Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield calls off decision to cap anesthesia for surgical patients

A major health insurer is backing away from a controversial policy to limit anesthesia coverage in at least one state, according to Connecticut's comptroller.

Why it matters:

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield had proposed a policy to stop covering anesthesia costs if surgeries exceeded a set time limit, regardless of how long the procedure actually took. The American Society of Anesthesiologists opposed the move, calling the limits "arbitrary."

• The policy was set to apply to plans in Connecticut, New York, and Missouri.
• Anthem based its decision on surgical time metrics from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, according to NPR.

Context:

The decision faced backlash when announced, but public outrage intensified this week after the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City drew attention to controversial insurance practices.

What they're saying:

"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," Connecticut Comptroller Sean Scanlon announced Thursday on X.

• It remains unclear whether the policy will still be implemented in New York or Missouri.
• Anthem has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Marianne Udow-Phillips, an expert in health insurance policy at the University of Michigan, noted the unusual nature of Anthem’s original decision. "When patients become financially responsible because a health plan cuts how much they pay providers, that's what breeds all this anger," she told Axios.