Wh . . . what? - ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

radleybalko.bsky.social • 89 days ago

Wh . . . what?

Blue Cross Blue Shield in Connecticut, New York and Missouri has declared it will no longer pay for anesthesia for the full length of some surgeries.

It the procedure goes over a certain time, anesthesia will not be covered for the duration.

www.asahq.org/about-asa/ne...

Comments

ktc2.bsky.social•88 days ago

WTF!?

paddyj1325.bsky.social•88 days ago

and you're wondering why someone would be targeting health care CEOs.

ajgenz.bsky.social•89 days ago

I'm sure they'll say it hurts them more than it hurts their patients.

privateideation.bsky.social•89 days ago

Oh, Anthem, is there no depth you won’t sink to?

savvycammom.bsky.social•88 days ago

I'm sorry, but that's going to be immediately challenged. There's no set time. A surgery is, however long it takes. Ridiculous scam these idiots are trying.

yougottagive.bsky.social•89 days ago

speedrun ACL repair any%

jonhutson.bsky.social•89 days ago

Dammit, Radley, stop being so "anti-woke"!

viss.hax.lol•89 days ago

bluecross blueshield of california once slammed our corp checking account for 46,000 dollars because of a typo on their end. the only way we got the money back in any reasonable amount of time is because i threatened involving the fbi financial crimes division, and cc'ing lawyers on email

viss.hax.lol•89 days ago

they originally tried to say 'oh we'll get your money back in 10-14 business days', and i had to explain that if i couldnt run payroll, and my staff quit because of it, i was coming to their office to speak to them about it in person.

they ended up fedexing me a check, which i have framed.

viss.hax.lol•89 days ago

bcbs is, arguably WORSE than united, i would measure.

infosecgoon.bsky.social•89 days ago

BCBS is interesting because it's basically just a franchise operation - Florida Blue or Highmark or Anthem are all completely different organizations with shared branding.

thoughtcrime23.bsky.social•89 days ago

I've had both, statement is TRUE. In fact, UHC wasn't so bad after dealing with BCBS. The American healthcare system sucks!

bevbrandt.bsky.social•89 days ago

We gonna start paying surgeons and anesthesiologists on book like a mechanic?

liamgreybeerd.bsky.social•89 days ago

So how much are they going to charge for a shot of whiskey and a stick to bite down on?

leonceg.bsky.social•89 days ago

Is this the Onion?

stephenjudkins.bsky.social•89 days ago

they're playing hardball with anesthesiologists, I imagine

walmsley.bsky.social•89 days ago

it was kinda wild to learn that, in many cases, the anesthesiologist is the best-paid person in the OR

ravva.bsky.social•88 days ago

with the highest risk. they fuck up patients die.

charlesxavier.bsky.social•89 days ago

Anesthesiologists have the highest insurance rates to carry as well, IIRC

calemiller.bsky.social•88 days ago

Better hurry up with that heart transplant, doc. The insurer says it should only take an hour.

tristanpalmgren.bsky.social•89 days ago

An economy that has the ability but not the will to anesthetize patients on an operating table should perhaps be reconsidered somewhat.

zendarva.bsky.social•88 days ago

Puts the shooting in context doesn't it?

Beeks.hachyderm.io.ap.brid.gy•88 days ago

@radleybalko.bsky.social wonder if their CEO is rethinking this policy right now.

cosmowenman.bsky.social•89 days ago

This is a wake up call

radleybalko.bsky.social•89 days ago

well-played, sir

warpingwhiskers.bsky.social•88 days ago

What bs is this is? Shame on them.

stefanturk.bsky.social•89 days ago

The way insurance companies work is awful, but basically anthem thinks they are being charged for labor blocks rather than actual time. So they are going to cut the nurse anesthesiologist to 85% of the fee schedule and cap the surgery length unless you use can justify by showing complications.

