BREAKING: Accountability Journalism Just Delivered Insurance Reform

Following The Lever’s reporting on Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield’s new policy to stop automatically reimbursing anesthesia costs if procedures exceed predetermined time limits, a company representative notified our reporting team that it would no longer be pursuing the policy.

According to the Anthem representative:

There has been significant widespread misinformation about an update to our anesthesia policy. As a result, we have decided to not proceed with this policy change. To be clear, it never was and never will be the policy of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield to not pay for medically necessary anesthesia services. The proposed update to the policy was only designed to clarify the appropriateness of anesthesia consistent with well-established clinical guidelines.

Earlier today, following our initial reporting, Connecticut’s State Comptroller said Anthem’s new policy would not take effect in the state. The policy has now been reversed everywhere.

This is proof that accountability journalism works. Our reporting gained national attention, sparked action from government officials, and forced a major corporation to answer to the public.

Rock the boat.