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Cell Count in Spinal or Joint Fluid

Louisiana 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?

$5.75

Typical negotiated rate. In Louisiana, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5.75 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $4.17 from a physician practice, and about $9.33 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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$4.17$2.75 to $5.62
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$9.33$6.31 to $13.80

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $9 · 10th to 90th $5 to $19Professionalmedian $4 · 10th to 90th $2 to $6
$2$5$10$20facility $9professional $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
$5.01
Median
$6.46
Typical High
$23.99
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$2.51
Median
$3.24
Typical High
$12.02
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$1.00
Median
$1.29
Typical High
$4.79
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.37
Median
$5.62
Typical High
$6.17
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$2.51
Median
$2.88
Typical High
$3.09
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$1.00
Median
$1.12
Typical High
$1.23
BCBS Louisiana
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.89
Median
$9.55
Typical High
$17.78
BCBS Louisiana
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.98
Median
$5.25
Typical High
$7.08
Christus
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$39.81
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$39.81
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.25
Median
$13.49
Typical High
$28.18
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.29
Median
$3.16
Typical High
$5.75
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.00
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$4.68
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.00
Median
$2.75
Typical High
$6.46

Where Louisiana 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.

Louisiana· 14th of 51

$5.75

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.