Procedures
Percutaneous pleural drainage catheter (pigtail) insertion without imaging guidance cost in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin
From 73 hospital and 0 clinic prices in Wisconsin.
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 Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin, from 73 providers. Most listed prices: $1,331–$2,615.
Cheapest totals nearby
- $446
- Grant Regional Health Center Inc$488Hospital · LancasterEstimated: adds a typical amount for unpublished parts
- $501
- $168Source: St. Croix Health price file · checked Oct 2026
- $348Source: Lafayette Hospital + Clinics price file · checked Oct 2026
- $208est. $446 total
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: Prairie Ridge Health, Inc. price file · checked Oct 2026 - Grant Regional Health Center IncChest drainage catheter insertion, without imaging guidanceScan only$250est. $488 total
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: Grant Regional Health Center Inc price file · checked Oct 2026 - $264est. $501 total
The radiologist read is billed separately.
- Cumberland Memorial Hospital IncChest drainage catheter insertion, without imaging guidanceScan only$275est. $513 total
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: Cumberland Memorial Hospital Inc price file · checked Oct 2026 - Essentia Health St. Mary's Hospital-SuperiorChest drainage catheter insertion, without imaging guidanceScan only$480est. $717 total
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: Essentia Health St. Mary's Hospital-Superior price file · checked Oct 2026 - $642est. $879 total
The radiologist read is billed separately.
- $810est. $1,048 total
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: Stoughton Hospital price file · checked Oct 2026 - $1,120
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: Aurora Medical Center Grafton price file · checked Oct 2026 - $1,120
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: Aurora Medical Center Kenosha price file · checked Oct 2026 - $1,120
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: Aurora Medical Center Manitowoc 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.