General Anesthesia denials: 25.7% overturned by independent reviewers
In 148 California IMR decisions from 2006 to 2025, reviewers overturned the plan 38 times (25.7%). In the last five years: 45.5% of 33. Denials reach IMR only when a member appeals all the way; read the caveats below before generalising.
By diagnosis
| Diagnosis category | Decisions | Overturned | Last 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digestive System/ GI | 60 | 18.3% | 53.8% of 13 |
| Prevention/Good Hlth | 51 | 23.5% | 28.6% of 14 |
| Dental Problems | 9 | 66.7% | 66.7% of 3 |
| Orth/Musculoskeletal | 5 | 0.0% | — |
| Cancer | 5 | 20.0% | 0.0% of 1 |
By year (last five)
| Year | Decisions | Overturned |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8 | 37.5% |
| 2022 | 12 | 25.0% |
| 2023 | 8 | 75.0% |
| 2024 | 4 | 50.0% |
| 2025 | 1 | 100.0% |
What the findings mention
| What the findings mention | Decisions | Overturned | All decisions here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Published evidence citedThe findings refer to peer-reviewed or published evidence. | 55 | 25.5% | 25.7% |
| Records did not supportThe findings say the documentation did not show what was needed (usually an upheld denial). | 33 | 0.0% | 25.7% |
| Guidelines or criteria citedThe findings cite guidelines, criteria or a standard of care. | 10 | 20.0% | 25.7% |
| Urgent or emergencyThe findings mention urgency. | 5 | 40.0% | 25.7% |
| Alternatives contraindicatedThe findings mention a contraindication to the plan's preferred option. | 3 | 0.0% | 25.7% |
Keyword matches on the reviewer’s findings, not causes. A tag that appears mostly in overturned decisions is worth documenting in an appeal; it is not a guarantee.
From recent overturned decisions
“The physician reviewer found that Nature of Statutory Criteria/Case Summary: A patient has requested authorization and coverage for monitored anesthesia care (MAC) to be provided during a colonoscopy. In this case, the patient meets two independent, policy-recognized indications for MAC sedation. The records establish that the patient is obese with a body mass index (BMI) in excess of 35 kg/m2. …”
“The physician reviewer found that Nature of Statutory Criteria/Case Summary: A patient with a diagnosis of nausea, early satiety, and unintentional weight loss has requested authorization and coverage for monitored anesthesia care provided during endoscopy. In this case, the patient reported a history of waking up during procedures with light sedation, resulting in anxiety and an aversion to endoscopic procedures. …”
“Nature of Statutory Criteria/Case Summary: A patient has requested reimbursement for monitored anesthesia provided during a colonoscopy. Given her complex medical history, it is reasonable to assume that the patient would have required a higher amount of sedation. Her history of rheumatoid arthritis may have made positioning challenging, along with her medication regimen having an unknown impact on metabolism of …”
- California only: these are decisions by independent reviewers under California's IMR program (plans regulated by the Department of Managed Health Care). Other states and self-funded employer plans use different reviewers and rules.
- Selection: only denials that a member took all the way to IMR appear. Most denials are never appealed, and the ones that reach an external reviewer are not a random sample.
- Overturned means the reviewer disagreed with the plan; it does not mean the treatment worked or that a similar request will be approved.
- Argument tags are keyword matches on the reviewer's findings. They describe what the findings mention, not why the case was decided.
- Categories are DMHC's own labels (treatment sub-category and diagnosis category); 'Other' is a catch-all and is excluded from rankings.
Source: California Department of Managed Health Care, Independent Medical Review (IMR) Determinations, Trend (CHHS Open Data). Public California government data; Apellica's aggregates and tags are CC BY 4.0.
Questions
How often were General Anesthesia denials overturned?
In 148 California IMR decisions from 2006 to 2025, reviewers overturned the plan 38 times (25.7%). In the last five years: 45.5% of 33.
What did the reviewers' findings mention in overturned cases?
The table on this page counts keyword matches in the findings: prior therapies tried, contraindications, guidelines cited, published evidence, whether the records supported the request. They describe what the findings say, not why the case was decided.
Does a California IMR result apply to my plan?
Only California plans regulated by the Department of Managed Health Care go to IMR. Other states and self-funded employer plans use different reviewers, but the reasoning is the same kind: criteria, documentation and alternatives. Use the findings as a guide to what to document.
Related: California appeal rights · California external-review reversal rate · The levers library · CSV
Independent reviewers reverse plans when the record answers the criteria. Upload the denial letter; a senior reviewer reads it within 24 hours and tells you in writing whether it can be appealed and how. $0 upfront, 10% of what is recovered, nothing if we do not recover. Not a law firm.