Thoracentesis cost in Natchitoches, LA — inpatient
In Natchitoches, LA, 1 hospital lists a cash price for thoracentesis with imaging guidance as an inpatient: from $614.80 to $614.80, with a median of $614.80. Across Louisiana, the median is $646.80 at 13 hospitals.
Cash prices at 1 facility for code 32555, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Mar 18, 2026 and Mar 18, 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 Natchitoches, LA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natchitoches Regional Medical Center lowest Natchitoches, LA · (318) 214-4200 ASPIRATE PLEURA W/IMAGING | $614.80 | $1,537.00 | $349.65–$2,100.00 | 60% | Mar 18, 2026 source file |
| Natchitoches Regional Medical Center Natchitoches, LA · (318) 214-4200 THORACENTESIS W/IMG | $673.60 | $1,684.00 | $349.65–$2,100.00 | 60% | Mar 18, 2026 source file |
| Natchitoches Regional Medical Center Natchitoches, LA · (318) 214-4200 ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $686.80 | $1,717.00 | $349.65–$2,100.00 | 60% | Mar 18, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $614.80, median $614.80, highest $614.80.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 1 facility here, median $614.80 — 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.