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Removal Of Fluid Or Air From Around The Lung

Montana rates for HCPCS 32554

A needle or thin tube is inserted through the chest wall into the space around the lung to remove excess fluid or trapped air, relieving pressure and helping the lung expand more fully. This version is performed without the use of real-time imaging, such as ultrasound, to guide the needle placement.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Removal Of Fluid Or Air From Around The Lung cost?

$587

Typical total for the visit. In Montana, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $587 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $170 to the doctor who performs it, and $417 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$170$135 to $372
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$417$138 to $457

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $417 · 10th to 90th $135 to $550Professionalmedian $170 · 10th to 90th $85 to $389
$100$200$500$1Kfacility $417professional $170

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
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$85.11
Median
$218.78
Typical High
$794.33
BCBS Montana
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$371.54
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$549.54
Typical High
$1,584.89
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$371.54
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$478.63
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$478.63
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$549.54
Typical High
$1,584.89
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$79.43
Median
$141.25
Typical High
$389.05
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$398.11
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$954.99
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$141.25
Median
$295.12
Typical High
$660.69

Where Montana sits

The same service costs 6.5 times more in New York than in North Dakota. 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

Montana· 49th of 51

$587

$170 physician + $417 facility

NY $2,931ND $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.