stefanturk.bsky.social•89 days ago

Here's their explainer, which isn't helpful. Again, this is not how healthcare should be provided, but insurance companies are driven by profit and not patient outcomes: https://providernews.anthem.com/new-york/articles/anesthesia-billed-time-units-commercial-22477

dvdbutler.bsky.social•89 days ago

Are they begging to have their CEO killed too?

kelleybuz.bsky.social•88 days ago

That’s no surprise. I’ve attempted to set up minor outpatient surgery only to see the hospital is covered, the surgery is covered, as is the surgeon, but anesthesia isn’t.
All I can say as a 4 decade healthcare worker, Insurence companies are practicing medicine without license.

adub01488424.bsky.social•89 days ago

This would seem to be a good marketing opportunity for competitors. “We won’t wake you up during surgery to hit you up for more money.”

P.s. what they’re really doing making hospitals eat the cost

ladylinds.bsky.social•89 days ago

Blue Cross' CEO better hire some security

wendella.bsky.social•88 days ago

Will they at least agree to giving the patients a bullet to bite?

vanja-s.bsky.social•89 days ago

Some people are upset because the majority of us have no sympathy for the CEO of United Health got unalived?

mrgoh.bsky.social•88 days ago

This is aimed at anaesthesiologist reimbursement rates. Medical providers in the subject states cannot bill the difference to patients under laws restricting balance billing. Anthem is doing this knowing providers will eat the costs, not patients.

crash006.bsky.social•89 days ago

What could possibly go wrong?

curlywhenwet.bsky.social•88 days ago

Because anesthesia is just for kicks?

socrateazer.bsky.social•88 days ago

they are f**ing serious?!

ads60nyc.bsky.social•88 days ago

“Not the Onion” can be overused, but this is Not the Onion.

fromsouthchicago.bsky.social•89 days ago

I would really love to know where this stupid idea came from and who decided that it was good enough to implement. How brain dead do you have to be to even consider such an idea?

susieblacksheep.bsky.social•88 days ago

Wouldn't that be malpractice for the anesthesiologist to NOT keep the patient sedated the ENTIRE length of the surgery?

smpa.bsky.social•88 days ago

Yes. Fun fact: during my cardiac ablation they kept shouting to increase my sedation because my being partially awake was messing with my heart rate; they literally couldn't perform that surgery (or any other thing where the heart rate literally tells them if they're succeeding) without anesthesia.

smpa.bsky.social•88 days ago

That surgery involves medications to accelerate the heart rate artificially so they can see what effect what they're doing has on cardiac rhythm; anxiety/pain throws everything off. Other surgeries I've had require paralytics and sedation because any movement at all could cause catastrophic damage.

smpa.bsky.social•88 days ago

Also my response to hearing them shouting about upping my sedation was... not ideal. They had been trying to sound as chill as possible up until then for good reason; the anesthesiologist had to keep fiddling with it until the surgery was over.

smpa.bsky.social•88 days ago

Afterwords my electrophysiologist said, direct quote, "I hope we NEVER have to do that again". I warned them that I faint even after simple injections, but nobody really believes me until they've done something to make my BP/heart rate go nuts at least once.

susieblacksheep.bsky.social•88 days ago

Wow.
I thought about this, I'm sure the anesthesiologist would keep the patient sedated, if ONLY to avoid a malpractice suit...BUT the patient would be BILLED for the additional time/ sedation. But what if the surgery ended up more involved? Lots of variables. This is a ridiculous policy.

eternalcatwar.bsky.social•89 days ago

Hope their CEO has life insurance

brianao.bsky.social•89 days ago

Take a credit card with you onto the operating table

mrbrains.bsky.social•88 days ago

Uh oh their CEO better watch out! Or is that too soon? I mean health care insurance is terrible in this country but we don’t have to use weapons to solve our problems! Oh wait sorry this happened in #america …. My bad

flcloud.bsky.social•88 days ago

Please say this is a headline from The Onion.

viddef.bsky.social•89 days ago

Late stage capitalism. They know the incoming Administration will not regulate them at all.

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