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Needle Drainage Of Fluid Around The Lung, With Imaging

Washington, DC rates for HCPCS 32555

A needle or small catheter is inserted through the chest wall into the space surrounding the lung to remove built-up fluid, using real-time imaging to guide accurate placement. It is used to relieve breathing difficulty caused by fluid pressing on the lung, and the fluid removed can also be tested.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Needle Drainage Of Fluid Around The Lung, With Imaging cost?

$389

Typical physician fee. In Washington, DC, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $389 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $126 to $1,096.

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.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,585 · 10th to 90th $275 to $4,074Professionalmedian $347 · 10th to 90th $115 to $1,096
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $1,585professional $347

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
$275.42
Median
$1,584.89
Typical High
$4,073.80
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
50 · Both sides
Typical Low
$2,754.23
Median
$2,754.23
Typical High
$2,754.23
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$63.10
Median
$63.10
Typical High
$194.98
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$25.12
Median
$25.12
Typical High
$79.43
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$1,096.48
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$1,258.93
Typical High
$4,897.79
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$1,000.00
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$338.84
Median
$354.81
Typical High
$741.31
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$741.31
Median
$2,089.30
Typical High
$5,128.61
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$812.83

Where Washington, DC sits

The same service costs 7.4 times more in Hawaii than in Montana. 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.

Washington, DC· 18th of 51

$389

HI $1,549MT $209

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.