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National price data · 2,427 hospitals

Colonoscopy (diagnostic) cost

What a colonoscopy (diagnostic) costs across the U.S. — and the fair price to aim for.

Pillar 1 · The BaseRate™ CompositeHow 1.00× Fair BaseRate Works: Raw price averages unfairly penalize hospitals in high-wage cities or trauma centers treating sicker patients. We adjust for local CMS hospital wage levels and patient complexity first. A 1.00× score means right at the fair price average, 0.85× means 15% cheaper than fair market, and 1.30× means 30% above fair market.Near Fair BaseRate Benchmark
1.00×vs. Fair Market Price
Position vs. 1.00× Fair PriceRight at U.S. Average (0%) 1.00× (center of the bar) is the U.S. fair price average after accounting for local hospital wages and patient complexity. Left of center (<1.00×) is below fair price; right of center (>1.00×) is above fair price.

Typical commercial prices here match the fair market benchmark (1.00×) after accounting for local nurse/doctor wages and patient complexity.

Pillar 2 · VeriRate™ Data TrustHow VeriRate™ (0–100) Works: Hospitals are legally required to publish machine-readable price files, but some bury fake $0.01 numbers or omit cash discounts. VeriRate audits each file across 5 checks (hover any badge below to see what it tests).86/100 · Verified
86/100Hover Any Check Below to See How Prices Were Audited
File Completeness90Provenance (File Completeness): Checks whether the hospital published a complete, up-to-date machine-readable price file with valid CPT and MS-DRG billing codes instead of leaving blanks.
Price Logic88Coherence (Price Logic): Checks whether the hospital’s numbers make basic sense — e.g., self-pay cash price is lower than gross list price, with no fake $0.01 or $999,999 placeholder numbers.
Peer Alignment86Concordance (Peer Alignment): Checks whether reported prices sit in a realistic range compared to Medicare and nearby hospitals rather than wild 100× unit errors.
Clean Billing83Regularity (Clean Billing): Checks whether rates are structured consistently across procedures without erratic statistical spikes or hidden unbundled facility fees.
Real Cash Discount84Cash Honesty (Real Cash Discount): Checks whether the hospital offers a genuine self-pay cash discount that beats or matches commercial insurance rates instead of billing full sticker price.
Pillar 3 · Clinical Quality & ER SpeedChecks whether higher hospital prices actually buy better clinical quality — combining CMS Star Ratings, hospital safety scores, and emergency room wait times.Regional Value Leader
CMS Star RatingNot RatedOfficial CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating (1 to 5 stars) summarizing mortality, safety of care, readmissions, and patient experience.
Safety ScoreNot ScoredComposite patient safety score (0–100) derived from CMS hospital-acquired infection rates (CLABSI, CAUTI, MRSA, C. diff), surgical complications, and HCAHPS surveys.
Typical ER WaitNo ER DataMedian minutes patients spent in the emergency department before leaving from the visit, as reported to CMS Timely and Effective Care.

Balances commercial hospital prices against CMS clinical safety, infection control, and patient experience.

Behavioral Pricing FingerprintConsistent Department Multiples

Aligned Regional Benchmark Peer

St Mary Medical Center prices shoppable and inpatient services (1.6× to 2.0× Medicare, divergence 1.25×) in alignment with regional hospital peers (1.37× Fair BaseRate). Reviewing plan-specific negotiated rates and cash discounts helps lock in the lowest out-of-pocket tier.

#109 of 134 in PA · 80th State Percentile#2,405 of 3,385 in U.S. · 71st National Percentile
Advantage

Where They're Good (Patient & Payer Edge)

  • Bottom-quartile procedures (Q25) price at 1.05× the peer BaseRate benchmark
  • Self-pay cash beats commercial insurance on 21% of shoppable procedures (66/100 Cash Honesty)
  • 2-Star CMS clinical rating with 58% patient recommendation (52/100 safety score)
  • IRS 501(c)(3) charity care provides free care up to 200% FPL and discounted care up to 400% FPL (22.6% AGB cap)
Watchout

Where You Can Get Burned (Markup Traps)

