Anesthesia services, regardless of duration, would be covered by insurance companies under a measure led by State Senator Doris Turner.
“Insurance companies have taken advantage of people for far too long,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Insurance coverage isn’t a timeshare, and companies shouldn’t have the ability to sell plans like this.”
House Bill 1141 would require private insurers and all state group health plans to cover medically necessary anesthesia services, regardless of duration, for any procedure covered by the policy.
House Bill 1141 passed the Senate with bipartisan support.
Turner’s initiative was presented in response to a proposed change for Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield’s medical coverage which would have placed a time limit on surgical anesthesia in New York, Missouri and Connecticut: Late last year the company announced that it would begin setting a specific amount of time it would cover anesthesia costs for, depending on the procedure. After the time limit would have been reached, patients would be required to pay out-of-pocket for the remaining anesthesia.
The proposal was universally reviled, and in the ensuing controversy which erupted the insurance company hastily retracted the policy change. Yet concerns were not eased that insurers might resurface such carveouts from coverage once scrutiny eased – thus Senator Turner pushed to restrict companies from attempting to drop anesthesia coverage.
“Under this plan, people can rest assured that a time limit can’t be put on anesthesia services, requiring patients to pay the cost,” said Turner. “Instead of lining their own pockets, let’s put patients’ health first.”
Photo credit: REUTERS
