Procedures
Tube thoracostomy (chest tube) insertion cost in North Carolina
Tube thoracostomy (chest tube) insertion usually involves several bills: the facility, the doctor or surgeon, and often anesthesia. Some surgery centers and cash-pay programs quote one bundled price for everything.
Typical cash price
In North Carolina
From 103 hospital and 0 clinic prices in North Carolina.
Nationwide typical: $1,439 (most listed prices $548–$3,949).
Usually included: the facility fee + the doctor's or surgeon's fee.
Good to know: Usually done in the ER or on inpatients, in which case it also sits inside an ER visit bundle or inpatient DRG. Imaging-guided catheter placement is 32557.
Cheapest in North Carolina
Total price
Tube thoracostomy (chest tube) insertion
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 103 providers. Most listed prices: $604–$2,311.
Cheapest totals nearby
- Washington Regional Medical Center$438Hospital · PlymouthEstimated: adds a typical amount for unpublished parts
- Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital$449Hospital · ElkinEstimated: adds a typical amount for unpublished parts
- $489
- $323
Doctor fees are billed separately.
Source: CarolinaEast Medical Center price file · checked Oct 2026 - $329
Doctor fees are billed separately.
Source: Chatham Hospital price file · checked Oct 2026 - Hugh Chatham Health, a facility of Wilkes Regional Medical CenterChest tube insertionFacility fee only$389
Doctor fees are billed separately. +1 more in this system at the same published price.
Source: Hugh Chatham Health, a facility of Wilkes Regional price fil · checked Oct 2026 - $405
Doctor fees are billed separately.
Source: Carteret Health Care price file · checked Oct 2026 - $152est. $438 total
Doctor fees are billed separately.
Source: Washington Regional Medical Center price file · checked Oct 2026 - $163est. $449 total
Doctor fees are billed separately.
Source: Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital price file · checked Oct 2026 - $449
Doctor fees are billed separately.
Source: J Arthur Dosher Memorial Hospital price file · checked Oct 2026 - $456
Doctor fees are billed separately.
Source: Watauga Medical Center price file · checked Oct 2026 - $483
Doctor fees are billed separately.
Source: Alamance Regional Medical Center price file · checked Oct 2026 - $483
Doctor fees are billed separately. +3 more in this system at the same published price.
Source: Annie Penn Hospital price file · checked Oct 2026 - $202est. $489 total
Doctor fees are billed separately.
Source: Rex Hospital price file · checked Oct 2026 - $497
Doctor fees are billed separately.
Source: Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital price file · checked Oct 2026
Common questions
What does a bundled price include?
A bundled (all-in) price usually covers the facility, the surgeon and anesthesia for the procedure itself. Pre-op tests, implants, pathology and follow-up visits are sometimes extra. Ask for a written Good Faith Estimate.
Do I need a referral?
You usually need a consultation with the surgeon or specialist first. Ask whether the consultation is included in the cash price.
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.