{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-blumenthal-call-out-anthems-ill-conceived-policy-limiting-anesthesia-coverage/", "Hawley,\u00a0Blumenthal Call Out Anthem\u2019s \u2018Ill-Conceived\u2019 Policy Limiting Anesthesia Coverage", "2024-12-10", "2024", "2024-12", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) sent a letter to Elevance CEO Gail Koziara Boudreaux calling for answers regarding a recent policy change, in states including Missouri and Connecticut, that denies coverage for anesthesia care if a surgery or procedure exceeds specific time limits pre-determined by the health insurance provider. Anthem, a subsidiary of Elevance, rolled out the new policy earlier this year before public outcry forced them to retract it.\n\n\u201cAs you are well aware, health care providers are sworn to act in the best interest of their patient and are the only individuals in an operating room singularly focused on providing quality, sometimes life-saving medical care,\u201d the Senators wrote. \u201cTherefore, without strong documentation to the contrary, it was absurd for Anthem to presume that the anesthesia care being provided to patients needed to be restricted through Anthem-imposed time caps.\u201d\n\nHawley and Blumenthal added that they are seeking assurances from Anthem that the company will not enact a similar anesthesia policy going forward.\n\n\u201cIn the interest of patients\u2019 health and safety nationwide, we demand answers regarding this ill-conceived policy and clear, direct assurances that a policy cutting off full anesthesia coverage mid-procedure will not be re-considered or re-imposed,\u201d they wrote.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDecember 10, 2024\n\nGail Koziara Boudreaux\n\nChief Executive Officer\n\nElevance\n\n220 Virginia Ave\n\nIndianapolis, Indiana 46203\n\nDear Ms. Boudreaux,\n\nWe write with deep concern over recently published reports of a new draconian policy adopted by Anthem in several states, including Connecticut and Missouri, which would limit beneficiary coverage for anesthesiology services during surgical procedures if such surgery goes beyond time limits that are unilaterally set by Anthem. Since this policy was announced \u2013 and only because of public outrage \u2013 Anthem claims it will not move forward with the policy. In the interest of patients\u2019 health and safety nationwide, we demand answers regarding this ill-conceived policy and clear, direct assurances that a policy cutting off full anesthesia coverage mid-procedure will not be re-considered or re-imposed.\n\nLast week, it was reported that Anthem planned to enact a one-size-fits-all approach to anesthesia care in states like Connecticut and Missouri that would cut off coverage if anesthesia was needed for longer than Anthem deemed necessary. This policy led to outrage from patients and their providers, who could now be on the hook for increased medical costs simply because medical professionals provided appropriate care. As you are well aware, health care providers are sworn to act in the best interest of their patient and are the only individuals in an operating room singularly focused on providing quality, sometimes life-saving medical care. Therefore, without strong documentation to the contrary, it was absurd for Anthem to presume that the anesthesia care being provided to patients needed to be restricted through Anthem-imposed time caps.\n\nAfter significant public outrage, Anthem said it would not move forward with the new policy, claiming there was \u201csignificant widespread misinformation.\u201d[1] Still, patients and providers have pressing questions about the policy and its potential impact. In an effort to correct the alleged \u201csignificant widespread misinformation,\u201d and to put patients and providers at ease, we are demanding that Anthem immediately commit, in writing, to covering any medically necessary anesthesia services and provide an immediate response to the direct questions below:\n\n1. Can you confirm that all Anthem policies proposing to cap anesthesia coverage times have been rescinded?\n\n2. Can you confirm that no Anthem policies are currently in effect that cap anesthesia coverage times?\n\n3. Can you confirm that Anthem will not again consider imposing a policy that limits anesthesia coverage times?\n\nFurther, please answer the more detailed questions below to provide transparency to the public, your beneficiaries, and providers by December 20, 2024:\n\n4. Why did Anthem propose a policy capping anesthesia coverage times? Please provide any documentation finding such a policy was necessary to protect patient care.\n\n5. Anthem stated that \u201cit never was and never will be the policy of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield to not pay for medically necessary anesthesia services.\u201d\n\nUnder the proposed (and now rescinded) policy, what would happen if a procedure using anesthesia went over Anthem\u2019s approved time limit?\n\nHow does Anthem define \u201cmedically necessary anesthesia services\u201d?\n\nWould it be possible under Anthem\u2019s policy for \u201cmedically necessary anesthesia services\u201d to only be deemed \u201cmedically necessary\u201d for a set amount of time?\n\n6. Anthem stated that the \u201cproposed update to the policy was only designed to clarify the appropriateness of anesthesia consistent with well-established clinical guidelines.\u201d\n\nPlease explain why clarification was necessary.\n\nIf it was never Anthem\u2019s policy to not pay for medically necessary anesthesia services, what was the goal \u2013 and intended outcome \u2013 of the clarification?\n\nWhat well-established clinical guidelines Anthem was seeking to follow?\n\nDid these clinical guidelines recommend cutting off beneficiary coverage after a certain time limit was reached?\n\n7. Did Anthem consider how this policy could adversely impact beneficiaries, either medically or financially? If so, please provide detailed information as to how you considered the medical and financial impacts and what you found. If not, please explain why not.\n\n8. How did Anthem decide which states to impose this policy in, and why were Connecticut and Missouri included?\n\nWe look forward to your response.\n\nSincerely,\n\nJosh Hawley\n\nUnited States Senator", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-blumenthal-call-out-anthems-ill-conceived-policy-limiting-anesthesia-coverage/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8718762546777725, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}