go back

Cell Count in Spinal or Joint Fluid

Washington 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?

$4.47

Typical negotiated rate. In Washington, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $4.47 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $4.27 from a physician practice, and about $7.08 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 9 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$4.27$3.09 to $4.68
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$7.08$5.25 to $9.33

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $7 · 10th to 90th $5 to $13Professionalmedian $4 · 10th to 90th $2 to $6
$2$5$10$20facility $7professional $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
$4.47
Median
$4.47
Typical High
$7.59
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.47
Median
$4.47
Typical High
$5.62
Asuris Northwest Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.55
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$12.88
Asuris Northwest Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.55
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$4.68
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.90
Median
$8.51
Typical High
$15.14
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.88
Median
$4.79
Typical High
$7.08
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.02
Median
$4.17
Typical High
$4.17
Pacific Source
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.68
Median
$5.37
Typical High
$9.33
Premera BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.68
Median
$8.32
Typical High
$12.88
Premera BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$5.62
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.68
Median
$7.76
Typical High
$12.88
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.55
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$4.68
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.68
Median
$5.62
Typical High
$5.62
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.00
Median
$2.14
Typical High
$5.25
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.14
Median
$4.68
Typical High
$8.51
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
$2.24
Median
$2.24
Typical High
$2.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$0.89
Median
$0.89
Typical High
$1.12

Where Washington 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.

Washington· 33rd of 51

$4.47

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.