Thoracentesis pleural space needle/catheter aspiration with imaging guidance (both sides) cost at US hospitals
HC Thoracentesis Pleural Space Needle/Catheter Aspiration W/ Imaging Guidance Bl · CPT 32555
$189.51
lowest cash price
$1,724.25
national median
$16,757.81
highest cash price
815
hospitals with a published cash price
Middle half of hospitals (25th–75th percentile) against the full range. The same procedure varies $189.51–$16,757.81 — the variation is the story.
Median cash price over time
Sep 1, 2025 ($726.47) → Sep 1, 2026 ($2,895.22)
By state
| State | Hospitals | Lowest cash | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 5 | $1,881.36 | $3,035.76 | $5,160.48 |
| Arizona | 23 | $472.82 | $1,034.68 | $2,979.88 |
| Arkansas | 6 | $371.14 | $453.37 | $2,162.55 |
| California | 89 | $245.00 | $2,033.20 | $5,978.73 |
| Colorado | 17 | $742.52 | $4,893.55 | $4,893.55 |
| Florida | 79 | $1,599.37 | $2,539.66 | $9,045.97 |
| Georgia | 25 | $1,386.17 | $2,939.04 | $12,128.26 |
| Hawaii | 2 | $782.40 | $782.40 | $1,434.00 |
| Illinois | 47 | $375.00 | $1,588.32 | $7,558.96 |
| Indiana | 26 | $496.00 | $2,560.80 | $3,140.50 |
| Iowa | 27 | $701.76 | $1,532.80 | $6,098.00 |
| Kansas | 11 | $737.20 | $6,134.21 | $6,202.98 |
| Kentucky | 20 | $531.03 | $1,608.00 | $6,294.00 |
| Louisiana | 2 | $1,340.56 | $1,340.56 | $1,340.56 |
| Maine | 7 | $223.25 | $1,733.65 | $3,048.95 |
| Michigan | 27 | $841.77 | $3,159.00 | $3,845.00 |
| Minnesota | 19 | $920.21 | $1,395.13 | $1,907.20 |
| Mississippi | 11 | $516.60 | $764.00 | $2,039.04 |
| Missouri | 17 | $453.70 | $2,191.20 | $5,929.89 |
| Montana | 2 | $1,165.60 | $1,165.60 | $1,737.60 |
| Nebraska | 13 | $189.51 | $714.84 | $1,242.70 |
| Nevada | 4 | $488.05 | $1,406.10 | $1,961.68 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $2,186.25 | $2,186.25 | $2,186.25 |
| New Jersey | 21 | $675.68 | $3,986.00 | $6,839.00 |
| New Mexico | 2 | $1,627.50 | $1,627.50 | $1,627.50 |
| New York | 22 | $360.60 | $731.62 | $6,587.99 |
| North Carolina | 15 | $1,571.00 | $2,556.53 | $2,556.53 |
| North Dakota | 2 | $1,467.20 | $1,467.20 | $1,820.80 |
| Ohio | 66 | $601.00 | $1,865.50 | $14,692.56 |
| Oklahoma | 14 | $410.80 | $967.18 | $4,754.94 |
| Oregon | 13 | $345.06 | $1,759.50 | $4,614.75 |
| Pennsylvania | 31 | $1,092.60 | $2,269.80 | $4,057.20 |
| South Carolina | 11 | $970.00 | $1,568.50 | $4,109.76 |
| South Dakota | 6 | $1,148.80 | $1,804.00 | $2,495.20 |
| Tennessee | 29 | $376.51 | $641.76 | $1,980.91 |
| Texas | 107 | $247.32 | $1,410.82 | $16,757.81 |
| Virginia | 29 | $383.85 | $2,323.00 | $3,599.70 |
| Washington | 32 | $740.37 | $1,302.00 | $2,872.10 |
| West Virginia | 17 | $601.00 | $1,615.00 | $8,569.00 |
| Wisconsin | 34 | $1,150.00 | $1,288.20 | $4,391.72 |
| Wyoming | 4 | $1,087.38 | $1,176.53 | $1,293.31 |
All hospitals
| Hospital | Location | Cash price | Negotiated range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arroyo Grande Hospital | Santa Maria, CA | $2,178.52 | $105.95 – $2,878.26 |
| Mercy Medical Center Merced | Merced, CA | $2,182.06 | $105.95 – $1,649.34 |
| MaineHealth - Memorial Hospital | North Conway, NH | $2,186.25 | $101.78 – $600.70 |
| SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton | Fenton, MO | $2,191.20 | $121.57 – $2,167.00 |
| SSM Health DePaul Hospital - St. Louis | Bridgeton, MO | $2,191.20 | $121.57 – $2,167.00 |
| SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital- Wentzville | Wentzville, MO | $2,191.20 | $121.57 – $2,167.00 |
| SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital - St. Charles | Saint Charles, MO | $2,191.20 | $121.57 – $2,167.00 |
| SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - St. Louis | Richmond Heights, MO | $2,191.20 | $121.57 – $2,167.00 |
| SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital - Lake Saint Louis | Lake Saint Louis, MO | $2,191.20 | $121.57 – $2,167.00 |
| Healdsburg Hospital | Healdsburg, CA | $2,204.22 | $845.19 – $3,982.87 |
| The Unity Hospital of Rochester | Rochester, NY | $2,204.22 | not published |
| Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital | Charlottesville, VA | $2,209.00 | $624.29 – $1,547.00 |
| Sentara RMH Medical Center | Harrisonburg, VA | $2,209.00 | $624.29 – $642.65 |
| Houston Methodist Hospital | Houston, TX | $2,209.00 | $630.16 – $2,520.65 |
| Mary Immaculate Hospital | Newport News, VA | $2,210.40 | not published |
| Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital | Spokane, WA | $2,221.10 | $699.03 – $1,954.58 |
| UnityPoint Health - Iowa Lutheran Hospital | Des Moines, IA | $2,238.80 | $98.09 – $822.76 |
| Central Medical Center | Seattle, WA | $2,240.00 | not published |
| UPMC Horizon-Greenville | Greenville, PA | $2,269.80 | $527.73 – $863.16 |
| Adventhealth Lake Wales | Lake Wales, FL | $2,294.22 | $655.08 – $1,454.28 |
| Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital | Hood River, OR | $2,298.00 | not published |
| UPMC Community Osteopathic | Harrisburg, PA | $2,304.60 | $94.00 – $1,221.53 |
| UPMC Hanover | Hanover, PA | $2,304.60 | $584.71 – $1,221.53 |
| UPMC Lititz | Lititz, PA | $2,304.60 | $587.87 – $1,221.53 |
| UPMC Memorial | York, PA | $2,304.60 | $329.04 – $1,221.53 |
| UPMC Somerset | Somerset, PA | $2,304.60 | $399.63 – $892.40 |
| UPMC Carlisle | Carlisle, PA | $2,304.60 | $64.39 – $1,016.56 |
| cleveland clinic florida weston hospital | Weston, FL | $2,310.75 | $61.53 – $3,021.75 |
| martin north hospital | Stuart, FL | $2,310.75 | $100.46 – $1,777.50 |
| indian river hospital | Vero Beach, FL | $2,310.75 | $61.53 – $2,844.00 |
| Inova Alexandria Hospital | Alexandria, VA | $2,323.00 | $618.26 – $2,485.00 |
| Inova Fairfax Hospital | Falls Church, VA | $2,323.00 | $618.26 – $2,485.00 |
| Inova Fair Oaks Hospital | VA 22033-1709, VA | $2,323.00 | $618.26 – $2,485.00 |
| Inova Loudoun Hospital | Leesburg, VA | $2,323.00 | $618.26 – $2,485.00 |
| Inova Mount Vernon Hospital | Alexandria, VA | $2,323.00 | $618.26 – $2,485.00 |
| UPMC Magee | Pittsburgh, PA | $2,329.80 | $407.56 – $863.16 |
| Redwood City Medical Center | Redwood City, CA | $2,346.40 | not published |
| Oakland Medical Center | Oakland, CA | $2,346.40 | not published |
| Sacramento Medical Center | SACRAMENTO, CA | $2,346.40 | not published |
| San Leandro Medical Center | SAN LEANDRO, CA | $2,346.40 | not published |
| Santa Clara Medical Center | SANTA CLARA, CA | $2,346.40 | not published |
| San Rafael Medical Center | SAN RAFAEL, CA | $2,346.40 | not published |
| Santa Rosa Medical Center | SANTA ROSA, CA | $2,346.40 | not published |
| South San Francisco Medical Center | SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $2,346.40 | not published |
| South Sacramento Medical Center | SACRAMENTO, CA | $2,346.40 | not published |
| Vacaville Medical Center | VACAVILLE, CA | $2,346.40 | not published |
| Walnut Creek Medical Center | WALNUT CREEK, CA | $2,346.40 | not published |
| Vallejo Medical Center | VALLEJO, CA | $2,346.40 | not published |
| Antioch Medical Center | ANTIOCH, CA | $2,346.40 | not published |
| Fremont Medical Center | FREMONT, CA | $2,346.40 | not published |