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Cell Count in Spinal or Joint Fluid

Illinois 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?

$4.47

Typical negotiated rate. In Illinois, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $4.47 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $3.63 from a physician practice, and about $10.72 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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$3.63$3.47 to $4.68
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$10.72$6.31 to $16.60

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $11 · 10th to 90th $5 to $30Professionalmedian $4 · 10th to 90th $3 to $7
$2$5$10$20$50$100facility $11professional $4

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
$4.07
Median
$6.92
Typical High
$14.13
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.80
Median
$3.89
Typical High
$5.75
BCBS Illinois
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6.31
Median
$11.22
Typical High
$64.57
BCBS Illinois
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.47
Median
$3.63
Typical High
$4.68
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.13
Median
$10.96
Typical High
$19.05
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.40
Median
$5.75
Typical High
$8.32
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.01
Median
$8.32
Typical High
$44.67
Hally Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$100.00
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$6.17
Median
$6.17
Typical High
$6.17
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.31
Median
$3.31
Typical High
$5.89
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.68
Median
$5.62
Typical High
$10.47
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.00
Median
$3.16
Typical High
$5.13
4 more rates with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$1.95
Median
$3.39
Typical High
$7.08
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$0.78
Median
$1.38
Typical High
$2.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$1.95
Median
$1.95
Typical High
$2.14
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$0.78
Median
$0.78
Typical High
$0.85

Where Illinois 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.

Illinois· 31st of 51

$4.47

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.