Backing down when they’ve been caught. Can you imagine the greed and audacity of putting a time clock on the amount of anesthesia you get during surgery?? A procedure that takes a bad turn and takes longer … cut off the pump cuz your time is up? Seriously??? Unbelievable.
How anyone thought this made sense is beyond me. Perhaps the group think resulting in limiting anesthesia should be investigated. Hopefully someone will be fired.
CNN here, like all other outlets who share the same fears and interests of the healthcare Elites, keep writing and posting news sympathizing with the man and others who have denied the life of thousands.
Here's a great scam where you pay someone money every month to cover your medical needs and then when you need medication then that someone will decline your request.
They tried to deny me a medically necessary hysterectomy because it didn't involve cancer. My doctor forced them to accept because the denial happened while I was getting the operation lmao
this feels like Mayhem Blue Cross Blue Shield's version of declaring martial law.
Declare an absolute shit policy; receive immediate and overwhelming backlash by the medical community and the public; retract policy as soon as it realizes it lacks support
This is absolute BS! The ASA does not set standards for how long any surgery should take. Surgical time depends on many factors, and near zero control by Anesthesiologists. Billing is only for the type of surgery, and the time it takes to complete it, until patient is in PACU. That's it.
This is what happens when data scientists and accountants and actuaries attempt to determine patient care where their only concern is the insurance company's bottom line.
No good surgeon would rush or stop surgery because coverage time was up for anesthesia. The patient would be stuck footing the extended time bill. Money pigs.
Let's say your surgery takes two hours, but you're approved for one hour of coverage. They'll do the surgery as needed, but you'll be charged half. They'll just be like you owe the money, sorry 🤷♀️ when you get the bill. They won't be able to tell you an estimate either.
The receptionist will just be like we'll see what it covers when we bill the insurance. If they are actually able to estimate, it'll be more if it takes longer. So basically people will be charged thousands of dollars they're not expecting.
hospitals bill for the OR time so I'm assuming they were gonna look at the listed procedure and use yet another biased algorithm to say "this procedure should have only taken X hours, you took X+2, bye"
I can't believe it would hold up in court. I don't know how you can define how long an operation will last, some are easy, and some have complications.
They’re not saying they will deny the anesthesia. They’re saying they won’t cover the entire cost. They get away with this crap all the time. UHC denied my inhaler prescription because you know, who needs to breathe? It’s $500 out of pocket. 😡
I'm not defending them, BUT the reality is there a private company and there only responsibility is to their shareholders. Its supply and demand and legally they can charge whatever the market will bear.
It’s basically punishing people whose surgeries don’t go picture perfect smooth. God forbid something goes a bit sideways or takes longer than expected because once they open you up it was worse than they thought. It’s essentially punishment for being sicker than expected. It’s evil.
Other than at the beginning and when things go wrong, the anesthesiologist is the most expensive person in an OR who spends most of their time on their phone. 😄
We can argue about their fees (keep in mind they are basically putting you in a coma) and weather its justified (personally I don't care how much it costs to keep me alive) But you can't cut the amount of anesthesia.
They aren’t cutting it this is so misrepresented. They were capping how much they would pay anesthesia and the anesthesiologists freaked out. They can’t then balance bill the patient either.
They are there because the drugs used are keeping you on a knife edge of "coma and no memories" vs "dead and not breathing". Requires constant supervision and immediate response but most of that response is audible so a little Reddit or Sudoku keeps everyone awake.
You aren’t missing anything. They will do anything to maximize profits. The fact that they’re on the stock exchange should tell you all you need to know.
This is in no defense of these grifters at all. They thought if they put a time limit & the anesthesia exceeded that limit, they could simply deny the claim. Not that anesthesia would be halted mid-surgery. It's one of the reasons the shooter did what he did & was written on the bullet casing. Deny.
Let's start with the shooter was a crazy man, there is no excuse to kill someone. And thankfully the insurance company came to their senses and dropped that idea.
Actually, too often medical pros are using the anesthesia and diluting it. Many reports of that happening quite often for years. Doctors and insurance companies need to take care of THEIR issues first. Denying anesthesia during operations is barbaric!
Like any business they are constantly thinking of ways to cut back and make more money. I’m so sick of a lifetime of cuts and cutbacks that eat away at products and services we use everyday.
Having bean counters defining how doctors perform your surgery is indication of why corporations running health insurance for us is bad in general.
The United States spends twice as much per person on health compared with peer nations. 30% of the excess is insurance and provider admin costs.
Everybody's got a plan until they get punched in the face - Mike Tyson. Yesterday was a punch in the face for Health Care Execs, and Blue Cross changed their plan.
A murder of an industry colleague, perhaps motivated by such non-patient-centered policies as this, might have changed the minds of the Anthem BCBS executives. But, why does a proverbial gun-to-the-head have to happen to provoke Anthem BCBS to do the Right Thing? Be better BCBS.
You know, Brian caught the easy-breezy “bullet” train to Hell. Maybe the folks at Blue Cross/Blue Shield who tried to implement this need to know what it’s like to be operated on WITHOUT anesthesia. Thoughts?
“Mr. Jones, your surgery has run long and you’re still open. As you slowly wake, bite down on this bullet if you experience any discomfort while we finish resecting your bowel. Just another couple of minutes and we’ll have you all sewed up…”
Anesthesia isn’t used for fun, it’s a dangerous procedure necessary to the patient and not extended a second more than what is necessary for.
There is no sense in limiting the anesthesiologist correct use of it.
Such is the land of the free and brave… I’m glad after living for 13 years in the US I moved out in 2011. Still, I hope for the best for all that live in such a wonderful but unfair and unjust country.
