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Cell Count in Spinal or Joint Fluid

North Carolina 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?

$15.85

Typical negotiated rate. In North Carolina, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $15.85 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $3.80 from a physician practice, and about $77.62 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 7 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$3.80$3.80 to $5.62
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$77.62$15.85 to $93.33

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $78 · 10th to 90th $4 to $115Professionalmedian $4 · 10th to 90th $3 to $9
$2$10$50$200$1Kfacility $78professional $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
$5.13
Median
$79.43
Typical High
$114.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.72
Median
$3.80
Typical High
$9.12
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$6.61
Median
$6.61
Typical High
$37.15
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$9.33
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$20.42
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.31
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$4.27
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.31
Median
$9.33
Typical High
$21.38
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.51
Median
$3.31
Typical High
$7.41
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.89
Median
$9.12
Typical High
$12.59
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.80
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$9.33
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.80
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$4.79
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.45
Median
$6.17
Typical High
$8.91
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.34
Median
$3.31
Typical High
$6.61
Wellcare
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$60.26
Median
$60.26
Typical High
$100.00

Where North Carolina sits

The same service costs 4.5 times more in North Carolina than in Washington, DC. 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.

North Carolina· 1st of 51

$15.85

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.