Following a public outcry, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield announced December 5 it had walked back plans that would have put time limits on health insurance payments for anesthesia care in certain states. But the brief brouhaha shined a light on an often neglected, yet central, component of surgical care.
Anesthesiologists don’t just put people under, says Amy Vinson, a pediatric anesthesiologist and expert in well-being at Boston Children’s Hospital. They also monitor a person’s vital signs and pain levels before, during and after surgery. Should a crisis arise, such as a sudden drop in blood pressure or heavy bleeding, the anesthesiologist delivers vital fluids and medication.