Connecticut Blocks Anthem's Proposed Anesthesia Coverage Limits After Anesthesiologists Bash The 'Cynical Money Grab'

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield has abandoned plans to limit anesthesia coverage for surgeries in Connecticut following widespread backlash.

The policy, set to take effect in February 2025, would have capped coverage based on pre-set time limits, forcing patients to pay out-of-pocket if procedures exceeded those durations.

State Comptroller Sean Scanlon announced the reversal on Thursday, NBC reported.

"After hearing from people across the state about this concerning policy, my office reached out to Anthem, and I'm pleased to share this policy will no longer be going into effect here in Connecticut," Scanlon said.

The policy faced sharp criticism from healthcare professionals, including the American Society of Anesthesiologists, which called it a "cynical money grab." Attorney General William Tong also denounced the plan, saying it left patients vulnerable to unforeseen costs during surgeries.

Anthem initially defended the move as a safeguard against overbilling, but the reversal ensures Connecticut patients will maintain full anesthesia coverage during surgeries. It is unclear if the policy will still apply in other states.