Procedures
Percutaneous pleural drainage catheter (pigtail) insertion without imaging guidance cost in Tennessee
Percutaneous pleural drainage catheter (pigtail) insertion without imaging guidance is an imaging test. Cash prices for imaging vary widely: hospitals often charge several times what an independent imaging center charges for the same scan.
Typical cash price
In Tennessee
From 57 hospital and 0 clinic prices in Tennessee.
Nationwide typical: $2,000 (most listed prices $577–$4,905).
Usually included: the scan itself (technical fee) + the radiologist's read (professional fee).
Good to know: The image-guided version is 32557. Usually done in the ER or on inpatients, so it often also sits inside an ER visit bundle or inpatient DRG.
Cheapest in Tennessee
Total price
Percutaneous pleural drainage catheter (pigtail) insertion without imaging guidance
The facility fee + the doctor's fee
How totals are compared
Every total covers the same bundle: the facility fee + the doctor's fee. Where a hospital does not publish a part, the typical published amount is added and the total is marked estimated.
In Tennessee, from 57 providers. Most listed prices: $649–$4,324.
Cheapest totals nearby
- Lauderdale Community Hospital$334Hospital · RipleyEstimated: adds a typical amount for unpublished parts
- Southern Tennessee Regional Health System - Pulaski$358Hospital · PulaskiEstimated: adds a typical amount for unpublished parts
- The University of Tennessee Medical Center$569Hospital · KnoxvilleEstimated: adds a typical amount for unpublished parts
- $78.32Source: Erlanger Bledsoe Hospital price file · checked Oct 2026
- $143Source: Erlanger Baroness Hospital price file · checked Oct 2026
- $96.13est. $334 total
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: Lauderdale Community Hospital price file · checked Oct 2026 - Southern Tennessee Regional Health System - PulaskiChest drainage catheter insertion, without imaging guidanceScan only$120est. $358 total
The radiologist read is billed separately.
- $496
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: Le Bonheur Children's Hospital price file · checked Oct 2026 - Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown HospitalChest drainage catheter insertion, without imaging guidanceScan only$496
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown Hospital price file · checked Oct 2026 - $496
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: Methodist South Hospital price file · checked Oct 2026 - $496
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: Methodist University Hospital price file · checked Oct 2026 - $532
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: 62-1113167 BMH Tipton price file · checked Oct 2026 - $556
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital price file · checked Oct 2026 - Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton HospitalChest drainage catheter insertion, without imaging guidanceScan only$556
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital price file · checked Oct 2026 - Vanderbilt Wilson County HospitalChest drainage catheter insertion, without imaging guidanceScan only$556
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital price file · checked Oct 2026
Common questions
Is the radiologist's read included?
Not always. Hospitals usually list the scan (technical fee) and the radiologist's read (professional fee) separately. Many imaging centers quote one all-in price. Look for the "All-in", "Scan only" or "Read only" label on each price.
Do I need a referral?
Most imaging tests need an order from a doctor, nurse practitioner or physician assistant. Some imaging centers can arrange one; ask when you call.
Why are prices so different?
Each hospital and clinic sets its own cash price. Hospitals publish prices because federal rules require it; clinics and booking sites set prices to compete. The same service can cost several times more at one place than at another nearby.
Can I pay cash if I have insurance?
Yes. You can choose to self-pay. A cash price is often lower than what you would pay before meeting your deductible. Cash payments may not count toward your deductible, so check with your plan. Our cash vs. insurance tool can help you decide.
What is a Good Faith Estimate?
If you are uninsured or paying cash, providers must give you a Good Faith Estimate of the cost on request. If your final bill is $400 or more above the estimate, you can dispute it.