A new House bill would ban health insurers from imposing arbitrary time limits on patients under anesthesia — days after Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield only backed off the move amid outcry.
“We cannot trust insurers to do right by doctors and patients out of the kindness of their hearts,” Rep. Torres (D-Bronx), who is sponsoring the bill, told The Post.
“There is a need for legislation that prevents any insurer anywhere in America from micromanaging the length of anesthesia care in a medically necessary surgery,” Torres said. “The purpose of medicine should be to prevent pain, rather than cause it through the denial of anesthesia.”
The congressman’s “Anesthesia for All Act” would prohibit health insurers from determining how long a person can stay under anesthesia, threatening to withhold reimbursement if they go beyond it.
Anesthesia keeps patients from feeling pain during surgery or other procedures through heavy sedation or being temporarily put to sleep.
The proposed law would ensure reimbursement for costs is based on medical necessity as determined by the attending anesthesiologist and prohibit insurers from denying payment solely because the length of surgery or care exceeds their pre-set limit.
The furor over Anthem Blue Cross Shield’s aborted cap erupted about the same time that UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down and killed in front of the Hilton hotel last week.