go back

Cell Count in Spinal or Joint Fluid

South 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?

$6.17

Typical negotiated rate. In South Carolina, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $6.17 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $3.80 from a physician practice, and about $26.92 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$3.80$3.72 to $4.68
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$26.92$7.08 to $117

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $27 · 10th to 90th $4 to $123Professionalmedian $4 · 10th to 90th $4 to $10
$2$5$10$20$50$100facility $27professional $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
$3.72
Median
$16.98
Typical High
$123.03
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.72
Median
$3.72
Typical High
$5.01
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.68
Median
$4.68
Typical High
$4.68
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$21.38
Median
$60.26
Typical High
$107.15
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.90
Median
$8.91
Typical High
$12.30
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$8.91
Median
$15.49
Typical High
$39.81
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.45
Median
$3.02
Typical High
$7.24
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.72
Median
$5.50
Typical High
$13.49
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.57
Median
$4.68
Typical High
$5.62
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.00
Median
$3.24
Typical High
$6.61

Where South 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.

South Carolina· 21st of 51

$6.17

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.