AANA Statement on Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Professional Anesthesia Service Reimbursement Policy Update

Rosemont, Ill.  (AANA) —The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) issued the following statement in response to Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s professional anesthesia service reimbursement policy update:

AANA is vehemently opposed to Anthem’s reimbursement policy change that, effective November 1, 2024, Anthem will be reducing QZ services rendered by a CRNA to 85% of the Physician Fee Schedule.

We believe Anthem’s new anesthesia reimbursement policies are in violation of existing federal laws regarding provider nondiscrimination in commercial health plans, encourage higher-cost healthcare delivery without improving quality, and may impair access to care.

AANA urges that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield rescind these policies and promote access to CRNA anesthesia services. Without CRNAs to administer anesthesia and pain management services in rural and underserved areas, where many of Anthem’s members reside, patients would lose access to vital treatment, which could result in poor healthcare outcomes, lower quality of life, and unnecessary costs to patients.

At a time when many hospitals are struggling to keep their doors open, it is especially concerning that Anthem will only reimburse at the 100% level if the most inefficient model of anesthesia staffing for hospital and health systems is utilized – a traditional 1:4 Medical Direction model. When healthcare service costs increase, a hospital has fewer funds for patient quality enhancements and other modernizations.

As the only anesthesia professional required to be board-certified, CRNAs provide patients with 100% of their attention and care. Yet, Anthem is reducing the CRNA’s value by 15 percent.  CRNAs, just like physician anesthesiologists, are trained to be autonomous practitioners and should be equally compensated. AANA calls on Anthem and other insurance companies to stop limiting choices for facilities and allow them to determine their anesthesia practice model.