Knee arthroscopy is one of the most common outpatient orthopedic procedures and one of the most price-variable. In Tampa, facility fees range from $2,000 to $12,000 for what is typically a 30 to 60 minute procedure. The clinical outcome does not differ by hospital price.
Multiple providers bill for one procedure
Your orthopedic surgeon bills a professional fee. The facility charges a facility fee. The anesthesiologist bills separately. If tissue is sent for analysis, pathology bills separately.
For a standard knee arthroscopy, expect three to four separate bills. The anesthesiologist may be out-of-network even if your surgeon and facility are in-network. Confirm all providers' network status before the procedure.
Outpatient surgery centers vs. hospital outpatient
Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) typically charge 40 to 60% less than hospital outpatient departments for knee arthroscopy. Your orthopedic surgeon likely operates at both.
Ask your surgeon whether they can perform the procedure at an ASC rather than the hospital. For healthy patients having elective knee scopes, there is no clinical reason to use the more expensive hospital setting.
What the procedure finds changes the billing
An arthroscopy that starts as diagnostic (CPT 29870) often upgrades based on what is found. Meniscus trimming, removal, or repair each have separate codes at higher rates.
You cannot always know in advance what will be done. Ask your surgeon what procedure codes they expect to bill and what the rates look like for each at the facility you are considering.