Thoracentesis cost in Cincinnati, OH — inpatient
In Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN, 11 hospitals list a cash price for thoracentesis with imaging guidance as an inpatient: from $148.92 to $4,806.00, with a median of $3,249.60. The lowest listed price is at Children's Hospital Medical Center — $3,100.68 less than the median here. Across Ohio, the median is $1,825.53 at 94 hospitals.
Cash prices at 11 facilities across 7 cities for code 32555, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 1, 2026 and Jul 1, 2026.
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children's Hospital Medical Center lowest Cincinnati, OH · (513) 636-3333 Hb Thorocentesis, Needle Or Cath Aspir Of Pleural With Imaging Guidance | $148.92 | $292.00 | $140.16–$292.00 | 49% | — source file |
| Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 636-3333 Pr Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging|By Midlevel | $431.97 | $847.00 | $57.81–$847.00 | 49% | — source file |
| Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 636-3333 Pr Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging|By Specialist | $431.97 | $847.00 | $68.01–$847.00 | 49% | — source file |
| McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital Oxford, OH · (513) 523-2111 HC Thoracentesis Aspirate Only W Imaging | $1,604.43 | $2,139.24 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| University of Cincinnati Medical Center Cincinnati, OH · (513) 584-1000 Hc Thoracentesis Ndl Or Cath W Img Guide | $2,461.80 | $4,103.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| West Chester Hospital West Chester, OH · (513) 298-7701 Hc Thoracentesis Ndl Or Cath W Img Guide | $2,461.80 | $4,103.00 | — | 40% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Health Kings Mills Hospital Mason, OH · (513) 637-9999 HC Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging | $3,249.60 | $5,416.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Clermont Hospital Batavia, OH · (513) 732-8278 HC Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging | $3,249.60 | $5,416.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Clermont Hospital Batavia, OH · (513) 732-8278 HC Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging | $3,412.20 | $5,687.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| The Jewish Hospital-Mercy Health Cincinnati, OH · (513) 686-3000 HC Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging | $3,412.20 | $5,687.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Anderson Hospital Cincinnati, OH · (513) 624-4500 HC Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging | $3,412.20 | $5,687.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Fairfield Hospital Fairfield, OH · (513) 870-7000 HC Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging | $3,412.20 | $5,687.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health West Hospital Cincinnati, OH · (513) 215-5000 HC Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging | $3,412.20 | $5,687.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Kings Mills Hospital Mason, OH · (513) 637-9999 HC Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging | $3,412.20 | $5,687.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health West Hospital Cincinnati, OH · (513) 215-5000 HC Sp Thora for Aspiration | $3,651.00 | $6,085.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Fairfield Hospital Fairfield, OH · (513) 870-7000 HC Sp Thora for Aspiration | $3,651.00 | $6,085.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Anderson Hospital Cincinnati, OH · (513) 624-4500 HC Sp Thora for Aspiration | $3,651.00 | $6,085.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Clermont Hospital Batavia, OH · (513) 732-8278 HC Sp Thora for Aspiration | $3,651.00 | $6,085.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| The Jewish Hospital-Mercy Health Cincinnati, OH · (513) 686-3000 HC Sp Thora for Aspiration | $3,651.00 | $6,085.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Kings Mills Hospital Mason, OH · (513) 637-9999 HC Sp Thora for Aspiration | $3,651.00 | $6,085.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Fort Hamilton Hospital Hamilton, OH · (513) 867-2123 Hc Thoracentesis For Aspiration With Imaging | $4,806.00 | $12,015.00 | — | 60% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $148.92, median $3,249.60, highest $4,806.00 — a 32.3× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 13 facilities here, median $3,249.60 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At the one hospital here that publishes insurer rates for this code, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated. If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you usually pay your plan's negotiated rate, which falls somewhere in the "Insurers pay" column. Paying cash can cost less, but a cash payment usually does not count toward your deductible. Ask the hospital for both numbers before you book.
What it is
Thoracentesis removes fluid from around the lungs with a needle, using ultrasound to guide it.
What the price covers
The price usually covers the procedure and guidance. Lab tests on the fluid are billed separately.