Thoracentesis cost in Los Angeles, CA
In Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, 44 hospitals list a cash price for thoracentesis with imaging guidance: from $632.16 to $4,738.75, with a median of $2,033.20. The lowest listed price is at St Jude Hospital — $1,401.04 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $2,033.20 at 187 hospitals.
- The median here, $2,033.20, is 66% above the US median of $1,224.53.
- That is 3.2× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($640.89).
- Los Angeles, CA ranks 3rd of 5 metro areas in California by median, cheapest first.
- 13 of 44 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Cash prices at 44 facilities across 34 cities for code 32555, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Nov 4, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Nov 26, 2025 and Oct 5, 2026.
Lowest$632.16St Jude Hospital
Median$2,033.20half of hospitals charge less
Highest$4,738.75in this market
Difference7.5×highest vs lowest
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA.
median
Lowest $632.16Highest $4,758.00
one sideboth sides
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Jude Hospital lowest Fullerton, CA · (714) 992-3000 HC ED THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING CDM+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $632.16 | $1,317.00 | — | 52% |
| Providence Cedars Sinai Tarzana Medical Center Tarzana, CA · (818) 881-0800 HC ED THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING CDM+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $745.85 | $2,131.00 | — | 65% |
| Centinela Hospital Medical Center Inglewood, CA · (310) 673-4660 THORANCENTS TUBE INSERT+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $802.00 | $1,837.71 | $92.33–$1,837.71 | 56% |
| St Francis Medical Center Lynwood, CA · (310) 900-8900 Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $802.00 | $3,152.55 | $92.33–$2,837.30 | 75% |
| Garden Grove Hospital Medical Center Garden Grove, CA · (714) 537-5160 Hc Thoracentesis Ndl/Cath Pleura Asp W Imag File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $802.00 | $4,216.11 | $92.33–$4,216.11 | 81% |
| Sherman Oaks Hospital Sherman Oaks, CA · (818) 981-7111 US GUIDED THORACENTESIS File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $802.00 | $3,100.05 | $92.33–$3,100.05 | 74% |
| Encino Hospital Medical Center Encino, CA · (818) 995-5000 THORACENTESIS, INI/SBSQT W US+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $802.00 | $1,837.71 | $92.33–$1,837.71 | 56% |
| San Dimas Community Hospital San Dimas, CA · (909) 599-6811 Hc Thoracentesis Ndl/Cath Pleura Asp W Imag File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $802.00 | $4,298.04 | $92.33–$4,298.04 | 81% |
| La Palma Intercommunity Hospital La Palma, CA · (714) 670-7400 Hc Thoracentesis Ndl/Cath Pleura Asp W Imag File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $802.00 | $5,370.46 | $92.33–$5,370.46 | 85% |
| West Anaheim Medical Center Anaheim, CA · (714) 827-3000 Hc Thoracentesis Ndl/Cath Pleura Asp W Imag File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $802.00 | $5,370.46 | $92.33–$5,370.46 | 85% |
| Providence Little Co of Mary Medical Center San Pedro San Pedro, CA · (310) 832-3311 HC ED THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING CDM+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $834.05 | $2,383.00 | — | 65% |
| Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance Torrance, CA · (310) 540-7676 HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $834.05 | $2,383.00 | — | 65% |
| Glendale Memorial Hospital & Health Center Glendale, CA · (818) 502-1900 THORACENTESIS W IMG UNI File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $893.21 | $2,839.00 | $105.95–$8,336.00 | 69% |
| California Hospital Medical Center LA Los Angeles, CA · (213) 748-2411 THORACENTESIS W IMG UNI File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $1,213.66 | $2,538.00 | $95.36–$10,428.00 | 52% |
| Providence Holy Cross Medical Center Mission Hills, CA · (818) 365-8051 HC ED THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING CDM+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,246.70 | $3,562.00 | — | 65% |
| St Mary Medical Center Long Beach, CA · (562) 491-9000 THORACENTESIS W IMG UNI File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $1,397.33 | $3,230.00 | $104.80–$6,253.00 | 57% |
| Pacifica Hospital of the Valley Sun Valley, CA · (818) 767-3310 Thoracentesis W/imaging source file | $1,553.00 | $1,553.00 | $642.00–$1,553.00 | — |
| USC Arcadia Hospital Arcadia, CA · (626) 898-8000 THORACENTESIS NEEDLE W/IMAGING+1 more line at this price File of Jul 27, 2026 · source file | $1,616.30 | $4,618.00 | $1,035.79–$10,420.38 | 65% |
| USC Arcadia Hospital one side Arcadia, CA · (626) 898-8000 US-THORACENTESIS-LT+3 more lines at this price File of Jul 27, 2026 · source file | $1,616.30 | $4,618.00 | $1,035.79–$10,420.38 | 65% |
