Thoracentesis cost in New York, NY — inpatient
In New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, 25 hospitals list a cash price for thoracentesis with imaging guidance as an inpatient: from $120.83 to $4,776.77, with a median of $1,090.00. The lowest listed price is at St. Barnabas Hospital — $969.17 less than the median here. Across New York, the median is $737.31 at 64 hospitals.
Cash prices at 25 facilities across 19 cities for code 32555, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Oct 28, 2025 and Aug 13, 2026.
Lowest$120.83St. Barnabas Hospital
Median$1,090.00half pay less
Highest$4,776.77in this market
Difference39.5×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 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ.
median
Lowest $120.83Highest $4,776.77
one sideboth sides
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Barnabas Hospital lowest Bronx, NY · (212) 960-9000 PR THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $120.83 | $445.41 | $83.66–$268.92 | 73% | Feb 27, 2026 source file |
| Maimonides Medical Center Brooklyn, NY · (718) 283-6000 ASPIRATE PLEURA W/IMAGING. | $300.00 | $300.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Englewood Health Englewood, NJ · (201) 894-3000 Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging | $581.90 | $5,819.00 | $425.37–$4,655.20 | 90% | Feb 2, 2026 source file |
| Newton Medical Center Newton, NJ · (973) 383-2121 Thoracentesis W Img Gdx | $675.57 | $3,750.00 | — | 82% | — source file |
| Chilton Medical Center Pompton Plains, NJ · (973) 831-5000 Thoracentesis W Img Gdx | $776.91 | $2,570.00 | — | 70% | — source file |
| CentraState Medical Center Freehold Township, NJ · (732) 294-7012 Thoracentesis W Img Gdx | $786.98 | $2,328.00 | — | 66% | — source file |
| Morristown Medical Center Morristown, NJ · (973) 971-5450 Thoracentesis W Img Gdx | $824.99 | $3,161.00 | — | 74% | — source file |
| Overlook Medical Center Summit, NJ · (908) 522-2000 Thoracentesis W Img Gdx | $824.99 | $3,105.00 | — | 73% | — source file |
| The Valley Hospital Paramus, NJ · (201) 447-8000 BEDSIDE - THORACENTESIS | $828.60 | $1,381.00 | $309.07–$3,000.00 | 40% | — source file |
| University Hospital Newark, NJ · (973) 972-4300 THORACENTESIS NEEDLE/CATH PLEURA W/IMAGING | $840.72 | $2,642.62 | $550.00–$2,510.49 | 68% | Aug 13, 2026 source file |
| Nassau University Medical Center East Meadow, NY · (516) 572-0123 ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $845.60 | $1,208.00 | $101.59–$354.71 | 30% | Oct 28, 2025 source file |
| Nassau University Medical Center East Meadow, NY · (516) 572-0123 Paracentesis Without Guidance | $946.05 | $1,351.50 | — | 30% | Oct 28, 2025 source file |
| Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases New York, NY Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging | $1,090.00 | $1,090.00 | $58.35–$1,707.88 | — | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases New York, NY Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging|MULTIPLE PROCEDURES | $1,090.00 | $1,090.00 | $58.35–$1,707.88 | — | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases Basking Ridge, NJ Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging | $1,090.00 | $1,090.00 | $116.98–$1,707.88 | — | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases Basking Ridge, NJ Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging|MULTIPLE PROCEDURES | $1,090.00 | $1,090.00 | $116.98–$1,707.88 | — | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases West Harrison, NY Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging | $1,090.00 | $1,090.00 | $58.35–$1,707.88 | — | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases West Harrison, NY Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging|MULTIPLE PROCEDURES | $1,090.00 | $1,090.00 | $58.35–$1,707.88 | — | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases Middletown, NJ Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging | $1,090.00 | $1,090.00 | $116.98–$1,707.88 | — | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases Middletown, NJ Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging|MULTIPLE PROCEDURES | $1,090.00 | $1,090.00 | $116.98–$1,707.88 | — | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| The Valley Hospital Paramus, NJ · (201) 447-8000 ASPIRATE PLEURA W/IMAGING | $1,108.80 | $1,848.00 | $413.58–$3,000.00 | 40% | — source file |
| NYU Langone New York, NY · (212) 263-7300 HC ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $1,205.81 | $6,346.39 | $363.72–$25,798.00 | 81% | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| NYU Langone New York, NY · (212) 263-7300 HC ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $1,205.81 | $6,346.39 | $363.72–$25,798.00 | 81% | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| NYU Langone Mineola, NY HC ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $1,205.81 | $6,346.39 | $363.72–$25,798.00 | 81% | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| NYU Langone Hospital - Suffolk Patchogue, NY · (631) 654-7100 HC ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $1,205.81 | $6,346.39 | $363.72–$25,798.00 | 81% | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| NYU Langone Brooklyn, NY HC ASPIRATE PLEURA W/ IMAGING | $1,205.81 | $6,346.39 | $363.72–$25,798.00 | 81% | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Nassau University Medical Center East Meadow, NY · (516) 572-0123 Aspirate Pleura W/ Imaging | $1,588.30 | $2,269.00 | — | 30% | Oct 28, 2025 source file |
