Missouri health insurers would be prohibited from limiting payment for anesthesia services based on the length of a procedure under legislation awaiting action from Gov. Mike Kehoe, according to a June 4 report by the St. Louis Dispatch.
The provision was included in House Bill 2372, a broader healthcare measure approved by lawmakers in May. It was added after Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield proposed a policy in 2024 that would have stopped paying for anesthesia care when surgeries exceeded certain time limits.
Anthem, which provides coverage to an estimated 2 million Missourians, withdrew the proposal after widespread criticism from physicians, lawmakers and patient advocates. Critics argued the policy could create safety concerns and interfere with patient care.
Under the legislation, health carriers and health plans would be barred from establishing or enforcing policies that impose time limits on payment for anesthesia services during medical or surgical procedures. Mr. Kehoe has until mid-July to sign or veto the bill.
Rep. David Smith, D-Columbia, who previously pursued standalone legislation on the issue, said the measure sends a message that “people come first.” The Missouri Society of Anesthesiologists also opposed Anthem’s proposal, arguing it threatened patient safety and undermined the role of anesthesiologists in surgical care, according to the report.