Good - that was ridiculous and despicable. Complications happen, things happen - every patient and surgeon are different…a successful surgery takes the time it takes, they are never one size fits all.
"Afraid of experiencing the same fate as UnitedHealthcare's CEO, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield said, 'We were just playin. Ugh, like, we JUST wanted to ruin your lives and take your money 🙄 Why you gotta be so cold? No need to be cappin CEOs out here ya damn broke-asses🤮'"
It's bizarre that every health Insurance CEO isn't being dealt with the same way as the United Health Care one. Better yet just nationalize health care and save them all from the fate they deserve.
What, so they wake you up halfway through an operation to get you to call your credit card co and ask to up the limit?
And I thought it was*me* who lived in a world of satire.
honestly glad they went back on it, too bad it takes the threat of literal potential murder re:ceos to get them to do it instead of, y'know, basic fucking human decency
They’ll put it on the back burner for a few months and then quietly do it again in a few months. They rely on our short memories for us to quit giving a fuck. Always keep up the pressure.
How can I block CNN on Bluesky? I used to watch them religiously in the 90's now I could care less about what they have to say. If I knew then what I know now, I would have saved THOUSANDS on cable bills!
Doctors need to be able to decide proper medical procedures and treatment, not for-profit insurance companies. Remember insurance companies make money by denying medical care and overcharging on premiums.
"I'm sorry, but you weren't pre-approved for more than 10 minutes of anesthesia..." 2024
"I'm sorry but you weren't pre-approved for more than 8 minutes of anesthesia..." 2025
"I'm sorry but you weren't pre-approved for more than 6 minutes of anesthesia..." 2026
...
“We determined that 57mins of the surgery were due to the excess weight & poor attitude u brought to the procedure. 33K for anesthesia is due now. You’ll also b billed for the anesthesiologist’s extra time at the overtime rate. It was past 5 when u began sponging off the hospital u angry lil fatty.”
I wish with writing it was as easy as talking when it comes to saying more of the same thing in agreement (or I should be more thoughtful before blurting out comments).
Except it isn't really a loophole, insurance companies are simply being allowed to treat it as one because too many members of congress own stock in them. They also have powerful lobbyists.
What’s happened is that they lost their cover-the politicians. That’s who they counted on to fight their battles. However, the people decided to confront the enemy directly. The landscape has changed.
“The proposed update to the policy was only designed to clarify the appropriateness of anesthesia consistent with well-established clinical guidelines.”
It's fucking ghoulish that humans at an organization that provides care for other humans would even consider this in the first place. Whatever terrible things happen, those fuckers deserve it.
I’d like to know how much the people make who thought that this was a good enough idea that it made it to the consciousness of the public. #corporategreed
So, they backpedaled not because they recognized that their new money making scheme is abhorrent and would kill people, but because they were afraid of not being able to kill people without consequences.
ridiculous...right in the middle of surgery it runs out and all of a sudden someone becomes the money person keeping track of what is owed rather than being a doctor performing surgery 🤔
Keep in mind that health insurance companies do not have individual people's health as their priority. Their profits are priority one. That's why we have the most expensive and least reliable health care system in the world
Was actually going to switch to BCBSNM next open enrollment but never ever will I give those people a penny going forward. I got almost another half century of life left in me where I won't be giving them jack shit.
I just don't understand why that was ever an option? Man, but it feels like universal health care would solve a lot of this "letting people suffer in the name of greed" thing we have going on.
Who proposed this policy change and who else in the room thought it was good enough to push out to the public?! These folks are so out of touch with reality it’s mind-blowing. 🤯🤯
Good. Now we need to have doctors prescribe opioids again after surgeries, if appropriate. Tylenol and Advil are not always enough and people are suffering.
Read this headline quickly and I thought it was The Onion. Had to look twice. Our Healthcare system in 🇨🇦 might need fixing but at least we have a Healthcare system.
Comments
Or sudden abject fear of bad timing and a desire to postpone this new brilliant idea at a later date?
"Don't shoot! Don't shoot!"
#Insurance Is a #Scam
When do we get cake?
Declare an absolute shit policy; receive immediate and overwhelming backlash by the medical community and the public; retract policy as soon as it realizes it lacks support
And it's so fricking disgusting
Health "insurance" CEOs on the other hand...
One of my anesthesiologists discussed my then-upcoming wedding with me, then smoothly noted a change in my BP and addressed it. Sweet guy.
The United States spends twice as much per person on health compared with peer nations. 30% of the excess is insurance and provider admin costs.
USAians should be the ones crossing the border towards the south. Crossing from south to north is like falling into a trap!
There is no sense in limiting the anesthesiologist correct use of it.
This is a real news?!?
And we are asking why that guy was killed?!?
I am asking myself why it doesn’t happen before???
That's what we get when the healthcare system is centered around profit instead of health.
......you mean #PACKWATCH
Vucking vultures.
And I thought it was*me* who lived in a world of satire.
That was a horrific idea
Also, they lie
"I'm sorry but you weren't pre-approved for more than 8 minutes of anesthesia..." 2025
"I'm sorry but you weren't pre-approved for more than 6 minutes of anesthesia..." 2026
...
Typical Corporate Legal Double-Speak.
Follow this lead:
TRUMP IS SUBORDINATE TO PUTIN
Then all the insane dots domestically and geopolitically connect automatically.
I thusly break it all down here:
https://infoincontext.com/more-context-voices/i-told-you-podcast
Got it.
And the recent trend of profit-focused companies buying up medical practices is further deteriorating healthcare for us all.
Was actually going to switch to BCBSNM next open enrollment but never ever will I give those people a penny going forward. I got almost another half century of life left in me where I won't be giving them jack shit.
Can someone run an AI scenario for this?
As many as it takes
They better keep it mind with every decision they make. The criticism, that is.