8mo ago

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Won’t Pay for the Complete Duration of Anesthesia for Patients’ Surgical Procedures

www.asahq.org

CHICAGO – In an unprecedented move, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield plans representing Connecticut, New York and Missouri have unilaterally declared it will no longer pay for anesthesia care if the surgery or procedure goes beyond an arbitrary time limit, regardless of how long the surgical procedure takes. The American Society of Anesthesiologists calls on Anthem to reverse this proposal immediately.

91 comments

Man, the timing on this announcement is breathtaking.
- It isn't - it was announced 11/14. As someone who follows healthcare news I really hope to fucking god more people start following it more closely.
  
  Yeah but when and where is the shareholder meeting
- I bet after this a new book was opened up on the large health care insurance orgs in Vegas.
  I probably can't buy in, but certainly would be entertaining.
When the police show up to investigate your murder, and they ask "Is there anyone who would wish to harm your Husband/Wife?" and your spouse just turns over your entire database of your clients, you're the bad guy/girl.
Who is the CEO?
- Anthem Blue Cross appears to be a subsidiary of Elevance Health, whose CEO is Gail Koziara Boudreaux
  She currently lives in Indianapolis, IN.
  These are fun facts
  
  Indianapolis has one of the highest rates of violent crime in the country.
  
  Another fun fact, she was previously a VP at UnitedHealth!
  
  That woman has killed MILLIONS of people! LEAVE HER ALONE! WE don't want her to get the UnitedHealthCare treatment! We want her Spry and Healthy so she can CONTINUE Killing Americans!
- Asking for a friend
  
  Is this friend at large?
If there’s anything that we should all be aware of when it comes to insurance companies, it’s that they will fuck you as hard, and as often as possible, unless there is a law specifically prohibiting it. Even then, they’ll still try to get away with it, counting on you being too poor to fight them in court.
Insurance companies are among the most predatory and despicable entities that exist, which is why they should all be nationalized and provided by right to citizens and funded by taxpayer dollars. Specifically, rich people paying taxes.
- Musk is offended that anyone else has anything at all. That’s a type of person he is.
Anthem CEO better watch out
- Maybe it is the beginning of eat the rich. I mean something has to be done about it and the governments are not doing shit.
Here's hoping they get the United Healthcare treatment.
- A United Healthcare retirement.
- So deny their preventable death?
  
  What, you don't read the news?
don't worry, the people who continually vote this unregulated trainwreck into existence want to repeal obamacare, but want to keep their ACA
- the term "medicare", iirc, was first used to describe eisenhower's dependents medical care act (for military families); and public-funded medical coverage for seniors (social security recipients) was first proposed during his administration (which ultimately passed congress under lbj, along with medicaid).
  just take bernie's medicare for all bill, that i'm sure he has written, rename it "the dwight d. eisenhower memorial health care act" and send it through.
  
  The GOP will just think of something snide to call it, Berniecare at best - CommieCare if they’re feeling spicy.
  This is the same group of people who refused to call it the Democratic Party for so long, that “Democrat Party” (emphasis on the rat) has basically been normalised.
  
  Call it reagancare and no GOP politician would dare vote against it.
- Get the government out of health care! That's between me, my doctor, and Medicare.
California : The fuck outta here
- What the actual fuck. I mean the amount of extra money they've made these people pay. They have probably caused people to lose their jobs.
  What if I had Anthem and the doctor told me I'm good to go but the insurance hadn't cleared me for release, and I left? They can't keep me there against my will. Would they use this to justify denying coverage?
  
  Anything and everything will be used to deny coverage.
  
  In most of these cases it's the delay in approval for some kind of continued care (nursing facility, home nurse visits etc.) which the patient needs that's delaying the hospital discharge. I think if you're good to walk out, you probably can. Even if the doctor hasn't cleared it, there's a form you can sign that basically says you're taking your legal right to leave.
- Hell yeah I'm posting this hoping more eyes stop to read your comment if they see a reply. Cuz fuck what ins is doing
- The law should get a provision that if an insurer does not have his shit in order, another insurer can provide the service and Bill the failed insurer at 150pct.
  
  That sounds fun but how about making a law with what basic insurance should cover at a minimum instead?
Did they see a healthcare CEO dead on the street and thought "this is the right moment to fuck with people"?
Who's their CEO again?
Sometimes we need heroes.
The guillotine...
- The ballot or the bullet maybe
  
  From 2010 on especially, through gerrymandered redistricting, capturing state houses, voter suppression, education cuts and the evergreen tyranny of the electoral college, they've poisoned the ballot - that's no longer a viable tool. There's only one care option left that's covered on your insurance plan...
i truly loved living in the united states but damn it seems really easy to go broke simply by getting sick
- Not for doctors lol
- That's why I fucking left. Good health is more important - it's literally the most important thing.
Does Anthem Blue Cross, have a CEO?
The American Society of Anesthesiologists calls on Anthem to reverse this proposal immediately.
Anthem cackles and croaks, "You have no power here!"
And there's no Gandalf present.
- Legolas might be a better analogy.
- does anthem execs 'eat their own dog food'? they could easily be victim of their own policy: 'sorry about you wakin' up in the middle of your double bypass, your insurance for the sleep doc ran out'
Seems like they are encouraging Mal practices suits against doctors that rushed surgeries. Wonder if there a class action suit here or something.
- The won't cut the anesthesia, they will just send the patient a bill for thousands of dollars
  
  Guess I need to hire a hypnotist. https://youtu.be/QMXbuEuNNk4?5BR_L-l-HzMIUJMF
  It will cut the bill in half probably....
Americans in 2025 trying to get more anesthesia:
- Relevant Ontario ad: our lives are not for profit
This news is from November 14th. OP trying to make recent events into a new trend perhaps?
I don't know whether to be appalled or impressed. Either way it's quite clever.
- I doubt it's anything so deliberate. This story has been going viral on Bluesky as well.
  It seems it slipped through the cracks at the time, but recent events have led people to reexamine it.
  
  yeah remember after that hazmat derailment in Ohio there was a bunch of news coverage of derailments for a while? Made people realize just how common they are due to shitty infrastructure and practices
  if "trendiness" is what it takes to get the US public to be more aware of the fucked up shit that goes on, so be it
Right after the recent news about another healthcare CEO, this seems like a great way to get your own headline
What a great time to be alive and awake
Remember Brian Thompson.
!nottheonion@lemmy.world
- !NotRick@lemmy.world
- History suggests yes, for the most part, with one notable recent exception.
  
  I'd love to know what he said, if not for the fucking mods removing every other god damned comment on this shithole website. Already looking for a new alternative.
- Well, one didn't
Better look around in hotel parking lots.

91 comments