Chest Exploration of the Space Between the Lungs

Nationwide rates for HCPCS 39010

Opens the mediastinum, the space in the middle of the chest between the lungs, through the chest wall or by splitting the breastbone, in order to look inside, drain fluid or infection, take a tissue sample, or remove a foreign object. It gives direct access to structures a narrow scope cannot reach. What is found determines what is done.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Chest Exploration of the Space Between the Lungs cost?

$7,659

Typical total for the visit. Nationwide, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $7,659 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $1,202 to the doctor who performs it, and $6,457 to the hospital or surgery center where it takes place. Done somewhere without a facility charge, you pay only the first.

16% physician fee84% facility fee

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 51 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the bill	Who charges it	Typical	Range
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it	The doctor who performs it	$1,202	$871 to $1,738
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center	The hospital or surgery center	$6,457	$2,344 to $11,749

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $6,457 · 10th to 90th $1,000 to $17,378Professionalmedian $1,202 · 10th to 90th $741 to $2,630

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	Facility/Professional	Modifier	Typical Low	Median	Typical High
Aetna Setting Facility Modifier Global Typical Low $851.14 Median $4,168.69 Typical High $12,022.64	Facility	Global	$851.14	$4,168.69	$12,022.64
BCBS Setting Facility Modifier Global Typical Low $3,715.35 Median $10,471.29 Typical High $22,908.68	Facility	Global	$3,715.35	$10,471.29	$22,908.68
Cigna Setting Facility Modifier Global Typical Low $851.14 Median $2,041.74 Typical High $6,025.60	Facility	Global	$851.14	$2,041.74	$6,025.60
Cigna Setting Facility Modifier AS · PA/NP assist Typical Low $134.90 Median $134.90 Typical High $134.90	Facility	AS · PA/NP assist	$134.90	$134.90	$134.90
United Setting Facility Modifier Global Typical Low $870.96 Median $3,090.30 Typical High $9,772.37	Facility	Global	$870.96	$3,090.30	$9,772.37

What it costs in each state

The same service costs 8.8 times more in Wisconsin than in Maryland. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

Physician feeFacility fee

WI $13,972MD $1,594

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.