Posted on 12/05/2024 4:16:41 PM PST by Morgana
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield have reversed a policy change that would have seen them tie payments in some states to the length of time a patient went under anesthesia.
The insurance company, which is one of the largest health insurance companies in the country, backtracked on the move following widespread outcry.
Their decision came just a day after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot dead in Manhattan on Wednesday morning.
In a statement the company said: 'To be clear, it never was and never will be the policy of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield to not pay for medically necessary anesthesia services.
'The proposed update to the policy was only designed to clarify the appropriateness of anesthesia consistent with well-established clinical guidelines.'
The company would have used 'physician work time values,' which is published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as the metric for anesthesia limits, with maternity patients and patients under the age of 22 were exempt.
Last month, the American Society for Anesthesiologists called on Anthem to 'reverse the proposal immediately'.
The umbrella company for Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is Elevance Health which is headed by Gail Boudreaux who had previously held Thompson's position as the CEO of UnitedHealthCare.
Thompson was named UnitedHealthcare CEO in 2021 and earned a reported $10 million a year, and for several years prior he ran the Medicare business within UnitedHealthcare.
He was slated to speak at an investor meeting at the Hilton Hotel soon after the shooting on Wednesday morning.
According to a release from United Healthcare on Tuesday, he would announce the company's hugely profitable 2025 financial outlook, including expected revenues upwards of $450 billion.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Sometimes gun violence works.
“”there is something wrong with this sentence, but I don’t know how to fix it.””
Same here...I’m sure the people expecting him to speak after he was shot didn’t know how to fix it either. What a horrible sentence....
Absolutely. And they have the arrogance to get mad when someone questions anything related to the process he is recommending.
You have to ask questions, it is your right to be informed. Absolutely, You CANNOT just blindly trust as so many do.
About 8 years ago the BUHCAs (our lingo for blue cross, United , Humana, and Cigna) all decided that they would not reimburse anesthesiologists for GI endoscopic procedures. However about a month later the policy was magically rescinded when it got out that one of the C suite bastards who run these companies had a colonoscopy with an anesthesiologist and of course the plan payed for it. How these five companies avoid price collusion charges and antitrust laws is beyond me.
Here is a chance for DOGE to shine.
“”It’s not just health insurance, it’s the doctors as well. Medical mistakes are like the second leading cause of death.””
I have heard the same thing. I’ve also read that the largest premium paid for malpractice insurance is for anesthesologists (sp).
...
Yep. And they all have full time bodyguards now.
Bookmark
Here ya go!!!
One can hope.
Like I said, it was a hit job to keep him from talking and naming people like Walz, Pelosi, etc. The shooter probably went back to Minnesota and is in Canada.
Malpractice Insurance Costs for Anesthesiologists
Anesthesiologists do face substantial malpractice insurance costs, but they are not at the top of the list. According to a survey by the Medical Liability Monitor, the average annual premium for anesthesiologists in the United States was $18,571 in 20205.
However, this can vary widely depending on factors such as location, experience, and specific practice details.
Specialties with Higher Premiums
Several medical specialties tend to have higher malpractice insurance premiums than anesthesiologists:
Neurosurgery: Average annual premium of $148,6425
Cardiovascular/thoracic surgery: $72,7815
Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN): $67,1155
Orthopedic surgery: $62,7345
These specialties typically face higher premiums due to the increased risk and potential severity of malpractice claims in their fields8.
Sedation is hard on the brain.
He was shot Wednesday morning shortly before he was due to speak to investors at the Hilton Hotel.
Hahaha, you did that well. Post 29 is well done, too.
Live by government mandates die by revolutionaries.
“He was slated to speak at an investor meeting at the Hilton Hotel soon after the shooting on Wednesday morning. “
“He was slated to speak at an investor meeting at the Hilton Hotel scheduled after the shooting occurred on Wednesday morning. “
Post #29 was a follow-on to his excellent answer to my ping here: https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4282678/posts?page=39#39
So, terrorism does work when the big wheels are on the receiving end.
I had my very first colonoscopy about a month ago. Profofol definitely rocks! 😉
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