Anthem Blue Cross, an affiliate of Elevance Health, announced on December 5, 2024, that it would reverse its controversial policy to tie payments for anesthesia services to 'physician work time values.' The policy, which was set to take effect in February in states including New York, Connecticut, and Missouri, had faced widespread outcry from medical professionals and the public.
Anthem stated that the decision to backpedal resulted from 'significant widespread misinformation' and clarified that it never intended to deny medically necessary anesthesia services. The American Society for Anesthesiologists had called for an immediate reversal, arguing the policy would ignore the 'nuanced, unpredictable human element' of surgery and was a 'money grab.'
This reversal ensures that payments for anesthesia services will not be limited based on time values, alleviating concerns about patient care and administrative burdens for providers. Connecticut and New York officials also intervened, with New York Governor Kathy Hochul confirming her office's successful intervention.
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