Thoracentesis cost in Florence, AL — inpatient
In Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL, 1 hospital lists a cash price for thoracentesis with imaging guidance as an inpatient: from $2,345.00 to $2,345.00, with a median of $2,345.00. Across Alabama, the median is $1,113.20 at 30 hospitals.
Cash prices at 1 facility for code 32555, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 27, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between — and —.
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helen Keller Hospital lowest Sheffield, AL · (256) 386-4556 XR-THORACENTESIS | $2,345.00 | $2,345.00 | $540.64–$1,932.62 | — | — source file |
| Helen Keller Hospital lowest Sheffield, AL · (256) 386-4556 ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $2,345.00 | $2,345.00 | $540.64–$1,932.62 | — | — source file |
| Helen Keller Hospital Sheffield, AL · (256) 386-4556 ANCHOR/SCREW BN/BN,TIS/BN | $3,379.00 | $3,379.00 | $1,000.00–$2,635.62 | — | — source file |
| Helen Keller Hospital one side Sheffield, AL · (256) 386-4556 PLATE,RADIAL 2.4/9H/3H RT | $8,482.97 | $8,482.97 | $1,932.62–$6,616.72 | — | — source file |
| Helen Keller Hospital Sheffield, AL · (256) 386-4556 PLATE,RADIAL EX 2.4/5H/5H R/L | $8,561.38 | $8,561.38 | $1,000.00–$6,677.88 | — | — source file |
Inpatient: lowest $2,345.00, median $2,345.00, highest $2,345.00.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 1 facility here, median $2,345.00 — 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 not 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.