Anthem Blue Cross Blue Defend is strolling again a controversial coverage choice relating to protection for anesthesia within the wake of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson‘s homicide.

In an announcement launched Thursday, the corporate defended its choice to reverse the coverage as a response to “important widespread misinformation” … although, it was notably timed amid the hunt for Thompson’s shooter.

ABCBS shared the now-controversial coverage was by no means meant “to not pay for medically vital anesthesia providers” … quite, the “proposed replace to the coverage was solely designed to make clear the appropriateness of anesthesia in line with well-established medical pointers.”

The insurance coverage firm first sparked controversy final month, when it introduced a plan to cap protection in sure states over anesthesia quantities — with many decoding the coverage replace as the corporate saying it would not pay for elements of the process if it went lengthy.

The outcry grew over the course of a number of weeks, particularly when journalist Taylor Lorenz highlighted the difficulty — and a photograph of Blue Cross Blue Defend Affiliation CEO Kim A. Keck — on Wednesday … not lengthy after Thompson, a distinct healthcare government, was shot and killed on the streets of Manhattan.

In a single submit on Bluesky, Lorenz shared ABCBS’ deliberate coverage change and wrote … “And other people marvel why we wish these executives useless.”

This prompted many to name for violence in opposition to different insurance coverage leaders … although Lorenz clarified on “TMZ Stay” that was not her intention. As TL informed us, she was simply repeating a sentiment she noticed on-line … encouraging pissed off clients to ship peaceable letters to executives.