Cystoscopy Cost

• For patients covered by health insurance, out-of-pocket costs typically would include a doctor visit copay and coinsurance of 10% to 50% for the procedure. A cystoscopy typically would be covered by health insurance.
• For patients not covered by health insurance, the cost of a cystoscopy can range from a about $350 -$3,000 or more, depending on whether the procedure is done in a doctor's office -- or at an ambulatory surgery center or hospital, where a facility fee, anesthesia and possibly a biopsy would be included in the cost. For example, Kansas City Urology Care in Missouri charges about $366 for an in-office cystoscopy. According to the Healthcare Blue Book, a doctor fee for a cytoscopy should cost about $395, a facility fee about $470 and anesthesia about $775, for a total of about $395 if done in a doctor's office or $1,640 in a surgery center or hospital. However, according to Healthcare Blue Book, if a biopsy or minor treatment is done at the same time, that can increase the doctor fee to about $925 and the total, if done in an ambulatory surgery center or hospital, to about $3,200.

• The patient will be given local anesthesia or a sedative or placed under general anesthesia. The doctor then will slide a scope into the urethra and the bladder to view the inside of the urinary tract. The doctor will pump a sterile liquid into the bladder to inflate it to allow for better visualization through a magnifying lens on the end of the scope. If necessary, the doctor will take a tissue sample for a biopsy.
• The procedure can be outpatient or inpatient and can take anywhere from five to 30 minutes to an hour or more, depending on the reason for the procedure. Afterward, the patient might experience discomfort, burning while urinating and blood in the urine for 24 hours.
• The Mayo Clinic has an overview of cystoscopy.

• Over-the-counter pain medication, usually less than $5, is sometimes recommended after the procedure.
• Oral antibiotics might be prescribed to prevent infection. Many generic antibiotics are available for less than $10.

• Some free or low-cost clinics, such as the NYC Free Clinic and the Clinic at Brackenridge in Austin, TX, offer access to specialist care. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has a tool to find a federally funded health clinic. If a nearby clinic does not offer urology care, they can provide a referral.

• A urologist should perform a cystoscopy. The American Urological Association has a urologist locator by zip code. It is important to make sure the doctor is certified by the American Board of Urology.

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