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Anthem Reverses Plan to Cap Anesthesia Coverage in Connecticut, New York, and Missouri After Backlash

Dec 5, 2024, 09:17 PM

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield announced that it would no longer cover the full length of anesthesia for certain surgeries in Connecticut, New York, and Missouri if the procedures exceeded a specific duration. The policy stated that anesthesia costs for any additional time beyond the set limit would not be covered, potentially leaving patients with unexpected medical bills. This decision faced significant backlash from medical professionals, including the American Society of Anesthesiologists, who called the move unprecedented and harmful to patient care. New York Governor Kathy Hochul criticized the policy, stating, "We pushed Anthem to reverse course and today they will be announcing a full reversal of this misguided policy." Connecticut Comptroller Sean Scanlon also announced that Anthem would not proceed with the cap on anesthesia coverage in the state. Facing widespread criticism, Anthem reversed the decision and announced that it would not proceed with the policy change.