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Chest Tube Insertion For Drainage

Alaska rates for HCPCS 32551

Places a tube through the chest wall into the space around the lung to drain air, blood, pus or other fluid. The tube is put in through a small open incision and connected to a collection and suction system that keeps the space empty while it heals. It is used for a collapsed lung or a build-up of fluid pressing on the lung.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Chest Tube Insertion For Drainage cost?

$2,201

Typical total for the visit. In Alaska, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,201 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $617 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,585 to the hospital or surgery center where it takes place. Done somewhere without a facility charge, you pay only the first.

These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$617$339 to $759
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,585$1,000 to $2,951

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,585 · 10th to 90th $708 to $6,607Professionalmedian $617 · 10th to 90th $178 to $1,000
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $1,585professional $617

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$758.58
Median
$9,549.93
Typical High
$16,595.87
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$758.58
Typical High
$9,549.93
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,000.00
Median
$1,659.59
Typical High
$5,128.61
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$213.80
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$537.03
Moda Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$537.03
Median
$758.58
Typical High
$3,019.95
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$758.58
Typical High
$1,071.52
Premera BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$707.95
Median
$1,445.44
Typical High
$1,862.09
Premera BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$616.60
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$616.60
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$758.58
Median
$1,621.81
Typical High
$5,128.61
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$60.26
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$537.03
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$831.76
Median
$1,778.28
Typical High
$2,951.21
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$436.52
Typical High
$1,000.00

Where Alaska sits

The same service costs 9.1 times more in Colorado than in West Virginia. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Touch or drag across it to read any state, then open that state for its carriers and full range.

Physician feeFacility fee

Alaska· 8th of 51

$2,201

$617 physician + $1,585 facility

CO $4,120WV $453

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.