Here are five additional stats on colonoscopy costs, drawn from that study and others:
1. After adjusting for insurer, negotiated rates and county-fixed effects, hospitals’ facility fees for colonoscopies were found to be 54%, 56% and 61% higher for colonoscopies, colonoscopies with a biopsy, and colonoscopies with the removal of polyps, respectively.
2. As of May 2023, hospitals charged average facility fees of $1,530 for a colonoscopy, $1,760 for a colonoscopy with a biopsy, and $1,761 for a colonoscopy with polyp removal. At an ASC, those procedures cost $989, $1,034 and $1,030, respectively.
3. The average cost of a colonoscopy at a hospital outpatient department is $1,608, compared to $1,136 at an ASC, according to data from insurance company Sidecar Health’s cost calculator. For a colonoscopy with the removal of polyps, ASCs charge $1,346, compared to $1,967 at an HOPD.
4. Between 2017 and 2022, the cost of a diagnostic colonoscopy at ASCs increased by 10%, compared to 17% at HOPDs, according to an analysis by Blue Health Intelligence, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association’s data analytics company.
5. Diagnostic colonoscopies cost 58% more in an HOPD than in an ASC.
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.
