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Cell Count in Spinal or Joint Fluid

Washington, DC 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?

$3.55

Typical negotiated rate. In Washington, DC, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $3.55 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $3.55 from a physician practice, and about $27.54 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 5 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$3.55$3.55 to $3.89
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$27.54$5.62 to $33.11

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $28 · 10th to 90th $4 to $66Professionalmedian $4 · 10th to 90th $4 to $49
$2.0$5.0$10.0$20.0$50.0$100.0$200.0facility $28professional $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
$27.54
Typical High
$66.07
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.55
Median
$3.55
Typical High
$3.55
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$13.49
Median
$23.99
Typical High
$52.48
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$7.76
Median
$7.94
Typical High
$17.38
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.69
Median
$5.75
Typical High
$38.02
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$9.12
Median
$9.12
Typical High
$9.55
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.75
Median
$5.62
Typical High
$20.42
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.00
Median
$3.02
Typical High
$8.13

Where Washington, DC sits

The same service costs 4.5 times more in North Carolina than in Washington, DC. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

Washington, DC $3.55 · 51st of 51
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.