Aetna of New Jersey faces physician opposition on anesthesia use
Patient Safety Monitor Alert
February 6, 2008
Aetna of New Jersey is dropping coverage of Propofol, a type of anesthesia, used during colonoscopies. Propofol must be administered by an anesthesiologist, driving the price of a colonoscopy up between $200 and $1,000 more than it costs when using moderate sedation. Using moderate sedation does not require use of an anesthesiologist for administration.A physician group has opposed this move, reports The Associated Press. It says that not only does using Propofol make for a comfortable colonoscopy, but by not employing the use of an anesthesiologist, some patients may neglect to get colonoscopies. Colonoscopies are the leading way to find if a patient has colorectal cancer. As of April 1, the insurer will limit the number of colonoscopies performed with the help of an anesthesiologist.