| Providence St Joseph Hospital Orange Orange, CA · (714) 633-9111 HC ED THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING CDM+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,684.80 | $3,510.00 | — | 52% |
| Saint John's Health Center Santa Monica, CA · (310) 829-5511 HC THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $1,992.90 | $5,694.00 | — | 65% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Orange County - Anaheim Anaheim, CA · (714) 279-4000 THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $2,033.20 | $3,910.00 | $613.00–$1,824.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Downey Downey, CA · (562) 461-6007 THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $2,033.20 | $3,910.00 | $613.00–$1,824.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Woodland Hills Woodland Hills, CA · (818) 719-3800 THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $2,033.20 | $3,910.00 | $613.00–$1,824.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Fnd Hospital - Irvine Irvine, CA · (714) 279-4000 THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $2,033.20 | $3,910.00 | $613.00–$1,824.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Baldwin Park Baldwin Park, CA · (626) 851-1011 THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $2,033.20 | $3,910.00 | $613.00–$1,824.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Panorama City Panorama City, CA · (818) 375-2000 THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $2,033.20 | $3,910.00 | $613.00–$1,824.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · (323) 783-4011 THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $2,033.20 | $3,910.00 | $613.00–$1,824.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - West LA Los Angeles, CA · (213) 857-2201 THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $2,033.20 | $3,910.00 | $613.00–$1,824.00 | 48% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South Bay Harbor City, CA · (310) 325-5111 THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $2,033.20 | $3,910.00 | $613.00–$1,824.00 | 48% |
| Chapman Global Medical Center Orange, CA · (714) 633-0011 THORACENTESIS WGUIDANCE File of May 6, 2026 · source file | $2,205.00 | $2,205.00 | $92.33–$3,954.00 | — |
| Orange County Global Medical Center Santa Ana, CA · (714) 953-3500 THORACENTESIS WGUIDANCE File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $2,205.00 | $2,205.00 | $92.33–$3,954.00 | — |
| Valley Presbyterian Hospital Van Nuys, CA · (818) 782-6600 THORACENTESIS W US GUIDANCE File of Jul 9, 2026 · source file | $2,244.00 | $2,244.00 | $561.00–$3,523.00 | — |
| Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare Pomona, CA · (909) 596-7733 Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance File of Oct 5, 2026 · source file | $2,256.15 | $1,735.50 | $92.33–$2,360.28 | -30% |
| Childrens Hospital at Mission - Cerner Mission Viejo, CA · (949) 365-2408 THORACEN FOR ASP W IMAGING File of Mar 18, 2026 · source file | $2,642.00 | $2,642.00 | $92.33–$3,891.00 | — |
| Valley Presbyterian Hospital Van Nuys, CA · (818) 782-6600 THORACENTESIS W CT GUIDANCE File of Jul 9, 2026 · source file | $2,755.00 | $2,755.00 | $688.75–$3,523.00 | — |
| Mission Hospital Regional Med Center Mission Viejo, CA · (949) 364-1400 HC ED THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING CDM+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $2,950.08 | $6,146.00 | — | 52% |
| East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital Los Angeles, CA · (323) 268-5514 THORACENTESIS W/TUBE INSERT-FL GUIDED+8 more lines at this price File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $3,051.30 | $3,051.30 | $94.18–$2,441.04 | — |
| Coast Plaza Doctors Hospital Norwalk, CA · (310) 532-4200 THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/ IMAG+3 more lines at this price File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $3,051.30 | $3,051.30 | $94.18–$2,441.04 | — |
| Community Hospital of Huntington Park Huntington Park, CA · (323) 583-1931 THORACENTESIS W/IMAGING GUIDANCE BIL+3 more lines at this price File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $3,051.30 | $3,051.30 | $94.18–$2,441.04 | — |
| Memorial Hospital of Gardena Gardena, CA · (310) 532-4200 THORACENTESIS W/TUBE INSERT-FL GUIDED+8 more lines at this price File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $3,051.30 | $3,051.30 | $94.18–$2,441.04 | — |
| Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center Burbank, CA · (818) 843-5111 HC ED THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING CDM+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $3,179.75 | $9,085.00 | — | 65% |
| Orange County Global Medical Center one side Santa Ana, CA · (714) 953-3500 THORACENTESIS ASPIRATION W-GUIDANCE RT+1 more line at this price File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $3,237.00 | $3,237.00 | $92.33–$3,237.00 | — |
