anthem for opposing the coverage.
“With this new policy, Anthem will arbitrarily pre-determine the amount of time given for anesthesia care during a surgery or procedure,” Crowd said. “If an anesthesiologist submits a bill where the actual time of care exceeds Anthem’s limits, Anthem will refuse payment for the anesthesiologist’s care.”
Crowd said the insurer’s unused coverage could deny protection to patients who would potentially need additional anesthesia because their surgery is difficult or unusual, or if a complication occurs.
Donald E. Arnold, an anesthesiologist and president of the American Public Offensive, said, “This is the latest in a long series of appalling behavior by commercial health insurers seeking to increase their profits at the expense of patients and the physicians providing essential care.” Anesthesiologist. “This egregious policy breaks the trust between Anthem and its policyholders who expect their health insurers to pay physicians for the complete care they need.”
