Colonoscopy anesthesia popular but pricey

NEW YORK, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- An increasingly popular and potent anesthetic makes colonoscopies more comfortable for patients but it sharply boosts the cost, reports say.

Some insurers are taking action to curb its use, the Wall Street Journal says.

The anesthetic is called propofol, which has made the often-dreaded procedure more palatable and painless for patients. Propofol acts quickly, generally sedates more deeply and lets patients recover more swiftly than with traditional methods of sedation.

But, propofol often requires the added presence of an anesthesiologist and that can add between $250 and $400 to the cost of colonoscopies, which typically run from $300 to $1,000 by themselves.

WellPoint Inc., the country's biggest health insurer, issued new medical guidelines, stating anesthesiologists' assistance in routine colonoscopies isn't medically necessary. Its biggest health plan, Blue Cross of California, has told doctors it will no longer pay for the services in average-risk exams.

Other insurers are expected to follow WellPoint's move.