  • Even at low-cost facilities (1.00× Fair BaseRate), out-of-network or unnegotiated chargemaster bills can exceed commercial medians — confirm in-network status or request a self-pay cash quote up front.
  • Captive ER (1.0×) & laboratory (2.7×) services average 1.25× higher multiples than routine shoppable care (1.6×)
  • Upper-quartile procedures (Q75 1.79×) jump +30% above the median procedure ratio (Q50 1.38×)
  • Unnegotiated chargemaster list prices average 9.2× Medicare (14¢ true HCRIS cost per $1 gross)
Front-Door ShoppableElective / Imaging
1.6× Medicare

Pre-scheduled outpatient procedures where patients can comparison-shop.

Back-Door Captive & ER1.25× Divergence
2.0× Medicare

Emergency, inpatient DRG, lab, and specialty drug lines billed after admission.

Quantile Tail Spread+30% Upper Tail
Q25 1.05× · Q50 1.38× · Q75 1.79×

Detects median-gaming when upper-quartile codes spike above the p50 median.

Select any lens to inspect department markups, federal cost accounting, or insurer discounts.
Department & Integrity Multiples (vs. CMS Medicare Cost Anchor) Green ≤1.3× · Teal 1.3–1.8× · Amber 1.8–2.5× · Rose >2.5×
Front-Door Shoppable CareFront-Door Shoppable
1.6× MedicareGood
Outpatient Surgery & ORBack-Door Captive
0.5× MedicareGood
Diagnostic Imaging (CT/MRI)Front-Door Shoppable
2.0× MedicareGood
Back-Door Captive ER VisitsBack-Door Captive
1.0× MedicareGood
Inpatient Lab & PathologyBack-Door Captive
2.7× MedicareFair
Specialty & Infusion Drugs (J-Codes)Back-Door Captive
1.2× MedicareGood
Self-Pay Cash Honesty & 501(r)Integrity & Outcomes
21% Cash Edge · 66/100Fair
CMS Clinical Safety & Star ValueIntegrity & Outcomes
2 CMS · 52/100Elevated
National Geographic Price Intelligence · 50-State + DC/PR Cartogram

National State Price Index Heatmap · Colonoscopy (diagnostic)

State commercial price index vs. U.S. median (1.00×) and average Medicare multiple across all 53 priced states & territories

<0.93× Below Fair Price 0.93–1.05× Near Average 1.05–1.18× Elevated >1.18× High-Cost State
MT0.35×0.8× MedPR0.35×0.4× MedME0.36×0.9× MedWY0.37×1.0× MedIA0.38×1.0× MedVT0.40×1.0× MedID0.45×1.2× MedMI0.46×1.2× MedOR0.46×1.2× MedWV0.71×1.8× MedNE0.76×2.0× MedLA0.85×2.2× MedKS0.88×2.3× MedAL0.90×2.3× MedMN0.91×2.4× MedNH0.91×2.4× MedSD0.91×2.4× MedAR0.92×2.4× MedKY0.92×2.4× MedNC0.93×2.4× MedOH0.94×2.4× MedPA0.94×2.4× MedIN0.95×2.5× MedSC0.95×2.5× MedND0.96×2.5× MedTN0.97×2.5× MedCO0.99×2.6× MedTX1.00×2.6× MedIL1.02×2.7× MedAZ1.03×2.7× MedAK1.05×2.7× MedNM1.05×2.7× MedCT1.06×2.8× MedNY1.10×2.9× MedMS1.11×2.9× MedNV1.11×2.9× MedMA1.14×2.9× MedWA1.14×3.0× MedMO1.15×3.0× MedHI1.16×3.0× MedCA1.18×3.1× MedFL1.18×3.1× MedWI1.19×3.1× MedDE1.20×3.1× MedOK1.47×3.8× MedRI1.48×3.8× MedUT1.48×3.8× MedMD1.54×4.0× MedNJ1.72×4.5× MedGA1.73×4.5× MedVA1.83×4.8× MedDC2.56×6.7× Med
5 Lowest-Price States (Confounder-Isolated Value Leaders)
MT0.35×(0.8×)PR0.35×(0.4×)ME0.36×(0.9×)WY0.37×(1.0×)IA0.38×(1.0×)
5 Highest-Markup States (Strict Bill Audit Recommended)
DC2.56×(6.7×)VA1.83×(4.8×)GA1.73×(4.5×)NJ1.72×(4.5×)MD1.54×(4.0×)
The BaseRate high confidence
$984
the fair national price for a colonoscopy (diagnostic)
typically $262–$2,458 across 2,427 hospitals · how we calculate it
modeled estimate · not a bill or quote
2,427
hospitals priced
52
states
9.4×
price spread — where shopping matters
2.6×
vs. Medicare

