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Chest Tube Insertion For Drainage

New Mexico 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?

$1,256

Typical total for the visit. In New Mexico, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,256 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $209 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,047 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$209$170 to $263
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,047$708 to $2,089

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,047 · 10th to 90th $363 to $3,020Professionalmedian $209 · 10th to 90th $141 to $324
$50$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $1,047professional $209

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
$177.83
Median
$1,380.38
Typical High
$7,762.47
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$281.84
BCBS New Mexico
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$562.34
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$3,090.30
BCBS New Mexico
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$302.00
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$537.03
Median
$870.96
Typical High
$1,288.25
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$323.59
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$33.11
Median
$44.67
Typical High
$338.84
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$275.42
Median
$870.96
Typical High
$1,318.26
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$323.59
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$346.74
Median
$707.95
Typical High
$3,019.95
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$371.54

Where New Mexico 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

New Mexico· 31st of 51

$1,256

$209 physician + $1,047 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.