Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield does not cover anesthesia past the deadline in three states, according to Doctor Group

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield has announced that it will no longer cover the entire duration of anesthesia during surgery if it exceeds a certain time limit, sparking outrage on social media from average users to government officials.

According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the change will affect those insured in New York, Missouri and Connecticut.

The insurer said that starting February 1, 2025, it will begin using CMS physician work time values ​​to “target the number of minutes reported for anesthesia services.”

According to Anthem, if a claim is submitted where the reported time for anesthesia services exceeds the specified number of minutes, it will be denied.

According to Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, those under 22 and those related to maternity care are exempt from the change.

The American Society of Anesthesiologists said in a news release that the move was “unprecedented” and based on “an arbitrary deadline.”

“This is just the latest in a long line of appalling behavior by commercial health insurers seeking to increase profits at the expense of patients and physicians who provide primary care,” Dr. Donald E. Arnold, president of the society, said in a statement.

“It is a cynical cash grab by Anthem designed to exploit the commitment that anesthesiologists make thousands of times every day to provide expert, complete and safe anesthesia care to their patients,” Arnold continued. “This outrageous policy breaks the trust between Anthem and its policyholders, who expect their health insurers to pay doctors for all the care they need.”

The company asked the insurance company to immediately reverse the proposal.

Anthem did not immediately respond to a request for comment from TODAY.com.

Government leaders across New York and Connecticut reacted to the news in early December.

“Outrageous. “I will ensure New Yorkers are protected,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul wrote in a post on X.

Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) also spoke up.

“This is horrific. Burdening patients with thousands of dollars in unexpected additional medical debt. And for what? Just to increase corporate profits? Reverse this decision immediately,” Senator Chris Murphy said in a post on X.

Other social media users joked about the change.

“BYOA: Bring your own anesthesia,” one X user wrote.

“Well, no, of course you’ll take the anesthesia. After that they only get to keep your house,” another X user commented.

“That’s how it starts. American healthcare is about to become the Hunger Games,” one X user wrote.