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Chest Tube Insertion For Drainage

Missouri 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?

$1,383

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

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,383 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $234 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,148 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 7 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$234$182 to $302
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,148$550 to $2,089

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,148 · 10th to 90th $355 to $3,890Professionalmedian $234 · 10th to 90th $155 to $447
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $1,148professional $234

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

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$275.42
Median
$3,715.35
Typical High
$7,762.47
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$363.08
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$177.83
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$218.78
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$446.68
Median
$1,621.81
Typical High
$3,890.45
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$338.84
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$257.04
Median
$380.19
Typical High
$501.19
BCBS Kansas City
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$234.42
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$524.81
Median
$831.76
Typical High
$1,659.59
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$446.68
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$676.08
Typical High
$3,162.28
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$323.59
Typical High
$1,737.80
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$398.11
Median
$1,148.15
Typical High
$2,398.83
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$331.13
1 more rate with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$117.49
Typical High
$125.89

Where Missouri 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

Missouri· 24th of 51

$1,383

$234 physician + $1,148 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.