Price Checker / CPT 32609
CPT 32609 — Thoracoscopy w/bx pleura
2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rates and hospital pricing data
$239
What Medicare pays in a hospital/ASC setting
$239
What Medicare pays in a physician's office
$21,612
Based on 31 hospital(s) in our database
What do these numbers mean?
The Medicare rateis what the federal government determines is a fair payment for this procedure. It's based on the Relative Value Unit (RVU) system, which accounts for physician work, practice expense, and malpractice cost. Hospitals and providers often charge 3-20x this amount. If your bill is significantly higher than the Medicare rate, you may have grounds to negotiate.
Hospital Charges for CPT 32609
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southlake Specialty Hospital LLC Southlake, TX | — | — | 16813% |
| Rochester General Hospital , NY | $39,751 | $25,838 | 16545% |
| St. Anthony Hospital , WA | — | — | 12084% |
| St. Clare Hospital , WA | — | — | 12084% |
| St. Francis Hospital , WA | — | — | 12084% |
| St. Joseph Medical Center , WA | — | — | 12084% |
| St. Anne Hospital , WA | — | — | 11049% |
| MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Portland , ME | — | — | 10639% |
| CHI Mercy Health Medical Center , OR | — | — | 9169% |
| "Mayo Clinic Hospital- Rochester , Gonda Building" | $21,726 | $19,336 | 8997% |
| "Mayo Clinic Hospital- Rochester , Mayo Eugenio Litta Children's Hospital" | $21,726 | $19,336 | 8997% |
| "Mayo Clinic Hospital- Rochester , Methodist Campus" | $21,726 | $19,336 | 8997% |
| Mayo Clinic Hospital-Rochester , MN | $21,726 | $19,336 | 8997% |
| "Mayo Clinic Hospital- Rochester , Saint Marys Campus" | $21,726 | $19,336 | 8997% |
| Mayo Clinic Arizona , AZ | $21,208 | $15,906 | 8780% |
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About CPT 32609
CPT code 32609 refers to “Thoracoscopy w/bx pleura”. Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, this procedure is reimbursed at $239 in a facility (hospital or ambulatory surgery center) and $239in a non-facility (physician's office) setting.
These rates are set by CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) and represent what the government considers a fair payment for this service. While commercial insurance typically pays somewhat more than Medicare, many hospitals charge significantly higher amounts — sometimes 10-50x the Medicare rate.
What to do if you were overcharged
- Upload your bill— we'll identify this code and compare it against the rates shown above.
- Get a dispute letter— citing the Medicare rate and your hospital's own published pricing data.
- Negotiate or let us handle it — 25% of savings, no savings = no fee.