Thoracentesis cost in Cleveland, OH
In Cleveland, OH, 22 hospitals list a cash price for thoracentesis with imaging guidance: from $295.35 to $3,787.25, with a median of $1,848.60. The lowest listed price is at Metrohealth System — $1,553.25 less than the median here. Across Ohio, the median is $1,825.53 at 94 hospitals.
Cash prices at 22 facilities across 18 cities for code 32555, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 24, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 1, 2026 and Jul 14, 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 Cleveland, OH.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metrohealth System lowest Cleveland, OH · (216) 778-7089 Pocus Thoracentesis With Us Guidance | $295.35 | $843.85 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Metrohealth System lowest Cleveland, OH · (216) 778-7089 Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging | $295.35 | $843.85 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Metrohealth System Cleveland, OH · (216) 778-7089 Hc Pocus Thoracentesis With Us Guidance | $1,223.19 | $3,494.82 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Metrohealth System Cleveland, OH · (216) 778-7089 Hc Xa Thoracentesis W/Image Guide | $1,223.19 | $3,494.82 | — | 65% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| UH Cleveland Medical Center Cleveland, OH · (216) 844-1000 HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,590.00 | $2,120.00 | $593.48–$1,908.00 | 25% | Jul 14, 2026 source file |
| UH Cleveland Medical Center Cleveland, OH · (216) 844-1000 HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,590.00 | $2,120.00 | $572.40–$1,908.00 | 25% | Jul 14, 2026 source file |
| UH Regional Hospitals Chardon, OH · (440) 285-6246 HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,687.50 | $2,250.00 | $587.25–$2,623.00 | 25% | Jul 14, 2026 source file |
| Parma Community General Hospital Parma, OH · (440) 743-3000 HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,687.50 | $2,250.00 | $593.48–$2,923.00 | 25% | Jul 14, 2026 source file |
| UH St John Medical Center Westlake, OH · (440) 835-8000 HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,687.50 | $2,250.00 | $551.25–$2,623.00 | 25% | Jul 14, 2026 source file |
| Lake Health Beachwood Medical Center Beachwood, OH · (216) 545-4800 HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,687.50 | $2,250.00 | $497.25–$2,758.00 | 25% | Jul 14, 2026 source file |
| Lake Health Beachwood Medical Center Beachwood, OH · (216) 545-4800 HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,687.50 | $2,250.00 | $593.48–$2,246.00 | 25% | Jul 14, 2026 source file |
| University Hospitals Health System Willoughby, OH HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,687.50 | $2,250.00 | $593.48–$2,025.00 | 25% | Jul 14, 2026 source file |
| University Hospitals - Elyria Medical Center Elyria, OH · (440) 329-7500 HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,687.50 | $2,250.00 | $593.48–$3,634.00 | 25% | Jul 14, 2026 source file |
| Cleveland Clinic Avon Hospital Avon, OH · (440) 695-5000 THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,848.60 | $2,844.00 | $804.28–$2,844.00 | 35% | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| Hillcrest Hospital Mayfield Heights, OH · (440) 312-4500 THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,848.60 | $2,844.00 | $174.80–$3,728.00 | 35% | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| Fairview Hospital Cleveland, OH · (216) 476-7000 THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,848.60 | $2,844.00 | $174.80–$3,728.00 | 35% | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| Medina Hospital Medina, OH · (330) 725-1000 THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,848.60 | $2,844.00 | $138.86–$3,465.00 | 35% | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| Lutheran Hospital Cleveland, OH · (216) 696-4300 THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,848.60 | $2,844.00 | $204.64–$3,465.00 | 35% | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| Marymount Hospital Garfield Heights, OH · (216) 587-8210 THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,848.60 | $2,844.00 | $804.28–$2,844.00 | 35% | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| South Pointe Hospital Warrensville Heights, OH · (216) 491-6523 THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,848.60 | $2,844.00 | $204.64–$3,465.00 | 35% | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Cleveland, OH · (216) 952-9829 THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,848.60 | $2,844.00 | $128.29–$4,628.00 | 35% | Jun 16, 2026 source file |
| Cleveland Clinic Health System - East Region Euclid, OH THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,848.60 | $2,844.00 | $804.28–$2,844.00 | 35% | Jun 15, 2026 source file |
| Uhhs Memorial Hospital of Geneva Geneva, OH · (440) 415-0151 HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,942.50 | $2,590.00 | $518.00–$2,623.00 | 25% | Jul 14, 2026 source file |
| University Hospitals Conneaut Medical Center Conneaut, OH · (440) 593-1131 HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,942.50 | $2,590.00 | $802.90–$2,623.00 | 25% | Jul 14, 2026 source file |
| Southwest General Health Center Middleburg Heights, OH · (440) 816-8000 CT THORACENTESIS WWO TUB | $2,001.75 | $2,669.00 | $246.46–$2,485.00 | 25% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Southwest General Health Center Middleburg Heights, OH · (440) 816-8000 IR THORACENTSIS WORWO TB | $2,001.75 | $2,669.00 | $246.46–$2,485.00 | 25% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Southwest General Health Center Middleburg Heights, OH · (440) 816-8000 US THORACENT WORWO TUBE | $2,001.75 | $2,669.00 | $246.46–$2,485.00 | 25% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Southwest General Health Center Middleburg Heights, OH · (440) 816-8000 ASPIRATE PLEURA W IMAG | $2,127.00 | $2,836.00 | $246.46–$2,485.00 | 25% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Health Regional Medical Center Lorain, OH · (440) 960-4000 HC Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging | $2,623.20 | $4,372.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Mercy Health Regional Medical Center Lorain, OH · (440) 960-4000 HC Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging | $2,623.20 | $4,372.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Southwest General Health Center Middleburg Heights, OH · (440) 816-8000 CHEST NEEDLE ASPRT W GDD | $3,557.25 | $4,743.00 | $246.46–$2,485.00 | 25% | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Summa Health System Akron, OH · (330) 375-3000 Hc Thora-Aspir Pleura W Imag Uni | $3,787.25 | $3,787.25 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Summa Health System Akron, OH · (330) 375-3000 Hc Ed Thora-Aspir Pleura W Imag Uni | $3,787.25 | $3,787.25 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Outpatient: lowest $295.35, median $1,848.60, highest $3,787.25 — a 12.8× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 22 facilities here, median $1,848.60. Inpatient and outpatient prices are not comparable and are kept on separate pages: the inpatient charge covers admission, not the same purchase.
Cash or insurance?
At 19 of 19 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at none is it below every plan's rate. 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.