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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 October 2026.

How much does Cell Count in Spinal or Joint Fluid cost?

$8.91

Typical negotiated rate. In South Carolina, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $8.91 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $8.13 from a physician practice, and about $30.20 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$8.13$4.68 to $12.30
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$30.20$22.39 to $67.61

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $30 · 10th to 90th $7 to $98Professionalmedian $8 · 10th to 90th $3 to $12
$2$5$10$20$50$100facility $30professional $8

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
$3.72
Median
$3.72
Typical High
$13.49
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.72
Median
$3.72
Typical High
$4.37
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.68
Median
$4.68
Typical High
$4.68
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$22.91
Median
$47.86
Typical High
$102.33
BCBS South Carolina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.68
Median
$8.91
Typical High
$12.30
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$8.91
Median
$12.02
Typical High
$30.20
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.45
Median
$3.02
Typical High
$6.17
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.55
Median
$4.68
Typical High
$7.76
Medcost
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.01
Median
$8.91
Typical High
$12.88
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$5.62
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.00
Median
$3.24
Typical High
$6.61
2 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
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$1.82
Median
$1.82
Typical High
$1.91
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$0.74
Median
$0.74
Typical High
$0.76

Where South Carolina 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.

South Carolina· 4th of 51

$8.91

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.