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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno Medical Center | FRESNO, CA | $2,346.40 | not published |
| Roseville Medical Center | ROSEVILLE, CA | $2,346.40 | not published |
| San Jose Medical Center | SAN JOSE, CA | $2,346.40 | not published |
| San Francisco Medical Center | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $2,346.40 | not published |
| SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Jefferson City | Jefferson City, MO | $2,360.82 | $624.86 – $2,277.00 |
| Sentara Leigh Hospital | Norfolk, VA | $2,363.00 | $624.29 – $3,408.00 |
| Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital | Virginia Beach, VA | $2,363.00 | $624.29 – $3,408.00 |
| Sentara Princess Anne Hospital | Virginia Beach, VA | $2,363.00 | $624.29 – $3,408.00 |
| Sentara Obici Hospital | Suffolk, VA | $2,363.00 | $624.29 – $3,408.00 |
| Sentara CarePlex Hospital | Hampton, VA | $2,363.00 | $624.29 – $642.65 |
| Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center | Woodbridge, VA | $2,363.00 | $624.29 – $2,603.00 |
| Sentara Norfolk General Hospital | Norfolk, VA | $2,363.00 | $624.29 – $3,408.00 |
| SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital - Oklahoma City | Oklahoma City, OK | $2,398.00 | $165.73 – $1,579.00 |
| Adventhealth Fish Memorial | Orange City, FL | $2,400.85 | $622.33 – $1,246.75 |
| St. Joseph's Medical Center Stockton | Stockton, CA | $2,401.40 | $92.33 – $1,048.32 |
| Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital | DeKalb, IL | $2,419.01 | not published |
| Northwestern Memorial Hospital | Chicago, IL | $2,419.01 | not published |
| Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital | Sugar Land, TX | $2,427.00 | $630.16 – $1,228.81 |
| Houston Methodist West Hospital | Houston, TX | $2,427.00 | $630.16 – $2,520.65 |
| Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital | Baytown, TX | $2,427.00 | $630.16 – $1,228.81 |
| Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital | Houston, TX | $2,427.00 | $630.16 – $1,228.81 |
| Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital | Nassau Bay, TX | $2,427.00 | $365.70 – $1,228.81 |
| Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital | The Woodlands, TX | $2,427.00 | $630.16 – $1,260.32 |
| Houston Methodist Continuing Care Hospital | Katy, TX | $2,427.00 | $3,913.00 – $7,542.00 |
| Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital | Cypress, TX | $2,427.00 | $630.16 – $1,228.81 |
| WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital | Chambersburg, PA | $2,428.00 | $110.88 – $2,843.44 |
| WellSpan Waynesboro Hospital | Waynesboro, PA | $2,428.00 | $30.00 – $2,241.21 |
| Mercy Hospital Southeast | Cape Girardeau, MO | $2,466.10 | $90.16 – $4,031.21 |
| HSHS St. Mary's Hospital | DECATUR, IL | $2,473.20 | $623.00 – $3,435.00 |
| Ascension St. Vincent Salem (St. Vincent Salem Hospital, Inc.) | Salem, IN | $2,490.60 | $32.53 – $2,656.64 |
| Sanford Aberdeen Medical Center | Aberdeen, SD | $2,495.20 | $587.35 – $2,807.10 |
| Beckley ARH Hospital | Beckley, WV | $2,500.20 | $533.13 – $2,665.27 |
| Hazard ARH Regional Medical Center | Hazard, KY | $2,500.20 | $502.45 – $502.45 |
| Swedish Medical Center Cherry Hill | Seattle, WA | $2,503.68 | $726.41 – $2,868.82 |
| Swedish Medical Center - First Hill Campus | Seattle, WA | $2,503.68 | $726.41 – $2,963.40 |
| Swedish Issaquah | Issaquah, WA | $2,503.68 | $728.45 – $2,963.40 |
| Emory Hospital Perry | Perry, GA | $2,506.00 | $553.72 – $4,840.09 |
| Emory Hospital Warner Robins | Warner Robins, GA | $2,506.00 | $561.95 – $4,840.09 |
| Adventhealth North Pinellas | Tarpon Springs, FL | $2,514.00 | $655.08 – $1,454.28 |
| Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City | Oklahoma City, OK | $2,529.80 | $92.31 – $1,305.08 |
| Adventhealth Tampa | Tampa, FL | $2,539.66 | $655.08 – $1,454.28 |
| Adventhealth Riverview | Riverview, FL | $2,539.66 | not published |
| Adventhealth Wesley Chapel | Wesley Chapel, FL | $2,539.66 | $655.08 – $1,454.28 |
| Adventhealth Zephyrhills | Zephyrhills, FL | $2,539.66 | $655.08 – $1,519.19 |
| Adventhealth Carrollwood | Tampa, FL | $2,539.66 | $655.08 – $1,454.28 |
| St Elias Specialty Hospital | Anchorage, AK | $2,541.24 | $587.23 – $1,575.00 |
| Atrium Health Anson | Wadesboro, NC | $2,556.53 | $90.02 – $4,857.40 |
| Atrium Health Mercy | Charlotte, NC | $2,556.53 | $75.38 – $4,704.01 |
| Atrium Health Pineville | Charlotte, NC | $2,556.53 | $90.02 – $4,704.01 |
| Atrium Health Stanly | Albermarle, NC | $2,556.53 | $90.02 – $4,908.53 |