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Cell Count in Spinal or Joint Fluid

Montana 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?

$7.08

Typical negotiated rate. In Montana, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $7.08 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $6.17 from a physician practice, and about $9.12 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 6 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$6.17$5.37 to $14.45
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$9.12$6.31 to $33.88

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $9 · 10th to 90th $6 to $60Professionalmedian $6 · 10th to 90th $3 to $31
$10.0$100.0$1.0K$10.0K$100.0Kfacility $9professional $6

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
$33.88
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$60.26
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.37
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$30.90
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.31
Median
$46,773.51
Typical High
$87,096.36
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.31
Median
$6.31
Typical High
$6.31
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.92
Median
$7.94
Typical High
$26.92
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.24
Median
$5.75
Typical High
$7.24
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.68
Median
$6.76
Typical High
$14.45
MountainHealth Co-op
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.68
Median
$6.76
Typical High
$14.45
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.92
Median
$9.12
Typical High
$26.92
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$6.92
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.62
Median
$5.62
Typical High
$5.62
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.00
Median
$2.69
Typical High
$6.61

Where Montana 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.

Montana $7.08 · 16th 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.