Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield decided to reverse its decision to link anesthesia payments to procedure time following significant public backlash.
The policy change, criticized by various parties including the American Society for Anesthesiologists, was widely condemned as a profit-driven measure that could compromise patient safety.
The big picture: Prompt intervention from officials in New York and Connecticut played a key role in pushing Anthem to retract the anesthesia payment policy.
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield clarified that the intention behind the proposed payment update was to align anesthesia services with established clinical guidelines, and not to deny medically necessary services.
- The insurer planned to utilize “physician work time values” from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as the basis for anesthesia payment limits, with exceptions for maternity patients and those under 22 years of age.
Go deeper: The American Society for Anesthesiologists urged Anthem to backtrack on their policy change, expressing concerns over its potential adverse effects on patient care.
- Social media played a significant role in the public outcry against the policy, with individuals nationwide voicing their opposition and advocating for legislative action in affected states to halt the implementation of the anesthesia payment restrictions.
