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
$1,733.65
national median
$16,757.81
highest cash price
820
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 | 23 | $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 | 33 | $1,092.60 | $2,153.40 | $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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Atrium Health Behavioral Health Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | $2,556.53 | $90.92 – $4,499.48 |
| Atrium Health Cleveland | Shelby, NC | $2,556.53 | $90.02 – $4,857.40 |
| Atrium Health Cabarrus | Concord, NC | $2,556.53 | $90.02 – $4,857.40 |
| Atrium Health Lincoln | Lincolnton, NC | $2,556.53 | $90.02 – $4,857.40 |
| Atrium Health Union | Monroe, NC | $2,556.53 | $90.02 – $4,857.40 |
| Carolinas Rehabilitation Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | $2,556.53 | $90.92 – $4,704.01 |
| Atrium Health University City | Charlotte, NC | $2,556.53 | $90.02 – $4,704.01 |
| Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center | Charlotte, NC | $2,556.53 | $75.38 – $4,601.75 |
| Ascension St. Vincent Kokomo (St. Joseph Hospital & Health Center, Inc.) | Kokomo, IN | $2,560.80 | $32.53 – $1,195.93 |
| UPMC Mercy | Pittsburgh, PA | $2,577.00 | $403.71 – $988.69 |
| Camden Clark Medical Center | Parkersburg, WV | $2,583.00 | $205.80 – $1,047.88 |
| St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center | Phoenix, AZ | $2,591.49 | $112.65 – $2,601.47 |
| Urbana Hospital | Urbana, OH | $2,601.00 | not published |
| St Francis Medical Center | Midlothian, VA | $2,614.68 | $612.05 – $612.05 |
| WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital | Ephrata, PA | $2,615.20 | $110.88 – $1,044.96 |
| Dominican Hospital | Santa Cruz, CA | $2,619.00 | $105.95 – $2,658.62 |
| UPMC McKeesport | Mckeesport, PA | $2,632.80 | $407.56 – $863.16 |
| MUSC Health Florence Medical Center | Florence, SC | $2,645.50 | $583.44 – $3,708.00 |
| Covenant Medical Center | Lubbock, TX | $2,648.10 | $587.23 – $2,681.00 |
| Covenant Children's Hospital | Lubbock, TX | $2,648.10 | $577.47 – $2,444.00 |
| Covenant Specialty Hospital | Lubbock, TX | $2,648.10 | not published |
| Jackson General Hospital | Ripley, WV | $2,655.50 | not published |
| Providence St Mary Medical Center | Walla Walla, WA | $2,680.30 | $556.65 – $2,862.52 |
| Ascension St. Vincent Mercy (St. Vincent Madison County Health System, Inc.) | Elwood, IN | $2,682.00 | $32.53 – $1,195.93 |
| MercyOne Centerville Medical Center | Centerville, IA | $2,690.00 | $492.00 – $1,793.00 |
| MEDICAL CITY ARGYLE HOSPITAL | Argyle, TX | $2,719.90 | $220.39 – $1,513.22 |
| OSF Holy Family Medical Center | Monmouth, IL | $2,747.20 | not published |
| Ascension St. Vincent Jennings (St. Vincent Jennings Hospital, Inc.) | Vernon, IN | $2,784.00 | $32.53 – $2,969.60 |
| OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center | Ottawa, IL | $2,800.20 | $672.23 – $685.67 |
| Van Wert Hospital | Van Wert, OH | $2,806.70 | $644.16 – $657.04 |
| Adventhealth Ocala | Ocala, FL | $2,808.52 | $655.08 – $1,454.28 |
| OSF St Francis Hospital | Escanaba, MI | $2,814.40 | not published |
| Ascension St. Vincent Anderson (St. Vincent Anderson Regional Hospital, Inc.) | Anderson, IN | $2,816.40 | $32.53 – $1,195.93 |
| OSF Saint Anthony's Health Center | Alton, IL | $2,823.60 | $261.76 – $1,306.00 |
| Mercy Orthopedic Hospital Springfield | Ozark, MO | $2,830.05 | $90.61 – $2,083.00 |
| Kadlec Regional Medical Center | Richland, WA | $2,872.10 | $184.16 – $2,339.19 |
| Baptist Health Floyd | New Albany, IN | $2,895.22 | $412.39 – $5,790.44 |
| Baptist Health Hardin | Elizabethtown, KY | $2,895.22 | $3,860.29 – $7,720.58 |
| Baptist Health Corbin | Corbin, KY | $2,895.22 | $3,860.29 – $7,720.58 |
| Baptist Health La Grange | La Grange, KY | $2,895.22 | $3,860.29 – $7,720.58 |
| Baptist Health Lexington | Lexington, KY | $2,895.22 | $3,860.29 – $7,847.97 |
| Baptist Health Louisville | Louisville, KY | $2,895.22 | $3,860.29 – $7,720.58 |
| Baptist Health Paducah | Paducah, KY | $2,895.22 | $3,860.29 – $7,720.58 |
| Wellstar Cobb Hospital | Austell, GA | $2,939.04 | $637.16 – $4,066.00 |
| Wellstar Douglas Hospital | Douglasville, GA | $2,939.04 | $631.43 – $4,066.00 |
| Wellstar Kennestone Hospital | Marietta, GA | $2,939.04 | $637.16 – $4,066.00 |
| Wellstar MCG Health | Augusta, GA | $2,939.04 | $549.72 – $2,572.00 |