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Cell Count in Spinal or Joint Fluid

Iowa 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 October 2026.

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

$5.62

Typical negotiated rate. In Iowa, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5.62 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $4.68 from a physician practice, and about $8.13 from a hospital or other facility.

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.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$4.68$3.72 to $9.55
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$8.13$5.62 to $12.02

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $8 · 10th to 90th $5 to $15Professionalmedian $5 · 10th to 90th $3 to $12
$5$10$20$50$100facility $8professional $5

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.72
Median
$9.12
Typical High
$13.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.09
Median
$3.72
Typical High
$5.62
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.75
Median
$9.55
Typical High
$12.02
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.68
Median
$11.48
Typical High
$29.51
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.62
Median
$8.32
Typical High
$14.79
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.82
Median
$5.62
Typical High
$12.30
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.75
Median
$5.75
Typical High
$6.31
Midlands
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.75
Median
$5.75
Typical High
$5.75
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.68
Median
$4.68
Typical High
$12.02
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.82
Median
$4.17
Typical High
$6.61
Wellmark
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.72
Median
$4.68
Typical High
$4.68

Where Iowa sits

The same service costs 4.0 times more in Alaska than in Maryland. 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.

Iowa· 16th of 51

$5.62

AK $14.13MD $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.