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Chest Tube Insertion For Drainage

West Virginia 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?

$453

Typical total for the visit. In West Virginia, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $453 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $219 to the doctor who performs it, and $234 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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$219$158 to $302
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$234$174 to $1,413

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $234 · 10th to 90th $174 to $3,467Professionalmedian $219 · 10th to 90th $138 to $501
$50$200$1K$5Kfacility $234professional $219

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
$173.78
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$1,412.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$218.78
CareSource
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$181.97
Typical High
$245.47
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$34.67
Median
$257.04
Typical High
$1,778.28
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$870.96
Highmark BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,737.80
Median
$3,467.37
Typical High
$11,220.18
Highmark BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$218.78
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$218.78
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$436.52
Typical High
$4,365.16
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$131.83
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$457.09

Where West Virginia 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

West Virginia· 51st of 51

$453

$219 physician + $234 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.