| Anaheim Global Medical Center one side Anaheim, CA · (714) 533-6220 THORACENTESIS ASPIRATION W-GUIDANCE LT+1 more line at this price File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $3,237.00 | $3,237.00 | $92.33–$3,237.00 | — |
| Chapman Global Medical Center one side Orange, CA · (714) 633-0011 THORACENTESIS ASPIRATION W-GUIDANCE RT+1 more line at this price File of May 6, 2026 · source file | $3,237.00 | $3,237.00 | $92.33–$3,237.00 | — |
| USC Kenneth Norris Jr Cancer Hospital Los Angeles, CA Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $3,786.25 | $3,786.25 | — | — |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA · (310) 423-5000 Outpatient Grouper - 1+3 more lines at this price File of Nov 26, 2025 · source file | $4,099.65 | $6,307.15 | $769.85–$14,761.00 | 35% |
| Anaheim Global Medical Center Anaheim, CA · (714) 533-6220 ER-THORACENTESIS ASPIRATION W-GUIDANCE File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $4,370.00 | $4,370.00 | $92.33–$4,370.00 | — |
| Orange County Global Medical Center Santa Ana, CA · (714) 953-3500 ER-THORACENTESIS ASPIRATION W-GUIDANCE File of Jun 15, 2026 · source file | $4,370.00 | $4,370.00 | $92.33–$4,370.00 | — |
| Chapman Global Medical Center Orange, CA · (714) 633-0011 ER-THORACENTESIS ASPIRATION W-GUIDANCE File of May 6, 2026 · source file | $4,370.00 | $4,370.00 | $92.33–$4,370.00 | — |
| Keck Hospital of USC Los Angeles, CA · (323) 442-8656 Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $4,738.75 | $4,738.75 | — | — |
| Childrens Hospital at Mission - Cerner Mission Viejo, CA · (949) 365-2408 HC ED THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING C File of Mar 18, 2026 · source file | $4,758.00 | $4,758.00 | $92.33–$4,758.00 | — |
| East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital both sides Los Angeles, CA · (323) 268-5514 THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEUR W IMA BI File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $3,051.30 | $3,051.30 | $94.18–$2,441.04 | — |
| Memorial Hospital of Gardena both sides Gardena, CA · (310) 532-4200 THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEUR W IMA BI File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $3,051.30 | $3,051.30 | $94.18–$2,441.04 | — |
| Community Hospital of Huntington Park both sides Huntington Park, CA · (323) 583-1931 THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEUR W IMA BI File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $3,051.30 | $3,051.30 | $94.18–$2,441.04 | — |
| Coast Plaza Doctors Hospital both sides Norwalk, CA · (310) 532-4200 THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEUR W IMA BI File of Feb 4, 2026 · source file | $3,051.30 | $3,051.30 | $94.18–$2,441.04 | — |
Hospital The hospital that published the price, its city and the line exactly as written in its price file.
Cash price The hospital's own price for a patient paying without insurance (“discounted cash” in its price file). Hospitals must publish it under federal law, 45 CFR 180.50. Call to confirm it before booking. More
List price The hospital's full chargemaster price (“gross charge”) before any discount. Almost nobody pays it; the gap to the cash price shows what the self-pay discount is worth. More
Insurers pay The lowest and highest rates this hospital has agreed with insurance plans for the same item, from its price file. If the cash price is below what your plan pays and you have not met your deductible, paying cash can cost you less. More
Off list How much lower the cash price is than the list price.
At or below Medicare This cash price is at or below what Medicare pays a hospital for the same service, which is unusually low. It is what the hospital's file says; confirm it and what it includes before booking. More
No cash discount This line's cash price equals the hospital's full list price. Many hospitals still reduce bills for uninsured patients: ask the billing office for its self-pay discount in writing. More
Check the item The description in the hospital file looks like a supply or device (a catheter, a brace, an implant), not this procedure. The hospital may have filed it under the wrong code: ask before relying on this price.
Outpatient: lowest $632.16, median $2,033.20, highest $4,738.75 — a 7.5× difference within the same market.
Both sides : lowest $3,051.30, median $3,051.30, highest $3,051.30.
The two groups are not comparable and are not averaged together: a
price for both sides of the body covers twice the work. Merging them is how a single
published "median" ends up far above what one side actually costs.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 35 facilities here, median $2,033.20. 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 18 of 33 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 1 it is 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 thoracentesis is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Thoracentesis explained.