We understand that letter may have been unexpected. The most important thing to know is that your financial responsibility for anesthesia services should not increase. That letter is a required notice from BCBS, and it does not mean you will owe more money.
Effective June 2, 2026, our anesthesia provider group will no longer be in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield. This means that when you receive anesthesia services at your facility after June 1, 2026, your anesthesia provider will be considered out-of-network by BCBS.
For most patients, no. Federal law, specifically the No Surprises Act, protects you from being charged more than your in-network cost-sharing amount (your deductible, copay, or coinsurance) for anesthesia services received at an in-network facility. Since your facility remains in-network with BCBS, you should continue to pay what you normally would for anesthesia.
No. Under the No Surprises Act, your anesthesia provider is prohibited from billing you for the difference between what BCBS pays and what they charge. Any payment difference is handled directly between your anesthesia provider and BCBS. You are not part of that process.
In most cases, no action is required on your part. You do not need to call your insurance company or request special authorization. Your cost-sharing should continue to apply as it always has.
A small number of health plans are not subject to the No Surprises Act. These include certain grandfathered health plans and some self-funded employer plans that have opted out of the law’s protections. If you are unsure whether your plan is covered by the No Surprises Act, we recommend calling the member services number on the back of your insurance card to confirm.
If you receive a bill that seems inconsistent with what you normally pay, please don’t ignore it. Please reach out to us using the contact information below. We are happy to review it with you and help you understand your charges.
We want to make this process as easy as possible for you.
If you prefer to speak with someone directly, you are also welcome to call us at (515) 401-1950 (option 1) during business hours 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday – Friday.