ASA Urges Congress to Conduct Oversight of Anthem’s Unprecedented Policy to Cap Duration of Anesthesia

On December 17, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) urged leaders of key U.S. House and Senate committees to address Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield’s (Anthem) recent proposal to no longer pay for anesthesia care if surgery or a medical procedure goes beyond an arbitrary time limit set by Anthem. 
 
ASA expressed strong opposition to this policy and urged the lawmakers to intervene by conducting oversight hearings over Anthem and their policy – a policy that prioritizes profits over patient’s health. While Anthem has agreed to temporarily pause this egregious policy in several states, ASA remains concerned that the insurer may revisit the proposal in the future.

Read the letter.