Insurer to Cut Payments Supporting Care for Sicker, More Complex Patients Starting October 1

CHICAGO – The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) calls on UnitedHealthcare (UHC) to reverse its profit-driven plans to cut payments for anesthesia care supporting sicker, more complex patients. Beginning October 1, 2025, UHC plans will no longer consider the unique health status of each patient when it comes to anesthesia care payment. 

“For years, all stakeholders in our health care system have recognized that sicker, more complex patients require attention to additional fundamental needs for care compared to healthy patients. All insurance companies including UnitedHealthcare have recognized the need for additional expertise and resources necessary to care for complex patients. This is a maneuver by UHC to limit the individualized care high-risk patients need during surgery. We are surprised and disappointed UHC has taken this unwarranted action as a way to grow their profits,” said ASA President Donald E. Arnold, M.D., FACHE, FASA.

By arbitrarily removing payments for sicker, complex patients, this hits the specific patient populations most at need of specialized anesthesia care. UHC is breaking with a meaningful standard in health care – that patient care be individualized and care processes and payment appropriately account for the additional risk-level of the patient. More efficient care happens because of advanced patient preparation and planning as well as enhanced care coordination anesthesiologists provide for the most medically complex patients.

“Insurers disregarding the needs of medically complex patients flies in the face of basic health care, in which a physician assesses a patient’s symptoms and conditions and creates a plan to treat the patient based on that assessment. One size definitely does not fit all,” said Dr. Arnold. “It’s shameful that insurers are padding their profits at the expense of payments for those providing important care to complicated patients as well as patients receiving care in difficult clinical circumstances.”

With older and more complex patients undergoing an increasing number of surgical procedures, in both inpatient and outpatient settings, the impact of this policy change on health systems, hospitals and anesthesia practices is substantial and will affect patient access to appropriate levels of care, and limit opportunities to improve care coordination. ASA urges UHC to consider the impact of this policy change on patients, especially those with multiple diseases. Insurance companies must ensure patient access to anesthesia care that is safe, effective, and recognizes individual patient needs. 

THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS
Founded in 1905, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is an educational, research and scientific society with more than 59,000 members organized to advance the medical practice of anesthesiology and secure its future. ASA is committed to ensuring anesthesiologists evaluate and supervise the medical care of all patients before, during, and after surgery. ASA members also lead the care of critically ill patients in intensive care units, as well as treat pain in both acute and chronic settings.

For more information on the field of anesthesiology, visit the American Society of Anesthesiologists online at asahq.org. To learn more about how anesthesiologists help ensure patient safety, visit asahq.org/madeforthismoment.  Follow ASA on Facebook, X, Instagram, Bluesky, and LinkedIn.

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