Procedures
Thoracentesis (pleural fluid drainage) without imaging guidance cost in North Carolina
Thoracentesis (pleural fluid drainage) 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 North Carolina
From 91 hospital and 0 clinic prices in North Carolina.
Nationwide typical: $1,035 (most listed prices $415–$2,779).
Usually included: the scan itself (technical fee) + the radiologist's read (professional fee).
Good to know: Ultrasound-guided thoracentesis (32555) is now the norm and is priced as a separate bundle.
Cheapest in North Carolina
Total price
Thoracentesis (pleural fluid drainage) 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 North Carolina, from 91 providers. Most listed prices: $449–$2,428.
Cheapest totals nearby
- Iredell Memorial Hospital$322Hospital · StatesvilleEstimated: adds a typical amount for unpublished parts
- Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital$334Hospital · ElkinEstimated: adds a typical amount for unpublished parts
- Washington Regional Medical Center$366Hospital · PlymouthEstimated: adds a typical amount for unpublished parts
- ECU Health Bertie HospitalDraining fluid from around the lung (thoracentesis), without imagingScan only$265
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: ECU Health Bertie Hospital price file · checked Oct 2026 - ECU Health Chowan HospitalDraining fluid from around the lung (thoracentesis), without imagingScan only$266
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: ECU Health Chowan Hospital price file · checked Oct 2026 - UNC Health Blue Ridge - MorgantonDraining fluid from around the lung (thoracentesis), without imagingScan only$278
The radiologist read is billed separately. Location not independently confirmed.
Source: UNC Health Blue Ridge - Morganton price file · checked Oct 2026 - $278
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: UNC Health Blue Ridge price file · checked Sep 2026 - Iredell Davis Behavioral Health HospitalDraining fluid from around the lung (thoracentesis), without imagingScan only$303
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: Iredell Davis Behavioral Health Hospital price file · checked Oct 2026 - Atrium Health Behavioral Health CharlotteDraining fluid from around the lung (thoracentesis), without imagingScan only$307
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: Atrium Health Behavioral Health Charlotte price file · checked Oct 2026 - $307
The radiologist read is billed separately. +11 more in this system at the same published price.
Source: Atrium Health Cabarrus price file · checked Oct 2026 - $307
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: Atrium Health Stanly price file · checked Oct 2026 - $320
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: Atrium Health Anson price file · checked Oct 2026 - Iredell Memorial HospitalDraining fluid from around the lung (thoracentesis), without imagingScan only$117est. $322 total
The radiologist read is billed separately.
Source: Iredell Memorial Hospital price file · checked Oct 2026 - ECU Health Beaufort Hospital - a campus of ECU Health Medical CenterDraining fluid from around the lung (thoracentesis), without imagingScan only$324
The radiologist read is billed separately. +1 more in this system at the same published price.
Source: ECU Health Beaufort Hospital - a campus of ECU Hea price fil · checked Oct 2026 - $333
The radiologist read is billed separately.
See all prices for Thoracentesis (pleural fluid drainage) without imaging guidance
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.