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Chest Tube Insertion For Drainage

South 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?

$2,138

Typical facility fee. In South Carolina, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $2,138 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $851 to $5,623.

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 $2,138 · 10th to 90th $200 to $9,772
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10K$20Kfacility $2,138

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
$186.21
Median
$4,265.80
Typical High
$21,877.62
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$2,691.53
Median
$2,691.53
Typical High
$2,691.53
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$524.81
Median
$1,348.96
Typical High
$2,344.23
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$363.08
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,174.90
Median
$3,890.45
Typical High
$7,943.28

Where South Carolina sits

The same service costs 40.7 times more in Indiana than in Delaware. 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.

South Carolina· 25th of 51

$2,138

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.