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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 July 2026.

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

$5.62

Typical negotiated rate. In Washington, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5.62 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $4.47 from a physician practice, and about $9.33 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 9 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$4.47$4.27 to $5.62
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$9.33$5.25 to $19.95

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $9 · 10th to 90th $5 to $89Professionalmedian $4 · 10th to 90th $3 to $10
$2.0$5.0$10.0$20.0$50.0$100.0$200.0facility $9professional $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
$4.68
Median
$14.45
Typical High
$114.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.80
Median
$4.47
Typical High
$30.90
Asuris Northwest Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.68
Median
$5.89
Typical High
$12.88
Asuris Northwest Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.55
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$4.79
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.90
Median
$10.00
Typical High
$16.98
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.82
Median
$4.79
Typical High
$7.59
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.02
Median
$4.17
Typical High
$64.57
Pacific Source
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.68
Median
$4.68
Typical High
$9.33
Pacific Source
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.68
Median
$4.68
Typical High
$5.62
Premera BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.68
Median
$8.32
Typical High
$12.88
Premera BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$5.62
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.68
Median
$7.08
Typical High
$12.88
Regence BlueShield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$3.55
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$4.68
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$5.62
Typical High
$5.62
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.00
Median
$2.69
Typical High
$5.62
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$2.14
Median
$2.45
Typical High
$8.51

Where Washington 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.

Washington $5.62 · 30th 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.