Insurance company halts plan to put time limits on coverage for anesthesia during surgery (CNN)

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) has reversed its decision to implement a policy that would have capped anesthesia coverage based on predetermined time limits in Connecticut, New York, and Missouri. The policy, initially set to take effect in February 2025, faced significant backlash from medical professionals and state officials. Critics argued that such arbitrary time constraints could jeopardize patient safety by not accommodating the varying complexities of surgical procedures. In response to the widespread concerns and what the company described as “significant widespread misinformation” about the policy, Anthem BCBS announced it would not proceed with the changes.