Thoracentesis cost in Fort Smith, AR
In Fort Smith, AR-OK, 1 hospital lists a cash price for thoracentesis with imaging guidance: from $1,190.80 to $1,190.80, with a median of $1,190.80. Across Arkansas, the median is $809.60 at 14 hospitals.
Cash prices at 1 facility for code 32555, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 23, 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 Fort Smith, AR-OK.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercy Hospital Fort Smith lowest Fort Smith, AR · (479) 314-6000 Thoracentesis Pleural Space W Guidance | $1,190.80 | $1,832.00 | $297.00–$674.19 | 35% | — source file |
| Mercy Hospital Fort Smith lowest Fort Smith, AR · (479) 314-6000 Thoracentesis Pleural Space W Guidance | $1,190.80 | $1,832.00 | $297.00–$674.19 | 35% | — source file |
Outpatient: lowest $1,190.80, median $1,190.80, highest $1,190.80.
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.