Price Checker / CPT 32555
How much does Aspirate Pleura With Imaging cost?
CPT 32555 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is roughly 3.9x the fair price. This is well above fair — push back or dispute it.
Fair price
$1,200–$1,400
What this should cost
With insurance
~$58,300
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$1,750
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $5,102 is $3,802 over the fair price (about 3.9x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Aspirate Pleura With Imaging
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cox Barton County Hospital LAMAR, MO | $3,097 | — | 6528% |
| Cox Monett Hospital MONETT, MO | $3,097 | — | 6528% |
| Northern Light Blue Hill Hospital Blue Hill, ME | $15,567 | — | 4405% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Huntington Huntington, WV | $6,782 | — | 2081% |
| Kindred Hospital Las Vegas - Flamingo Las Vegas, NV | $5,791 | — | 1762% |
| Kindred Hospital Las Vegas - Sahara Las Vegas, NV | $5,791 | — | 1762% |
| Kindred Hospital Sugar Land Sugar Land, TX | $5,588 | — | 1697% |
| Logan Regional Medical Center Logan, WV | $4,230 | — | 1260% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Tucson Tucson, AZ | $3,233 | — | 940% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Muskogee Muskogee, OK | $3,021 | — | 872% |
| Kindred Hospital Dayton Dayton, OH | $2,725 | — | 776% |
| Iroquois Memorial Hospital WATSEKA, IL | $2,298 | $1,609 | 639% |
Were you billed for this procedure?
Send us your bill and we'll compare every line item against Medicare rates and your hospital's published prices. Free review, no obligation.
About Aspirate Pleura With Imaging
CPT code 32555 refers to aspirate pleura with imaging (billing description: "Aspirate pleura w/ imaging"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $94 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $311 in a doctor's office.
The Medicare rate is the closest thing to an objective "what this work is actually worth." A fair cash price for the uninsured is generally 1.5–3x that rate. Hospital sticker (gross) charges are often far higher — but almost nobody actually pays them.
What to do if you were overcharged
- 1Send us your bill — we'll identify this code and compare it against the rates shown above.
- 2Get a dispute letter — citing the Medicare rate and your hospital's own published pricing data.
- 3We negotiate for you — 25% of savings, no savings = no fee.