go back

Chest Tube Insertion For Drainage

North Carolina 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 July 2026.

How much does Chest Tube Insertion For Drainage cost?

$661

Typical facility fee. In North Carolina, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $661 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $234 to $1,820.

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 4 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $661 · 10th to 90th $155 to $5,623
$100.0$200.0$500.0$1.0K$2.0K$5.0K$10.0Kfacility $661

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$660.69
Typical High
$6,760.83
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$1,148.15
Median
$1,148.15
Typical High
$1,148.15
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$331.13
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$912.01
Median
$2,344.23
Typical High
$4,365.16
Wellcare
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$56.23
Median
$3,630.78
Typical High
$3,630.78

Where North Carolina sits

The same service costs 40.7 times more in Indiana than in Delaware. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

North Carolina $661 · 45th of 51
IN $6,166DE $151

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.