| The Mount Sinai Hospital New York, NY · (212) 241-7981 HC Thoracentesis W/ Imaging | $1,980.00 | $2,200.00 | — | 10% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Mount Sinai Hospital New York, NY · (212) 241-7981 HC Thoracentesis Pleural W/Imag | $1,980.00 | $2,200.00 | — | 10% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Mount Sinai Hospital New York, NY · (212) 241-7981 Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging - 32555 | $1,980.00 | $2,200.00 | — | 10% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mount Sinai Morningside New York, NY HC Thoracentesis W/ Imaging | $1,980.00 | $2,200.00 | — | 10% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mount Sinai Morningside New York, NY HC Thoracentesis Pleural W/Imag | $1,980.00 | $2,200.00 | — | 10% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mount Sinai Behavioral Health Center New York, NY HC Thoracentesis W/ Imaging | $1,980.00 | $2,200.00 | — | 10% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mount Sinai Behavioral Health Center New York, NY HC Thoracentesis Pleural W/Imag | $1,980.00 | $2,200.00 | — | 10% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mount Sinai Behavioral Health Center New York, NY Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging - 32555 | $1,980.00 | $2,200.00 | — | 10% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mount Sinai Brooklyn Brooklyn, NY HC Thoracentesis W/ Imaging | $1,980.00 | $2,200.00 | — | 10% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mount Sinai Brooklyn Brooklyn, NY HC Thoracentesis Pleural W/Imag | $1,980.00 | $2,200.00 | — | 10% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mount Sinai Brooklyn Brooklyn, NY Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging - 32555 | $1,980.00 | $2,200.00 | — | 10% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mount Sinai Queens Long Island, NY HC Thoracentesis W/ Imaging | $1,980.00 | $2,200.00 | — | 10% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mount Sinai Queens Long Island, NY HC Thoracentesis Pleural W/Imag | $1,980.00 | $2,200.00 | — | 10% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mount Sinai Queens Long Island, NY Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging - 32555 | $1,980.00 | $2,200.00 | — | 10% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mount Sinai Morningside New York, NY Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging - 32555 | $1,980.00 | $2,200.00 | — | 10% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Maimonides Medical Center Brooklyn, NY · (718) 283-6000 THORACENTESIS FOR ASP W/GUID | $3,348.00 | $3,348.00 | — | — | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Hudson Regional Hospital Secaucus, NJ · (201) 392-3200 Aspiration of fluid from chest cavity using imaging guidance | $4,776.77 | $4,776.77 | $1,330.00–$9,013.77 | — | Jan 19, 2026 source file |
| Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases both sides New York, NY Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging|BILATERAL PROCEDURE | $1,635.00 | $1,635.00 | $58.35–$1,707.88 | — | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases both sides Middletown, NJ Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging|BILATERAL PROCEDURE|MULTIPLE PROCEDURES | $1,635.00 | $1,090.00 | $116.98–$1,707.88 | -50% | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases both sides Middletown, NJ Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging|BILATERAL PROCEDURE | $1,635.00 | $1,635.00 | $116.98–$1,707.88 | — | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases both sides New York, NY Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging|BILATERAL PROCEDURE|MULTIPLE PROCEDURES | $1,635.00 | $1,090.00 | $58.35–$1,707.88 | -50% | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases both sides West Harrison, NY Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging|BILATERAL PROCEDURE | $1,635.00 | $1,635.00 | $58.35–$1,707.88 | — | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases both sides Basking Ridge, NJ Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging|BILATERAL PROCEDURE|MULTIPLE PROCEDURES | $1,635.00 | $1,090.00 | $116.98–$1,707.88 | -50% | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases both sides Basking Ridge, NJ Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging|BILATERAL PROCEDURE | $1,635.00 | $1,635.00 | $116.98–$1,707.88 | — | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases both sides West Harrison, NY Thoracentesis Needle/Cath Pleura W/Imaging|BILATERAL PROCEDURE|MULTIPLE PROCEDURES | $1,635.00 | $1,090.00 | $58.35–$1,707.88 | -50% | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $120.83, median $1,090.00, highest $4,776.77 — a 39.5× difference within the same market.
Both sides : lowest $1,635.00, median $1,635.00, highest $1,635.00.
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 outpatient, the same code is billed by 39 facilities here, median $1,090.00 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 13 of 14 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.