The priciest outpatient procedure: The colonoscopy

For organizations seeking high-performing ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) in the gastrointestinal (GI) space, understanding where colonoscopy procedures are most frequently performed can inform strategic decisions, from partnerships and product placement to market expansion.

Our analysis highlights ASCs with the highest procedural volumes, as well as the most billed CPT codes related to colonoscopies. Identifying high-volume centers can help vendors, device manufacturers, staffing firms, and other stakeholders focus their efforts where demand and procedural throughput are strongest, particularly as colorectal screening rates rise and GI care increasingly shifts to outpatient settings.

Below, we used Definitive Healthcare’s SurgeryCenterView and Atlas All-Payor Claims datasets to explore the latest trends in colonoscopy procedures during the 2024 claim year.

Top 10 colonoscopy procedures in 2024

Fig. 1 Data is sourced from Definitive Healthcare’s SurgeryCenterView and the Atlas All-Payor Claims products. Data accessed August 2025.

What are the most commonly performed colonoscopy procedures?

In 2024, polyp removal continues to be the most common outcome of colonoscopy procedures, according to data from Definitive Healthcare’s SurgeryCenterView and Atlas All-Payor Claims products.

CPT code 45385 — colonoscopy with lesion removal using snare technique — leads all others, accounting for 39.6% of colonoscopy procedures. This reflects the frequency with which polyps or other abnormal growths are discovered and removed during routine screenings.

Closely following is CPT code 45380, which covers colonoscopy with biopsy, representing 35.8% of total procedures. This code is typically used when tissue samples are taken from the colon for further analysis, often in patients with symptoms or abnormal findings.

CPT code 45378, a diagnostic colonoscopy without biopsy or intervention, ranks third at 20.1%. As the foundational colonoscopy code, it is commonly used for general screening or initial diagnostic evaluation.

Together, these top three codes make up over 95% of all ASC-based colonoscopy procedures, underscoring the importance of screening, surveillance, and early intervention in colorectal health.

Top 10 ASCs with the most colonoscopy procedures

Fig. 2 Data is sourced from Definitive Healthcare’s SurgeryCenterView and the Atlas All-Payor Claims products. Data accessed August 2025.

Which ASCs had the most colonoscopy claims in 2024?

Data on ASC-based colonoscopy volumes reveal which centers are leading the nation in procedure volume. MidAtlantic Endoscopy 1 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania leads the pack, accounting for 0.77% of all colonoscopy procedures nationwide, a significant margin above its peers. GI Associates & Endoscopy Center - Flowood in Flowood, Mississippi, ranks second with 0.45%, followed by the Maryland Center for Digestive Health in Annapolis, Maryland, at 0.32%.

These top three centers stand out for their procedural volume, potentially reflecting regional screening demand or operational efficiency. OneGI - Germantown in Tennessee and the Jacksonville Center for Endoscopy - Southside in Florida round out the top five, performing 0.27% and 0.20% of the nation’s ASC-based colonoscopies, respectively.

Is a colonoscopy considered an outpatient procedure?

Under most circumstances, a colonoscopy can be done as an outpatient procedure, meaning the patient doesn’t need to stay overnight in a hospital or facility. The Mayo Clinic states that colonoscopies typically take about 30 to 60 minutes to complete.

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