Researchers compared facility fees for three common colonoscopy procedures at hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. They found that the fees were approximately 55% higher at hospitals compared to ambulatory surgery centers. The study, published in JAMA Health Forum, used data from four major insurers and included 13,287 in-network fees from hospitals and 17,052 fees from ASCs. The researchers suggested that a site-neutral payment policy for these services could generate savings for commercial plans and beneficiaries. However, they noted that the study did not account for other variables such as system affiliation, case mix, utilization, or quality of care across hospitals or ASCs.
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Facility fees for colonoscopy nearly 55% more at hospitals vs. ambulatory surgery centers
