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Removal Of A Long-term Chest Drainage Catheter

North Carolina rates for HCPCS 32552

This is the removal of a long-term catheter that had been tunneled under the skin and placed into the space around the lung to drain recurring fluid buildup. Because the catheter has a cuff that anchors it under the skin, removing it requires a small procedure rather than simply pulling it out. It's done once the catheter is no longer needed.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Removal Of A Long-term Chest Drainage Catheter cost?

$1,152

Typical total for the visit. In North Carolina, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,152 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $240 to the doctor who performs it, and $912 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$240$178 to $380
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$912$234 to $2,291

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $912 · 10th to 90th $178 to $5,248Professionalmedian $240 · 10th to 90th $155 to $550
$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $912professional $240

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
$177.83
Median
$933.25
Typical High
$5,248.07
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$204.17
Typical High
$549.54
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$316.23
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$331.13
Typical High
$537.03
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$457.09
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$208.93
Typical High
$323.59
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$316.23
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$467.74
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$912.01
Median
$2,344.23
Typical High
$4,365.16
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$158.49
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$389.05
Wellcare
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$56.23
Median
$1,949.84
Typical High
$1,949.84
Wellcare
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$1,318.26
Median
$1,513.56
Typical High
$1,513.56

Where North Carolina sits

The same service costs 15.9 times more in California 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

North Carolina· 35th of 49

$1,152

$240 physician + $912 facility

CA $5,714WV $360

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.