Highmark considers not covering anesthesia during colonoscopies
By Mike Argento, York Daily Record, Pa. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
The anesthesiologist comes into the examining room, gives you a shot of some magic elixir and within seconds, you fall into a deep sleep and the next thing you know, the doctor is showing you pictures of the inside of your large intestine.
The drug of choice in these procedures is propofol, a short-acting anesthetic that induces sleep and was, coincidently, one of the drugs that was found to have caused
So physicians became alarmed when insurance giant
Highmark had announced it would cover sedatives used during the procedure, something that would offer a measure of comfort to patients, who would remain awake during the procedure.
Physicians were concerned that patients would opt not have colonoscopies without the anesthetic and since they believe that colonoscopies are effective in early detection of colon cancer, they worried the move would endanger the health off their patients and perhaps could cost lives.
"It just seems like a giant step backwards," said the practice's chief operating officer
The practice, as soon as it learned about the proposed change, scheduled to be effective
"Apparently, it worked," Gill said.
On
Highmark spokesman
The change came about when
Before the use of propofol became ubiquitous for use during colonoscopies, patients undergoing the procedure were given sedatives. The sedatives left patients awake and Gill said many would feel discomfort and squirm around during the exam, making it difficult for the physician to conduct a complete examination. Afterward, the sedatives would leave patients with no memory of the discomfort, he said.
With the anesthetic, he said, patients fall asleep and experience no discomfort.
The practice felt so strongly about use of the anesthetic that it would have continued to administer it whether Highmark reimbursed for its use or not, Gill said.
He said the consensus is that the move was being made to cut costs "rather than what's best for the patient."
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