Bill
Bill > A921
NJ A921
NJ A921Prohibits health insurance carriers from placing time limit on anesthesia services used for medical or surgical procedures.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill prohibits health insurance carriers from placing a time limit on anesthesia services used for medical or surgical procedures. Under the bill, a carrier is not to limit coverage based on the amount of time in which anesthesia services are provided before, during, or after a medical or surgical procedure. The bill also bars a carrier from excluding anesthesia time from anesthesia services. Additionally, under the bill, coverage for anesthesia services will be based on a formula that is the sum of base units and time units multiplied by a conversion factor that is determined in each individual network agreement between an anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist and a carrier. "Anesthesia services" is defined in the bill to mean the same as the prevailing medical coding standards found within the American Medical Association's Current Procedural Terminology code for anesthesia, including anesthesia modifier codes. "Anesthesia time" is defined as the period of time during which a licensed anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist is present with the patient and providing anesthesia services before, during, or after a medical or surgical procedure. When calculating the length of anesthesia time, a licensed anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist may combine blocks of time around an interruption in anesthesia time, provided that the anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist provides continuous anesthesia services within the time periods around the interruption.
AI Summary
This bill prohibits health insurance carriers, which are companies that provide health benefits plans, from imposing time limits on anesthesia services, meaning the medical care provided by a licensed anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist before, during, or after a medical or surgical procedure. The bill clarifies that "anesthesia services" are defined by established medical coding standards, such as those in the American Medical Association's Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codebook, and that "anesthesia time" is the period the anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist is present and providing care, allowing for the combination of time blocks around interruptions if continuous care is maintained. Instead of time limits, coverage for these services will be calculated using a formula that adds "base units" (a standard value for each anesthesia procedure) and "time units" (representing the duration of care in 15-minute intervals) and then multiplies that sum by a "conversion factor" agreed upon between the provider and the insurance carrier. This change is intended to prevent arbitrary denials of coverage for patients requiring longer procedures due to unforeseen complications and to align with national practices that have historically not limited anesthesia duration.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A921 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A1000/921_I1.HTM |
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