ASCs nearly always beat hospitals on price for outpatient services, but some hospitals may be ready to compete on cost.
Swedish Health Services, based in Seattle, cut costs for 90 percent of its outpatient services by an average of 35 percent, according to a Heartland report. The price cuts apply to SHS's five hospitals, two ambulatory care centers and 100 clinics.
Colonoscopy, originally priced at $2,203, has dropped by 31 percent to $1,518., according to the report.
The health system implemented this new policy on Jan. 1.