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Catheter Drainage Of Fluid Around The Heart

South Carolina rates for HCPCS 33018

Drainage of fluid that has collected in the sac surrounding the heart, using a needle passed through the chest wall and then a thin tube that is left in place so drainage can continue. Imaging is used to guide the tube to the right spot. Removing the fluid relieves the pressure it puts on the heart.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Catheter Drainage Of Fluid Around The Heart cost?

$389

Typical negotiated rate. In South Carolina, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $389 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $355 from a physician practice, and about $8,710 from a hospital or other facility. The two figures are alternatives, not parts of one bill.

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.

Where it's billed changes the price

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$355$282 to $389
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$8,710$398 to $20,417

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $8,710 · 10th to 90th $389 to $22,909Professionalmedian $355 · 10th to 90th $282 to $417
$50$200$1K$5K$20Kfacility $8,710professional $355

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
$389.05
Median
$13,489.63
Typical High
$22,908.68
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$281.84
Median
$354.81
Typical High
$389.05
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$524.81
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$316.23
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$724.44
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$281.84
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$831.76
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$32.36
Median
$32.36
Typical High
$33.11
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2,454.71
Median
$6,309.57
Typical High
$9,120.11
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$275.42
Median
$389.05
Typical High
$691.83

Where South Carolina sits

The same service costs 19.1 times more in California than in Kentucky. 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· 42nd of 51

$389

CA $6,026KY $316

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.