Across 2,427 hospitals in 52 states, a colonoscopy (diagnostic) has a fair BaseRate of $984 and typically costs $262–$2,458. The cheapest state is PR; the priciest is VA.

Cheapest hospitals for a colonoscopy (diagnostic)

Colonoscopy (diagnostic) cost by state

AK $1,032 7 hospitals AL $881 39 hospitals AR $904 33 hospitals AZ $1,015 44 hospitals CA $1,158 177 hospitals CO $972 51 hospitals CT $1,040 15 hospitals DC $2,516 2 hospitals DE $1,181 6 hospitals FL $1,155 140 hospitals GA $1,693 55 hospitals HI $1,135 13 hospitals IA $371 68 hospitals ID $442 21 hospitals IL $1,002 86 hospitals IN $933 66 hospitals KS $860 73 hospitals KY $899 39 hospitals LA $837 54 hospitals MA $1,115 38 hospitals MD $1,510 2 hospitals ME $357 22 hospitals MI $456 68 hospitals MN $896 60 hospitals MO $1,132 66 hospitals MS $1,087 45 hospitals MT $317 14 hospitals NC $913 51 hospitals ND $939 11 hospitals NE $748 47 hospitals NH $891 13 hospitals NJ $1,687 47 hospitals NM $1,027 11 hospitals NV $1,085 22 hospitals NY $1,079 75 hospitals OH $922 103 hospitals OK $1,439 40 hospitals OR $447 24 hospitals PA $925 93 hospitals PR $162 4 hospitals RI $1,451 6 hospitals SC $933 42 hospitals SD $892 13 hospitals TN $949 57 hospitals TX $981 214 hospitals UT $1,453 32 hospitals VA $1,798 49 hospitals VT $392 10 hospitals WA $1,117 50 hospitals WI $1,166 85 hospitals WV $699 16 hospitals WY $366 8 hospitals
Inline Bill X-Ray & 501(r) Calculator 501(c)(3) Nonprofit · Free Care ≤200% FPL · AGB Cap 36.3%

Audit a Bill or Quote at U.S. Hospital Benchmark (Zero PHI Required)

Fair BaseRate™ $984
Medicare Rate $571
Self-Pay Cash Request Quote
Insurer Median $981
Pre-filled with U.S. Hospital Benchmark’s charged/list benchmark
Screened against 2026 HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines
2026 FPL: $15,650 + $5,500 per additional person
Step 1 · 501(r) Charity Care Check 501(r) AGB Cap: $855 (274% FPL)

Statutory 501(r) AGB Cap Limits Bill to $855

At 274% FPL (201%–400% FPL tier), 26 U.S.C. § 501(r)(5) caps FAP-eligible bills at Amounts Generally Billed (36.3% of gross = $855).

Step 2 · Cash vs. Insurance Arbitrage Request Prompt-Pay Quote

Compare Prompt-Pay Cash Rate Against Remaining Deductible

Ask U.S. Hospital Benchmark's billing desk for their written 45 CFR § 180 discounted self-pay cash price and Good Faith Estimate under the No Surprises Act.

Step 3 · Fair BaseRate Target +$1,370 Above Fair BaseRate

Negotiate Toward $984 Fair BaseRate ($571 Medicare)

Your bill ($2,354) is $1,370 above the denoised Fair BaseRate ($984) and 4.1× the $571 Medicare rate.

1-Click Factual Dispute Summary: Copy a citation-backed benchmark memo (with CMS CCN, CPT code, Medicare reference, Fair BaseRate, and 26 U.S.C. § 501(r) calculations) to paste into patient-portal messages or billing appeals.