The Anthem Inc. Anthem Anywhere application is seen in the App Store in Washington, D.C., U.S.
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield said Thursday it was not going ahead with a policy change that would limit reimbursements for anesthesia during surgeries and medical procedures. The new policy would have reimbursed doctors based on time limits set by the insurer.
Anthem BCBS, one of the largest health insurers in the U.S., quietly announced the new reimbursement policy last month for Connecticut, New York and Missouri beginning in February. The policy change triggered outrage from the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
Initially, the policy update went unnoticed, but that changed Wednesday, following the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City. The killing sparked a wave of online vitriol about the U.S. health care system, and Anthem BCBS’s decision roared into the conversation.
More from NBC News:
In a statement to NBC News, a spokesperson for Anthem BCBS said,
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield halts anesthesia payment policy after backlash
