Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) has reversed a proposed policy that would have imposed time-based limits on anesthesia reimbursements for surgeries and procedures. The policy, initially set to begin in February for Connecticut, New York, and Missouri, faced fierce opposition from medical groups, including the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

The policy aimed to align anesthesia times with CMS Physical Work Time values. Anthem stated the change was designed to “clarify appropriateness” and safeguard against overbilling. However, critics like Dr. Donald Arnold, president of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, questioned the validity and transparency of CMS data used in the policy.

Opposition intensified Wednesday after online outrage over the U.S. healthcare system sparked scrutiny of Anthem’s decision. By Thursday, Anthem announced the policy would not proceed, citing “misinformation” surrounding the update.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Connecticut Comptroller Sean Scanlon were instrumental in halting the policy in their states. Hochul shared her indignation on X, calling the policy “misguided,” while Scanlon celebrated its reversal in Connecticut.

Critics argued the policy disregarded the variability in surgery times. Dr. Dhivya Srinivasa, a Los Angeles-based reconstructive surgeon, emphasized that anesthesia duration depends on the procedure’s complexity, determined by the surgeon—not the anesthesiologist.

Anthem previously cited affordability and accessibility as motivations for the change, echoing similar efforts by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, which also faced backlash before reversing an anesthesia restriction for colonoscopies in January.