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Cell Count in Spinal or Joint Fluid

Colorado rates for HCPCS 89050

A laboratory count of the cells in a body fluid other than blood, such as spinal fluid, joint fluid or fluid drawn from around the lung or abdomen. A raised count points towards infection, inflammation or bleeding in that space.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Cell Count in Spinal or Joint Fluid cost?

$4.68

Typical negotiated rate. In Colorado, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $4.68 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $3.63 from a physician practice, and about $14.13 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 7 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$3.63$3.47 to $3.98
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$14.13$6.92 to $21.88

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $14 · 10th to 90th $4 to $28Professionalmedian $4 · 10th to 90th $2 to $4
$2$5$10$20$50$100$200facility $14professional $4

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
$3.55
Median
$17.38
Typical High
$131.83
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.63
Median
$3.63
Typical High
$4.47
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.89
Median
$14.13
Typical High
$23.99
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.00
Median
$2.00
Typical High
$3.63
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.75
Median
$3.31
Typical High
$12.88
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.45
Median
$3.09
Typical High
$5.75
Denver HMP
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.63
Median
$5.13
Typical High
$9.77
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.76
Median
$41.69
Typical High
$41.69
Select Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.01
Median
$8.71
Typical High
$10.00
Select Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.31
Median
$3.31
Typical High
$4.68
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.47
Median
$5.25
Typical High
$7.08
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.00
Median
$2.75
Typical High
$4.47

Where Colorado sits

The same service costs 4.5 times more in North Carolina than in Washington, DC. 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.

Colorado· 42nd of 51

$4.68

NC $15.85DC $3.55

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.